Keysight extends Synopsys collaboration to validate complex RF and mmWave design

2 mins read

Keysight Technologies has extended its collaboration with Synopsys with the integration of PathWave RFIC Design (GoldenGate) with Synopsys Custom Compiler design environment and Synopsys PrimeSim circuit simulation solutions.

This will enable designers to validate complex radio frequency (RF) and millimetre wave design requirements for 5G/6G system-on-chip (SoC) and subsystem designs in the Synopsys Custom Design Family.

The complexity of design requirements for radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) that are used for wireless data transmission, such as transceivers and RF front-end components, continues to increase. Next-generation wireless systems target a range of new capabilities including higher bandwidth, more connected devices, lower latency and better coverage. To address these requirements, designers need to simulate and measure RF performance to a greater level of accuracy.

The integration of PathWave RFIC Design (GoldenGate) simulation software, which models complex integrated circuits, with Synopsys Custom Compiler, part of the Synopsys Custom Design Family of products, looks to address this challenge by enabling designers to achieve power and performance optimisations and to efficiently deliver 5G and 6G designs.

“Native integration of Keysight’s PathWave RFIC Design (GoldenGate) with Synopsys’ Custom Compiler extends our collaboration to address end-to-end workflows for increasingly complex wireless designs,” said Niels Faché, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s PathWave Software Solutions. “This integration enables customers to access Harmonic Balance and Envelope simulation capabilities, as well as Keysight’s Virtual Test Benches, to reliably compute error vector magnitude and adjacent channel power ratio early in the chip design and verification process.”

According to Keysight, the integration of PathWave RFIC Design (GoldenGate) into the Synopsys environment and Custom Compiler design workflow will provide a number of key benefits:

  • Complementary, high-capacity RFIC simulation solutions to validate complex SoCs with accurate electromagnetic (EM) models for RF and millimetre-wave design blocks.
  • Improved productivity with defined common testbenches, measurements and simulation setup.
  • Ability to meet complex RF and millimetre-wave design requirements to facilitate the creation of 5G and 6G SoC and subsystem designs.
  • Compact test signals and fast distortion EVM simulations for both design and verification of RF circuits using modulated signals.
  • An energy-efficient design that improves power optimization, thermal, mechanical heat stress and battery life.

"To enable key differentiating advantages for 5G/6G designs, Synopsys is delivering robust RF design solutions that deliver best-in-class design, simulation and layout productivity workflows,” said Aveek Sarkar, vice president of engineering at Synopsys. “As a result of our strong relationship with Keysight, our customers can now take advantage of the complementary RFIC simulation products within the Synopsys Custom Design Family. The custom design flow enables a more productive design and verification solution that delivers significantly faster layout and design closure, providing designers an accelerated path to meet their speed, bandwidth and data throughput requirements and time-to-market targets.”