Date: 07/06/2012

Agilent releases GoldenGate 2012 - software for RFIC simulation, verification and analysis

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced the latest release of its RFIC simulation, verification and analysis software, GoldenGate 2012.

Raising the bar on performance and usability, the 2012 release offers RFIC designers a host of technology enhancements for accelerated design verification, extended design-for-manufacturing solutions and improved links to system design. Users are offered better purchasing flexibility with the new licensing models.

Features:
1. Accelerating design verification: GoldenGate 2012 accelerates design verification through a number of technology enhancements that allow users to set up distributed simulations, run them with unmatched performance, and display and analyze massive amounts of data.

2. Agilent also offers users an extended "parallel simulation license" at a fraction of the cost of the base GoldenGate simulator license. The license is supported in any scenario launching a parallel simulation (and ADE-XL in Cadence Virtuoso).

3. X-parameters extraction: X-parameters are a mathematical superset of S-parameters and are used for characterizing the amplitudes and relative phase of harmonics generated by nonlinear components under large input-power levels. The new GoldenGate 2012 X-parameters feature allows designers to capture the nonlinear behavior of active components such as amplifiers and save the data for quick use in simulation models in RF system or circuit designs, while also hiding all intellectual property.

"We are very pleased to see the new X-parameters extraction support in GoldenGate," said Alireza Shirvani, vice president of engineering at Amalfi Semiconductor Inc. "We are using X-parameters to speed up design and co-simulation at the die-module interface, and to share an executable circuit model that encodes the proprietary details."

Enhancements:

1. Improvements in RFIC simulation
2. Support for advanced analysis and millimeter-wave design
3. Wireless standard-compliant verification
4. Integration of GoldenGate 2012 into the MunEDA WiCkeD tool suite for the analysis, sizing and modeling of circuits

Agilent EEsof works closely with the major RFIC foundries. As a result, GoldenGate gets continuously qualified against new or updated process nodes.

"We are committed to providing our customers with dedicated RF design-flow support to handle the challenges of today's sophisticated RF designs," said Richard Trihy, director of design methodology at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. "Support for GoldenGate provides our customers with access to Agilent's proven expertise in RF and microwave design. As a next step, we are working to qualify Agilent's RFIC solution for the 65nm and 55nm nodes."

The GoldenGate 2012 will be available in August.

More information is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof-goldengate