Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) has broadened its Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software suite’s simulation capabilities, incorporating electro-thermal simulation for Tower Semiconductor’s SiGe Power Amplifier (PA) process. This enhancement aims to empower integrated circuit (IC) designers to achieve successful outcomes on initial attempts.
The expansion integrates electro-thermal simulation into the existing suite of offerings, which includes process design kits (PDKs) for Tower’s radio frequency (RF) technologies. These tools cater to both circuit and physical designs, providing IC designers the means to navigate challenges effectively within the RF landscape.
Keysight’s Advanced Design System (ADS), RFPro, and RFIC Design (GoldenGate) stand out as leading platforms for RF and microwave circuit design. These tools are instrumental in addressing intricate challenges in radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), electromagnetic (EM), and electro-thermal simulations. Moreover, the interoperability among these platforms allows IC designers seamless access to Keysight’s simulation technologies regardless of their preferred schematic or layout environment.
Tower Semiconductor specializes in silicon-based analog foundry technologies, such as silicon germanium (SiGe) for high-speed and high-power applications, and RF silicon-on-insulator (SOI). These technologies are tailored to assist chip suppliers in delivering distinct RF front-end solutions for increasingly complex devices. Designers leverage Tower’s latest PDKs alongside Keysight EDA tools to develop and simulate their RFICs for various applications.
Dr. Samir Chaudhry, Senior Director of Design Enablement at Tower Semiconductor, highlighted the successful collaboration with Keysight in resolving intricate RF challenges for customers. Dr. Chaudhry emphasized the importance of Keysight’s support for RF PDKs and accurate electromagnetic analysis in ADS, underscoring the value of enabling Keysight’s electro-thermal solution for Tower’s SiGe PA processes. This development is proving beneficial for RF SiGe customers by facilitating precise thermal analyses of their designs.
Nilesh Kamdar, Senior Director and RF/Microwave Portfolio Manager at Keysight, expressed the longstanding partnership with Tower, spanning over a decade. He emphasized the mutual focus on advancing RF solutions, aiding customers in achieving expedited time-to-market objectives. Kamdar highlighted the recent milestone of incorporating electro-thermal simulation capability for Tower’s RF SiGe processes within ADS. This enhancement enables customers to verify their ICs’ performance under acceptable operating temperatures before manufacturing.
