Mentor, a Siemens business, announced that its industry-leading Calibre nmPlatform and Analog FastSPICE (AFS) custom and analog/mixed-signal (AMS) circuit verification platform are now qualified for Samsung Foundry’s newest process technologies. Customers can now use these offerings on Samsung’s 5/4-nanometer FinFET processes for the verification and sign-off of production tapeouts for their most advanced IC designs. […]
Analog ICs
The RF power amplifier, part 1: functions
In the RF signal chain, the power amplifier (PA) is the active element located between the transmitter signal chain circuitry and the antenna, Figure 1. It is often a single discrete component, one with requirements and parameters which differ from those of much of the transmit chain as well as the receiver circuitry. This FAQ […]
RF/Microwave bandpass filter implementations, Part 3: Microstrip, coaxial, and helical filters
Part 2 looked at two types of RF/microwave filters, but there are many more, including ceramic coaxial filters and helical filters. They are discussed in this part. Microstrip filters Microstrip filters are built as a carefully defined pattern on a PC board. There is almost no limit to the filter designs which can be built […]
RF/Microwave bandpass filter implementations, Part 2: Cavity and comb filters
The well-known and extensively analyzed lumped-element bandpass filter is generally not suitable for the RF/microwave region, but there are many distributed-element, energy-based alternatives. Part 1 of this article established the context for these RF/microwave filters, which operate in the spectrum from several hundred MHz and higher, and increasingly cannot use discrete lumped-circuit elements (RLCs). Instead, […]
Lasers, optics, electronics and more yield terahertz sources, Part 4 – Laughing gas
The terahertz part of the electromagnetic spectrum between millimeter waves and optical range remains a largely untapped, difficult-to-use resource; researchers are investigating different techniques for efficiently generating terahertz waves to promote the use of this part of the spectrum. Approach #3: Laughing Gas A team at MIT in close collaboration with one at nearby […]
Lasers, optics, electronics and more yield terahertz sources, Part 3 – Infrared lasers and plasma
The terahertz part of the electromagnetic spectrum between millimeter waves and optical range remains a largely untapped, difficult-to-use resource; researchers are investigating different techniques for efficiently generating terahertz waves to promote use of this part of the spectrum. Approach #2: Infrared Lasers and Plasma A research group based at TU Wein (Vienna University of Technology), […]
Lasers, optics, electronics and more yield terahertz sources, Part 2 – Lasers and acoustics
The terahertz part of the electromagnetic spectrum between millimeter waves and optical range remains a largely untapped, difficult-to-use resource; researchers are investigating different techniques for efficiently generating terahertz waves to promote the use of this part of the spectrum. Approach #1: Lasers and Acoustic Modulation A recent project and paper by a collaborative team from […]
First 008004 MLCC with 0.1-µF capacitance
Murata Electronics today announced the availability of the GRM011R60J104M, the world’s first multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) that features a maximum capacitance of 0.1µF in a 008004 (0.25×0.125mm) package. The solution also delivers a capacitance tolerance of ±20 percent, usage temperature range of -55°C to 85°C, and rated voltage of 6.3Vdc. By using proprietary ceramic and […]
End-to-end automation is the next leap forward for DFT
by Jay Jahangiri, Product Manager for Mentor, a Siemens Business, Tessent product family The increase in IC design size and complexity adds a number of new challenges to the design flow, including design-for-test (DFT). One of the most successful changes in design-for-test (DFT) flows in recent years has been the deployment of hierarchical DFT. For […]
HDMI 2.1 active switch optimizes function integration into single package
Diodes Incorporated announced the PI3HDX12221, an HDMI 2.1 active switch with linear ReDriver that enables manufacturers of TVs, PCs, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes to adopt the latest 12Gbps HDMI standard. The device supports dual inputs with a signal cleaning function that enables extending channel lengths. Optimizing function integration into a single package reduces system BOM […]