New-Tech Europe | Oct 2016 | Special Edition For Electronica 2016

Run All Simulations from a Single Environment

Steve Kaufer, Mentor Graphics Corp.

roughness, etc.) to produce highly accurate simulation netlists. Crosstalk can be modeled in great detail; aggressor nets can be identified quickly in even the largest layout databases, based on geometric or electrical thresholds. For higher signaling speeds, the HyperLynx simulators have been upgraded to efficiently handle S-parameter models of virtually any size, and S-parameter extractions are now handled by a unique, dedicated engine. Faster and Faster The frequencies at which SERDES circuitry operates can generate a substantial amount of unwanted electromagnetic radiation. The result of this could be failing EMC requirements. But 3D EM simulation can be complex to understand and set up. To simplify, HyperLynx deeply

Many designers perform analysis using a variety of tools, often with disparate user interfaces, and not all share data in a friendly way. Now, HyperLynx from Mentor Graphics has merged an entire set of simulation tools into a single application, and of course, with one unified GUI. Switching between, say, a power integrity analysis to looking at a SERDES channel is just a click of a button. But such convenience is valuable only if underlying simulation engines and algorithms are strong. Mentor has invested heavily in HyperLynx analysis technology in recent years. Much research and development has gone into interconnect modeling: HyperLynx now combines a super- fast computational geometry engine and advanced materials modeling (for wideband dielectrics, copper

High-speed PCBs vary greatly in size, layer count, routing density, signaling speed, types of silicon used, power-delivery challenges, and other factors. Some designers resort to multiple analysis tools, for example trying a batch-mode SI simulator for slower signals and a 3D-EM solver for very-high-speed SERDES channels. But even a set of tools offered by a single EDA vendor typically require changing applications and user interfaces for different types of analysis (e.g., signal versus power versus 3D). In contrast, HyperLynx now offers all types of analysis in a single application, with one GUI. A user can literally be simulating a critical SERDES channel one minute, and by selecting a single new menu item, switch to analysis of a large power net’s decoupling.

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