June  2007 | Issue 98
In This Issue:
Also of Interest:
RFIC Design Seminar July 24 -26, California locations
New Release GoldenGate 4.1.1
Article: Achieve First-Pass LTCC Design Success With DFM
Article: RF SiP Design Verification Workflow
Career Opportunities with Agilent EEsof EDA
 
Features
Updates and MSRs; What is the Difference?

This month we are announcing the availability of ADS and RFDE Updates as well as Maintenance Software Releases (MSRs). It is important for you to understand the difference because both provide a distinctly different way of maintaining ADS/RFDE between major releases.

Updates provide a complete new release with specific new features and the latest defect fixes. For example, ADS 2006 Update 2 is geared toward Signal Integrity applications, but also includes the new integrated EMDS-for-ADS capability. We plan on providing ADS/RFDE Updates on a quarterly basis. MSRs (Maintenance Software Releases) contain defect fixes only.

If you have qualified ADS (or RFDE) 2006A, but do not wish to install an entirely new release, or do not desire the new functionality but want the most recent defect fixes, download the latest Maintenance Releases from the Knowledge Center.
 

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Faster Software Downloads from Knowledge Center

With all the opportunities for product downloads and defect repairs this month, you will be happy to know that we have recently deployed Akamai servers to accelerate all Agilent EEsof product software downloads to customers worldwide. No matter where you are in the world, you will now see a much improved download speed and far higher reliability for large software downloads.
Our customers have seen download speeds as fast as 600KBps
 

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Maintenance Software Release Provides Tune-up for ADS and RFDE

EDA software is much like a trusted transportation vehicle. Regular tune-ups help keep it running safely and reliably. Maintenance Software Release 2 for ADS and RFDE 2006A is now available to improve your own installations with the latest qualified defect repairs. In total, this MSR2 includes 14 hotfixes, 2 support packs and 90 defect repairs. MSR2 can be accessed at the following locations:

ADS 2006A MSR2                             RFDE 2006A MSR2

Important Note: Please do not combine hotfixes and MSR’s with update releases. Hotfixes and MSR’s are for the 2006A platform release only. You should not install hotfixes and MSR’s on any update release.

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New GENESYS Service Packs

Two new service packs available for Genesys 2007 users. Downloadable from the Agilent EEsof Knowledge Center

GENESYS 2007.03 SP1

  • PLL and TLINE will properly authenticate with 2007.03 , and with all forms of licensing, including ADS-style licensing
  • Nonlinear SPICE model libraries now automatically visible in the Genesys Parts browser. Nearly 30,000 S-parameter files from parts vendors, as well as a few thousand nonlinear spice models, are included.
  • About 40 specific minor defects repaired

Eagleware License Server 2007 (for traditional Eagleware floating licenses)

  • More reliable modern versions of FlexLM 10.8, and HASP HL v5.22
  • Better Diagnostic/Logfile messages
  • Better OS support – Windows XP, XP64, Vista, as well as Windows Server 2000 and 2003, including remote desktop administration
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Signal Integrity Diagnostic Tools Integrated in ADS  

A Signal Integrity Verification Toolkit, available as part of ADS 2006A Update 2, contains patented technology used in Agilent’s real-time sampling oscilloscopes for accurate jitter characterization. This makes ADS the first and only EDA tool in the industry that provides diagnostic jitter analysis tools integrated into a high-speed channel design flow. Now you’ll be able to find and remove the causes of jitter in your multi-Gigabit link designs before hardware prototyping begins, eliminating costly redesigns later in the development cycle.
Learn about all the new SI features in ADS 2006 Update 2

You can also view seminar papers from our recent SI seminar tour given by renowned SI design consultants from Bogatin Enterprises and Teraspeed Consulting.
 

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3D EM Software Now Tightly Integrated Inside ADS

Our full wave 3D finite element electromagnetic design system (EMDS) is now tightly integrated into ADS. It allows you to easily access full 3D EM simulation of your ADS layout structures such as bond wires, packaging, planar antennas and dielectric bricks without leaving the ADS environment. This eliminates the annoyance of redefining the layout structure and electrical properties in an external 3DEM tool and manually reconnect the S-parameters back into the ADS circuit or system design simulation.
EMDS-for-ADS tight integration lets you perform co-simulation and parameterization of layout structures for co-optimization between 3DEM and ADS powerful circuit/system simulators. This is one of the many microwave simulation advancements Agilent EEsof is investing for the microwave & RF design community.
Check out an archived Webcast on EMDS-for-ADS.

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New Content for RFDE 2006

RFDE 2006 Update 2 is now available. Among other things this update contains a new easy-to-use corner analysis capability for RFIC verification. Learn about all new content in RFDE 2006 Update 2

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The Answer to the Challenges of Rapidly Changing Wireless Appliance Design.

Our new Antenna Design Modeling System is a 3D EM antenna design addresses the challenges of 21st century wireless appliance design. Our technology imports, meshes and simulates the entire wireless appliance. It takes your designs into a real world environment and enables you to pass regulatory and operator demands such as Over-the-air-performance and SAR before going into the expensive testing phase. Learn more.

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Mind Bender: Test Your Intellect

You have a piece of paper, 10cm by 10cm. Area = 100cm^2. For some reason, you need a piece of paper with an area of 50cm^2. Using the paper you have, what's an easy way of getting the new square? Solution

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Career Opportunities with Agilent EEsof EDA

If you are an EDA champion with knowledge and skills that fit well with our products and technology offerings, we are interested in hearing from you.

To browse all current opportunities with our industry-leading EDA software division, follow the link and search with the keyword EEsof

http://jobs.agilent.com/index.html
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Events
Americas -- Events
  RFIC Design Seminar: “Tackling the Tough Problems”

July 24 - 26, Various California Locations

Designing RFICs with high levels of integration, complex communication standards, digital circuitry, and smaller geometries? Join us for a free half-day seminar where industry & Agilent experts will provide insight and suggestions for improving the likelihood of first time success. Agilent GoldenGate simulator integrated into the Cadence IC environment will be highlighted. More information and registration

Training
North/South America -- Training
As a reminder, customers/students in the U.S./Canada are eligible to receive a 20% promotion discount if you register for an eligible EEsof EDA open enrollment training class four (4) weeks (or greater) prior to the start date of the class. At the time of registration, mention promotion code 1.039.
  Advanced Design Fundamentals Class (3 day)
  Jul 17 - Jul 19 Andover, MA
  Aug 14  - Aug 16 Elkridge, MD
  Sep 18  - Sep 20 Englewood, CO

 
Designing for Signal Integrity with ADS (3 day)
  Jul 24 - Jul 26 Andover, MA
  Aug 21  - Aug 23 Westlake Village, CA

  GENESYS Concepts (3 day)
  Jul 17  - Jul 19 Westlake Village, CA
  Sep 18 - Sep 20 Schaumburg, IL

  Momentum for ADS Users (2 day)
  Aug 21 - Aug 22 Schaumburg, IL

  Signal Processing using ADS (3 day)
  Sep 11 - Sep 13 Andover, MA

  Using ADS Communication Systems Designer (3 day)
  Aug 7 - Aug 9 Westlake Village, CA

All classes are subject to change and/or cancellation.
Class descriptions and registration
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Europe -- Training
  ADS Learning Week
  25 Jun - 29 Jun Massy, France

  IC-CAP Learning Week
  2 Jul - 6 Jul Massy, France

For more information about our Learning weeks, please contact Nathalie RAOUL by email (nathalie_raoul@agilent.com) or by phone (+33 1 64 53 58 29)
Japan -- Training
  ADS Quick Start (1 day)
  Jul 5   Shin-yokohama, Japan
  Aug 9   Shin-yokohama, Japan

  ADS Fundamentals (3 days)
  Jul 11 - Jul 13 Shin-yokohama, Japan
  Aug 15 - Aug 17 Shin-yokohama, Japan

  ADS Communication System Design (3 days)
  Jul 18 - Jul 20 Shin-yokohama, Japan

  ADS Circuit Advanced (2 days)
  Aug 23 - Aug 24 Shin-yokohama, Japan

  ADS Momentum (1 day)
  Jul 6   Shin-yokohama, Japan
  Aug 10   Shin-yokohama, Japan

  Ptolemy Quick Start (1 day)
  Aug 29   Shin-yokohama, Japan

  Ptolemy for Communications Signal Processing (2 days)
  Aug 30 - Aug 31 Shin-yokohama, Japan

All classes are subject to change and/or cancellation.
Class descriptions and registration
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© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2007