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Test and measurement solutions expert Rohde & Schwarz and Cadence Design Systems collaborated to come up with a solution to simplify the engineering process from RF circuit design to implementation. The use of realistic signals makes it possible to gain precision during the simulation and testing phases. The new VSESIM-VSS R&S signal creation and analysis tool accelerates the RF component development process. It is particularly suitable for customers in the wireless communication, automotive, aerospace and defense sectors, as well as manufacturers of active components and systems.
New wireless and satellite communication technologies are exploiting ever wider frequency ranges and are increasingly demanding in terms of testing. The use of realistic signals in the early stages of RF system design is therefore important. The use of identical signal creation methods and analysis algorithms in hardware tests allows for direct correlation of results from the early design stages to the validation phase of the implementation. This allows a convincing and consistent analysis of key performance indicators that are widely used in this field, such as error vector measurement (EVM).
To address this issue, Rohde & Schwarz collaborated with Cadence Design Systems, Inc. to develop the R&S signal creation and analysis tool VSESIM-VSS, which supports all major wireless communication standards such as 5G, the latest developments in Wi-Fi and many others. The jointly developed solution combines signal generation, electronic design simulation and signal analysis capabilities. It builds on the strengths of the solutions appreciated and proven by each of the two companies. As a result, developers and design engineers benefit from an optimized tool to enable them to address design challenges much earlier than before in the development process.
The R&S VSESIM-VSS signal creation and analysis solution operates as a complementary tool to the Cadence Visual System Simulator (VSS) software. This software is already a well-established solution on the market in the field of simulation and modeling of systems. It is particularly used for component design and RF mounting implemented in the field of wireless communications and radars. Rohde & Schwarz's VSESIM-VSS R&S solution is designed to extend the capabilities of VSS software by enabling it to integrate realistic signals into the workflow. This increases the accuracy of the simulation and simplifies the design process. It benefits from two recognized software tools from Rohde & Schwarz for the testing of circuits, modules and functional devices: the signal generation capabilities of the WinIQSIM2 R&S simulation software and the signal analysis capabilities of the R&S VSE vector signal exploration software. The R&S VSESIM-VSS solution combines these functions and offers additional plug-ins for Cadence's automated electronic design tools.
The Rohde & Schwarz data sink plug-in provides access to the signal at any point in the design process. The signal can be transferred to a vector signal generator and applied to the available hardware. This makes it possible to analyze hybrid implementations (hardware/simulated) at the system level. The R&S VSESIM-VSS solution is distinguished in particular by the support of direct digital predistortion (DPD) techniques to verify the effects of linearization from the simulation phase during the power amplifier development process.
The combination of solutions has the other advantage of increasing the compatibility between Rohde & Schwarz and Cadence tools. The signal generation and analysis provided by Rohde & Schwarz solutions can also be used by other Cadence connected products, such as cadence microwave office circuit design software® or Cadence Virtuoso RF solution for the design of radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) and RF modules.
Christina Gessner, Vice President of Spectrum and Network Analyzers, CEM and Antenna Testing at Rohde & Schwarz, said: "By connecting the world of simulation to that of test and measurement, we are providing our customers with the tools to successfully design the first time and thus reduce the time to market of their products. Using realistic signals, deriving common merit numbers such as EVM, and understanding linearization capabilities even before the product is manufactured is a competitive advantage for our customers. We look forward to bringing to market the solution that is the result of our cooperation with Cadence. »
Vinod Kariat, Vice President of R&D at Cadence's Custom IC & PCB Group, added: "Customers developing RF front-end communication circuits and systems must have access to the latest communication standards. The solution common to our companies allows our mutual customers to accurately analyze signals in accordance with standards throughout the design process up to final validation tests. »
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