CAD techniques for MMICs

This paper reviews the different CAD packages that are available and describes how these are used in conjunction with foundry models in the MMIC design process. It is shown that there are a wide range of different component models that can be used, the choice of which depends on the level of foundry characterisation and the specific CAD package that is available. At one end of the scale it is possible to design a simple MMIC using a basic PC simulator with simple equivalent circuit models. At the other end of the scale, it is possible to use a fully integrated MMIC CAD workstation which has SMART libraries for layout automation and direct integration of electromagnetic simulation for non-standard structures. The degree to which the design process can be integrated and even automated depends on how much your company/institution can afford to spend on CAD and on which foundry you are using: CAD packages can cost over £50k per seat, and relatively few foundries have developed the necessary SMART library elements