Simulation Technology for Efficient Millimeter-Wave IC Development

Development of millimeter-wave integrated circuits - and, thus, systems at moderate cost depends strongly on circuit simulation software. The demands placed on such software by design at millimeter wavelengths are much greater than those at the lower microwave frequencies. At the same time, the relatively high cost of testing and "tweaking" millimeter circuits, their lower yield, and the need for advanced technologies, makes such software an especially critical part of a practical, low-cost design flow. This paper discusses the requirements of such software and describes the ways in which improvements in both simulation technology and basic software technology have made efficient millimeter-wave circuit design possible