Keysight Technologies, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., and Ansys announced a new reference design flow for TSMC N4P RF. Accordingly, the N4P RF is the silicon foundry’s most advanced 4nm radio frequency (RF) FinFET process technology.

The Synopsys Custom Design Family is the basis of the reference flow and integrates the Ansys multiphysics platforms. This provides a complete RF design solution for customers seeking an open RF design environment. Moreover, the Ansys platform comes with higher predictive accuracy and productivity.

It provides designers with a choice of best-in-class solutions and includes validated integrations with radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) design. Furthermore, it also offers interactive electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools from Keysight and signoff power integrity and EM modeling from Ansys.

Next-generation wireless systems feature higher bandwidth, more connected devices, lower latency, and broader coverage. On the other hand, the design complexity of RF integrated circuits used for wireless data transmission such as transceivers and RF front-end components continues to grow. Higher circuit frequencies, smaller feature sizes, and complex layout-dependent effects make highspeed design physics challenging. Hence, it requires more accurate and comprehensive modeling and simulation to achieve the highest performance and robust product reliability.

Supports Harmonic Balance Simulation

The TSMC 4nm RF design reference flow improves design turnaround time and layout productivity in the Synopsys Custom Compiler™ design and layout environment. Reference design flow certification includes rigorous validation of TSMC’s 4nm RF process design kit (PDK) using critical design components. This includes sub-6GHz low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and LC-tuned voltage-controlled oscillators (LC VCOs).

The reference flow features industry-leading tools that enable efficient passive device synthesis, EM model extraction, and thermal-aware electromigration analysis. It also extends to include device metal and post-layout extraction with correct handling of circuits under inductor (CUI) structures.

In addition, the Synopsys Custom Compiler incorporates: Golden signoff accuracy circuit simulation performance from Synopsys PrimeSim™ simulation tools and PrimeSim™ Reliability Environment, and signoff physical verification and extraction solutions from Synopsys IC Validator™ and Synopsys StarRC™. 

Ansys Totem™ provides thermal-aware signoff electromigration verification and power integrity analysis (EM/IR). RaptorX™ and Exalto™ provide signoff electromagnetic modeling, with unique CUI features enabling significant area and cost reductions of up to 50%. VeloceRF™ delivers fully automatic silicon layout synthesis for electromagnetic devices including multi-layer inductor spiral, baluns/transformers, and transmission lines to enable the highest circuit performance and accuracy.

Keysight PathWave ADS RFPro provides rapid, interactive EM-circuit co-simulation and analysis to find and fix layout-dependent-effects up front in the development cycle. PathWave RFIC design (GoldenGate) supports harmonic balance simulation in early chip design and verification process.

Responds to Needs of Designers

“Keysight, Synopsys, and Ansys have expanded their strategic technology collaboration with TSMC to deliver the next level in RF design for advanced 4nm RF technology,” said Niels Faché, vice president and general manager at Keysight EDA. In addition Faché said, “New layout-dependent-effects make detailed simulation and modeling that is signoff accurate a must-have. Other commercial tools and workflows do not always include these newest foundry requirements, and often lack the capacity to model modern analog designs with hundreds of coupled signal ports.”

Meanwhile, Sanjay Bali, vice president strategy and product management EDA group at Synopsys said the latest collaboration on the new RF design reference flow supporting TSMC’s advanced 4nm process node provides an open and optimized flow. For that reason, delivering exceptional quality-of-results for advanced 5G/6G wireless systems.

“Multiphysics raises novel challenges for our customers to optimize power, area, reliability, and performance as RF frequencies climb into the millimeter wave and sub-THz range,” said John Lee, vice president and general manager, electronics, semiconductor, optics business at Ansys.

Finally, Lee said the partnership with Keysight and Synopsys and working closely with TSMC are enabling industry-leading power integrity and electromagnetic modeling technology available in a custom design flow. Thus, responding to the needs of high-speed circuit designers.”