Using Automated Assistants in Passive Circuit DesignGuide

This section describes the Automated Assistants available in this Utility.

Automated Design and Analysis

The Automated Assistants provide quick design, simulation, yield analysis, and performance display for SmartComponents and enable transformation of lumped elements to transmission line elements. Four Automated Assistants are available in this Utility.

Explore each tab page by selecting the associated tab on the control window.

Design Assistant

The Design Assistant is used to generate and update the design contained within a SmartComponent from the given specifications. It will design and update a single SmartComponent or all SmartComponents in a design.

The Design Assistant is accessed using the Passive Circuit DesignGuide Control window. From the Control window, full design control is enabled from the Design Assistant tab. Single component design operations can also be accomplished using the Control window menu and toolbar.

Designing a Single Component

To design a single SmartComponent using the Control window, select the SmartComponent either from the SmartComponent drop-down list box in the upper right corner of the Control window or by clicking on the component in the Schematic window. The design is accomplished using one of the following methods.

Designing a Multiple Component

Clicking the Design All button on the Design Assistant tab designs all SmartComponents on the current Schematic. Design progress is indicated on the tab page.

Note
To avoid screen flicker associated with the design, the Schematic window disappears during the process.

Simulation Assistant

The Simulation Assistant is used to analyze the design contained within a SmartComponent. The Assistant creates a simulation circuit around the SmartComponent, then automatically performs the appropriate simulation. If set, the Assistant automatically displays the simulation results.

The Simulation Assistant is accessed using the Passive Circuit DesignGuide Control window. From the Control window, full simulation control is enabled from the Simulation Assistant tab. Also, basic simulation can be accomplished using the Control window menu and toolbar.

For all simulation operations, the selected SmartComponent is designed if necessary, a simulation schematic is created, the simulation is performed, and the results are displayed. The simulation frequency sweep must be specified on the Simulation Assistant tab in the Control window.

Note
When the Simulation Assistant is used, the simulation schematic is deleted automatically. To retain the schematic that is created, instead of the Simulation Assistant, use the Create Template option described in Using Simulation Templates.

Simulation Frequency Sweep

The simulation frequency sweep is specified on the Passive Circuit DesignGuide Control window. While performing the simulation from the Control window, select the Simulation Assistant tab and specify the sweep by entering the start frequency, stop frequency, and either frequency step size or number of points. The values entered are stored in the selected SmartComponent (as displayed in the SmartComponent drop-down list box) and are recalled each time this SmartComponent is selected.

Note
If a SmartComponent has been selected from the SmartComponent drop-down list box on the Control window, default frequencies are set for the component.

Displaying Results Automatically

If you click the Automatically Display Results button on the Control window Simulation Assistant tab, the simulation results are displayed automatically after completion of the analysis.

Simulating a SmartComponent

To simulate a SmartComponent using the Control window, select the SmartComponent either from the SmartComponent drop-down list box in the upper right corner of the Control window or by clicking on the component on the schematic window.
The simulation frequency sweep display option must be specified on the Simulation Assistant tab as previously described.
The simulation is then accomplished using one of the following methods:

Using Simulation Templates

In some cases, such as when you would like to retain the schematic that is created, you can simulate the SmartComponent manually.
To generate a simulation schematic around the selected SmartComponent:

  1. Click the Create Template button on the Control window Simulation Assistant tab.
  2. You can examine or modify the simulation schematic, then manually start the simulation by choosing Simulate > Simulate from the Schematic window.
  3. When you are finished, click the Update from Template button on the Simulation Assistant tab to transfer any changes you have made to the SmartComponent on the simulation schematic to the original SmartComponent and redesign if necessary.
Note
You can close the simulation schematic by choosing File > Close Design from the Schematic window menu, although this results in loss of any changes you have made to the SmartComponent.

Optimization Assistant

The Optimization Assistant is used to optimize the design contained within a SmartComponent. It creates a optimization circuit containing the SmartComponent, then performs an optimization.

The assistant is accessed using the Passive Circuit DesignGuide Control window. From the Control window, full optimization control is enabled from the Optimization Assistant tab. Also, basic optimization can be accomplished using the Control window menu and toolbar.

The Optimization Assistant contains fields that indicate the objective of the optimization operation as well as the physical parameters to be altered during the process.

For all optimization operations, the selected SmartComponent is designed (if necessary), an optimization schematic is created, and the optimization is performed. The optimization results are transferred to the original SmartComponent, and this altered component is redesigned.

For each component, the optimization alters one or more of the physical design dimensions in order to make the component response more closely meet the specified performance.

Optimizing a SmartComponent

To optimize a SmartComponent using the Control window, follow these steps.

  1. Select the desired SmartComponent either from the SmartComponent drop-down list box in the upper right corner of the Control window or by clicking on the component on the schematic window.
  2. Optimize the component by either:
    • Pushing the Optimize button on the Optimization Assistant tab
    • Pushing the Optimize button on the Control window toolbar
    • Selecting Tools > Auto-Optimize from the Control window menu

Optimization Templates

In some cases it can be useful to manually optimize the SmartComponent.

To generate an optimization schematic around the selected SmartComponent, press the Create Template button on the Control window Optimization Assistant tab.

You can examine or modify the optimization schematic, then manually start the optimization by selecting Simulate > Simulate from the Schematic window.

When you are finished, selecting Simulate > Update Optimization Values causes the optimized values to appear in the VAR element in the schematic for your inspection.

Pressing the Update from Template button on the Optimization Assistant tab transfers the optimization results to the original SmartComponent and redesign.

Note
You can manually close the optimization schematic using File > Close Design from the Schematic window menu, although this will cause optimization results to be lost.

Display Assistant

The Display Assistant is used to display the performance of a SmartComponent. The display templates are preconfigured display files that provide a comprehensive look at the performance of the component. You can create your own displays or modify the display templates included using the built in features of Advanced Design System. In most situations, the display templates included provide all the information you need.

The Display Assistant is accessed using the Passive Circuit DesignGuide Control window. From the Control window, full display control is enabled from the Display Assistant tab. Basic display selection can also be accomplished using the Control window menu and toolbar.

Display Templates

The display templates are preconfigured templates that provide a comprehensive look at the performance of the component. Display templates have been created for most of the SmartComponents.

This includes all of the RLC, coupler, filter and matching components. The line components do not have auto-simulation, auto-optimization or auto-display capability because of their simplicity.

You can create your own displays or modify the included display templates using the built in features of Advanced Design System, but in most situations, the display templates included provide all the information you need.

The display templates opened by the Display Assistant have common features that are discussed here. For features unique to the display templates of some SmartComponents, refer to SmartComponent Reference.

Also, in some cases you can use one of the display templates provided with the DesignGuide for other applications.

To open one of these templates, select the template from the Available Templates field and press the Open Display Template button on the Control window Display Assistant tab.

Then you can insert a dataset of your choice using the dataset pull-down list box in the upper left corner of the display. If you find that some parameters in the display template are not defined in the selected dataset, you can make appropriate modifications to the display. These changes can be saved using the commands in the display File menu.

Basic Layout

Basic Layout of Display Templates shows the basic layout of the display templates. Area one of the display template contains a graph of the most important parameters of the SmartComponent. Area two contains several graphs that give a comprehensive look at the component's performance. Area three contains a table listing the basic specifications and performance of the component.


Basic Layout of Display Templates

Typical Area 1 Content

Typical Area 1 Graph shows a typical Area 1 graph. The frequency range of the graph is determined by the Simulation Assistant. As you change the frequency range in the Simulation Assistant, this graph updates appropriately.


Typical Area 1 Graph

The markers A and B are used to define the frequency range of the graphs in Area 2. This feature is used to zero in on the region of interest and obtain a comprehensive look at the component's performance.

The marker M1 can be moved by dragging it with the mouse. The performance at the frequency given by M1 is shown in the table in Area 3.

Typical Area 2 Content

Typical graphs from Area 2 are shown in Typical Graphs from Area 2. These graphs provide a quick, comprehensive look at the component's performance. Their frequency range is determined by the location of the "A" and "B" markers found in the main graph.


Typical Graphs from Area 2

Any markers such as M2 shown here can be moved by dragging them with the mouse. Performance criteria at the marker frequency is displayed in the table in Area 3.

Typical Area 3 Content

A typical table from Area 3 is shown in Typical Table from Area 3. The white rows show the desired specifications and important performance criteria for the component. The gray rows give the performance criteria at the user defined marker frequencies. The box below the table provides explanatory information for the table.


Typical Table from Area 3

Displaying SmartComponent Performance Results

Before using the Display Assistant, a valid dataset from a simulation of the selected SmartComponent must exist in the current project data directory. This simulation can be conveniently accomplished using the Simulation Assistant. Refer to Simulation Assistant for details on this step.

To display results from a SmartComponent simulation using the Control window, select the SmartComponent either from the SmartComponent drop-down list box in the upper right corner of the Control window or by clicking on the component on the schematic window. The display is then launched using one of the following methods.

If no valid dataset exists for the selected SmartComponent, the Display button on the Display Assistant tab is insensitive. If the toolbar or menu are used to try to display the results, a message appears indicating that no dataset exists.

Layout Generation

The Design Assistant creates a schematic for the SmartComponents that is ready for auto-layout generation. Artwork for all of the Passive Circuit DesignGuide SmartComponents can be automatically generated. The ADS Generate Layout capability is used to generate the artwork for the SmartComponents.

Note
You need an Advanced Design System Layout license to use this feature.

Creating Layout Artwork

Creating Layout Artwork

To create artwork for SmartComponents, follow these steps:

  1. Choose and place the SmartComponents in the schematic window.
  2. Specify the parameters for each SmartComponent.
  3. Design the SmartComponents using the Design Assistant.
  4. Select Layout > Generate/Update Layout from the Schematic window.
  5. Choose OK in the Generate/Update Layout box.

The artwork for each SmartComponent and any other components that have associated artwork is displayed in the Layout window. If the status report checkbox is selected in the Generate/Update Layout box, a layout generation status report opens also.

Updating Layout Artwork

To edit the properties of a SmartComponent and update the associated artwork, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the SmartComponent in the schematic window.
  2. Edit the parameters of the SmartComponent.
  3. Design the SmartComponent using the Design Assistant.
  4. Select Layout > Generate/Update Layout from the Schematic window.
  5. Select OK in the Generate/Update Layout box.

The artwork for the SmartComponent is updated and displays in the layout window.

 

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