Using SmartComponents in Passive Circuit DesignGuide

This DesignGuide provides a large number of passive SmartComponents such as couplers, filters, lines and matching networks. SmartComponents are smart sub-network designs that provide the container for specification parameters and a schematic representation of the design when placed into a design. The DesignGuide provides automated design and analysis for these SmartComponents.

Placing and Editing SmartComponents

SmartComponents can be placed, copied, edited and deleted like other components in the Advanced Design System. The basics of placement, copying, editing and deleting are described briefly in this section.

Note
For help with ADS basic features, refer to the Schematic Capture and Layout documentation.

The DesignGuide contains six SmartComponent palettes that provide quick and easy access to the SmartComponents. The six available component palettes are:

All contains all of the SmartComponents.
Lines contains the simple line element SmartComponents.
RLC contains the distributed resistor, inductor, and capacitor SmartComponents.
Couplers contains the coupler and power divider SmartComponents.
Filters contains the distributed filter SmartComponents.
Match contains the distributed and lumped matching SmartComponents.

The components are placed in the schematic by selecting the SmartComponent from the palette and clicking at the point where you want to place the component in the schematic.
You can display the SmartComponent palettes in one of these ways:

By clicking Component Palette on the Control window toolbar
By choosing View > Component Palette from the Control window menu
By selecting the palette from the Component Palette drop-down list box in the Schematic window toolbar (directly above the palette).

Placing SmartComponents

To place a SmartComponent in the design:

In the Schematic window, select the component from the SmartComponent palette.
Click within the design window at the location where you want to place the SmartComponent.
- You can change the orientation of the SmartComponent before placement by selecting from the Insert > Component > Component Orientation commands or by selecting Rotate by -90 repeatedly from the schematic toolbar.
- The place component mode remains active until you choose End Command from the schematic toolbar.

Changing Position and Orientation

A SmartComponent is moved by dragging it to any location in the Schematic window.
To change the component's orientation:

Select Edit > Advanced Rotate > Rotate Around Reference from the Schematic window or select Rotate Items from the toolbar.
Click the SmartComponent you want to use.
Rotate the component. The rotate mode remains active until you select End Command from the toolbar.

Editing SmartComponents

You can modify the specifications in one of these ways:

Click the SmartComponent parameters in the schematic window and change them (see The DA_BLCoupler Component.)

Double-click the SmartComponent to open a dialog box containing all parameters

The DA_BLCoupler Component

The SmartComponent design (schematic) can be viewed by pushing into the SmartComponent's subnetwork. See Examining the SmartComponent Design.

A SmartComponent subnetwork is empty until the design is generated (see the note in the section Placing and Editing SmartComponents).

Copying SmartComponents

SmartComponents can be copied within a design, to another design, or to another Schematic window.

Copying Within a Design

To copy a SmartComponent to the same design:

Click the SmartComponent to be copied.
Select Edit > Copy and then Edit > Paste from the schematic window.
Click where you want the copy placed.

Copying Between Designs or Schematic Windows

To copy a SmartComponent to another design:

Click the SmartComponent to be copied.
Select Edit > Copy from the Schematic window.
Display the design or schematic window you want to copy the SmartComponent to.
Select Edit > Paste to copy the SmartComponent to the design.
Click where you want the component placed.

Copying a SmartComponent as a Unique Design

Initially, all copied SmartComponents refer to the same SmartComponent design. When the Design Assistant is used to perform a design operation, the Design Assistant transforms each copied SmartComponent into a unique SmartComponent design. A design operation is accomplished from the Control window.

Deleting SmartComponents

SmartComponents can be deleted from a design like other components, but completely removing a SmartComponent's files requires the actions described here.

Deleting from Current Design

A SmartComponent can be deleted from a design in one of these ways:

By selecting the component and pressing the Delete key,
By selecting Delete from the toolbar,
By selecting Edit > Delete from the schematic window.
Note
This procedure does not remove the SmartComponent files from the project directory. To delete files from the project directory, see Deleting from Current Project.

Deleting from Current Project

To delete a SmartComponent and all associated files from your project:

In the Schematic window, select the SmartComponent.
In the Control window, select Tools > Delete SmartComponent. or on the toolbar, click Delete . This deletes the SmartComponent from the current design and removes all of its files from your project. The SmartComponent delete mode remains active until you select End Command from the schematic toolbar.

Deleting Manually Using File System

You can use your computer's file system to delete a SmartComponent by deleting the appropriate files in the network subdirectory of a project. Delete files that start with DA_ or SA_ , contain the SmartComponent title, and end with . ael, .atf, or .dsn .

Using SmartComponents as Standalone Components

After SmartComponents are designed and tested, they can be used as standalone components. The DesignGuide is not needed to use them in new designs unless you wish to modify or analyze them. When using the SmartComponent in a design, however, the power supply pins (Vdd, Vcc, Vp, Vm) must be connected to a DC voltage source whose voltage level corresponds the parameter setting.

Using an Existing SmartComponent Within the Same Project

To use an existing SmartComponent within the same project:

Open the Component Library window by selecting Insert > Component > Component Library from the Schematic window or Display Component Library List on the toolbar.
Select the project name under All > Sub-networks in the Libraries list at the left of the Component Library window. Available components are listed in the Components list at the right of the Component Library window.
Select the SmartComponent in the Components list.
Place the SmartComponent into your design by clicking in the Schematic window at the location you wish it placed. The insert mode remains active until you click End Command.

Using an Existing SmartComponent in Any Project

A library of predesigned reusable SmartComponents can be created by placing the reusable SmartComponents in a project. This project can be included in any project and its SmartComponents can be accessed using the Component Library.
To use an existing SmartComponent in any project:

Select File > Include/Remove Projects from the main ADS window.
Select the project that contains the SmartComponent from list in the Include & Remove window.
Click Include to include the project in the hierarchy and click OK.
Open the Component Library window by selecting Insert > Component > Component Library from the Schematic window or Display Component Library List from the toolbar.
Select the included project name under All > Sub-networks in the Libraries list at the left of the Component Library window. Available components are listed in the Components list at the right of the Component Library window.
Select the SmartComponent in the Components list.
Place the SmartComponent into your design by clicking in the Schematic window at the location you where you want to place the component. The insert mode remains active until you click End Command.