TECHNICAL PUBLICATION

Designing RF, Analog and Digital on PCB

A Unified Systems Approach
John Isaac, Director, Marketing Development - Mentor Graphics
March 2008

w w w. m e n t o r. c o m
INTRODUCTION
The presence of Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry on
PCBs is no longer just a mil/aero industry requirement.
The explosion of the wireless handheld
communications devices is driving the need for pure
RF, and, mixed analog, digital and RF designs at a
significantly increasing rate. Handhelds, base stations,
computer wireless, and mil/aero systems now all
contain RF.
design must be corrected in the standalone RF
solution and re-translated into the host PCB. A total
replacement versus an incremental change.
An additional problem is that the simulation in the RF
solution only simulates the RF circuitry an isolated
circuit and not in the context of a real circuit board with
traces, components, vias, ground fill, etc. These
additional shapes can have significant effects on the
RF circuitry operation.

For years, the design of RF has been a special art, This old methodology has been used successfully for
requiring specialized design and analysis tools, by years to design mixed technology boards but as the
highly specialized designers. Typically, the RF portion RF content in products increases, the problems with
of a PCB was designed by that specialist in a having two separate design systems is starting to
completely separate environment and then merged significantly impact designer productivity, time-to-
into the rest of the mixed technology PCB. This market and quality of the products.
process was highly in-efficient, often
required iterations to marry the mixed
technologies together and resulted in
Previous Model for RF Design
multiple databases representing the final
product.

By working closely with the suppliers of

RF design tools, Mentor Graphics has
developed a new approach and an
integrated solution that addresses these
issues and results in significant
improvements in designer productivity,
design cycle time and product
documentation. The integrated design
solution enables the complete logical
and physical design to be accomplished
in one environment (tools and RF shape
libraries) that is tightly integrated with
state of the art RF simulation
functionality.

THE OLD WAY Figure1 – Separate systems interfaced with cumbersome ASCII
files works but can cause loss of designer productivity and a
In the past, design functionality was non-competitive product.
performed (and repeated) in two
separate design environments through ASCII INTEGRATED APPROACH
interfaces. Both the PCB system design and the RF
Now, Mentor and leading RF design tool suppliers
specialized design systems had their own libraries, RF
have developed an integrated solution. The complete
design databases and design archiving. It required
design schematic and layout are seamlessly integrated
that design data (schematic and layout) and libraries
across the systems linked to the RF simulation using a
be managed (and synchronized) in both environments
dynamic link rather than ASCII interface. This
through cumbersome ASCII interfaces.
provides for a synchronized library and an environment
where design intent is preserved between RF and
With this old methodology, the RF designer basically
systems design. Now the RF designer can become an
was developing the RF circuitry isolated from the rest
integrated member of the design team. A truly
of the PCB system design. The RF portion was then
integrated design flow thus eliminating the time
translated into the PCB design using ASCII files to
consuming and error prone steps with translations and
create schematic and physical implementation on the
host PCB. If problems exist with the RF circuitry, the synchronization.
As well the RF circuitry is developed in the context of the rest of the PCB. Changes are immediately reflected
and can be analyzed in the RF design tool thus reducing design iterations.

The result of this new methodology is significant increase in productivity, reduction in design cycle times and
time-to-market, and dimprovement in product functionality and quality.

New Model for RF Design

Figure 2 – Tightly integrating the PCB and specialized RF systems

improves designer productivity.

DESIGN TEAM COLLABORATION -- A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH

Not only have leading RF design tool suppliers and Mentor worked together to develop an integrated system,
Mentor’s patented Xtreme™ technology has been utilized to provide for simultaneous design and analysis by
multiple designers on a common central database. This means that for large RF boards, multiple RF designers,
at the same location or globally dispersed around the world and connected on the company’s LAN or WAN
network, can concurrently work on the same design thus significantly improving their design cycle times. As
well, for mixed technology boards, the RF, digital and analog designers can work simultaneously instead of
serially.

Figure 3 - Xtreme technology enables multiple designers around the world to

design the same PCB simultaneously.
DESIGN PROCESS -- DEVELOPING THE SCHEMATIC
Using the common RF library, a designer can enter RF schematic in either the RF tool or the system design tool
(Figure 4). The designer adds parameters to these generic schematic symbols setting up for the synthesis
function that will generate the physical shapes.

Figure 4 – The schematic for the RF circuits can be entered in either Mentor's
Expedition Enterprise or Board Station flows (DxDesigner, DA/BA), or, in leading RF
speciality suppliers entry tools.

SYNTHESIZING THE RF SHAPES

Typically, the libraries contain generic RF shapes. The specific RF shapes for this design are automatically
synthesized on the fly based on user entered parameters. The RF parameters can be specified on the
schematic or entered on a pop-up menu. Once synthesized, the shapes can be can be modified in layout to
adhere to placement and clearance constraints on the board. The simulation of the shapes may highlight
needed modifications to perform the desired functionality.
CREATING A CIRCUIT FROM THE SCHEMATIC AND SHAPES

With RF circuitry it is not good enough to just connect the components with random net lines. The component
shapes must be directly connected (all shapes are functional including net lines) and configured to perform the
correct RF function. An “auto arranger” (Figure 5) that automatically performs this task has been developed. It
combines the logic of the schematic, the shapes and a set of rules that govern the final configuration.

Figure 5 -- The “auto arrange” function follows connectivity from the schematic and implements a correct-by-
construction RF circuit.

SIMULATING THE DESIGN

Using a real time interface, the designer can simulate the circuit using specialized RF simulation tools. This
includes simulation of the RF shapes, custom shapes, packaged parts, traces, plane shapes and thermal ties.

Figure 6 – A real time interface from the PCB design tools to the RF
simulation tools improves the productivity of the designer.

The link between the PCB design and RF design tools is real time which allows for cross probing between the
systems. Shapes can be probed in the PCB environment and highlighted in the RF environment, and vise
versa.
 Figure 7 – The ability to cross probes demonstrates the tight integration between the RF and
PCB design systems.

If the simulation of the shapes does not meet the desired functionality, the shapes can be changed either by
adjusting the parameters (re-synthesis) or by manually editing the RF shapes or other “components/shapes”
(custom shapes, packaged parts, traces, plane shapes and thermal ties) in either the PCB or RF layout
environments. An easy to use function keeps the two environments synchronized.

MANIPULATING GROUPS
Placing the RF circuitry on the PCB and then being able to adjust its position relative to the rest of the analog
or digital circuitry requires that the RF shapes be tightly locked in place relative to each other. Otherwise, a
slight change in their relative position can drastically change their functionality. For this purpose, capabilities
exist to hierarchically group the RF circuitry and then manipulate it as a group rather than individual shapes.

Figure 8 – Identifying and manipulating groups maintains the integrity of the RF

circuitry.

Also in conjunction with groups, a designer can specify clearances between a group and other shapes that
might cause improper RF circuitry operation. This applies to both X-Y and relative Z axis clearances. The
relative Z axis clearance to various objects allows for maximum control of RF design as they are re-arranged
by the PCB designer on the same or different layers of the PCB.
AUTOMATING STITCH VIAS

To properly interconnect ground planes or to shield RF shapes often requires the addition of several (could be
hundreds) vias. If done manually, this could be a very long process. The PCB layout product provides the
ability to specify a via pattern and then instantiate those vias automatically. This can occur in very specific
patterns or to merely flood and area with vias.

Figure 9 – Stitching shielding vias is now automated replacing a

time consuming operation.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The tight integration and powerful schematic and layout functionality of Mentor’s PCB design flows combined
with specialized RF design and simulation products, results in an opportunity for RF and mixed technology PCB
designers to significantly increase their productivity, decrease design cycle time and time-to-market, and improve
design quality. This new methodology represents a unique and positive step in the industry.

For more information, call us or visit: www.mentor.com/pcb

Copyright © 2008 Mentor Graphics Corporation. This document contains information that is proprietary to Mentor Graphics Corporation and may be duplicated in whole or in part by the original recipient for
internal business purposed only, provided that this entire notice appears in all copies. In accepting this document, the recipient agrees to make every reasonable effort to prevent the unauthorized use of this
information. Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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