To succeed in today’s highly competitive electronics markets, simulation and analysis are now being shifted to the earliest stages of the design process using an in-design analysis (IDA) methodology, where analysis and simulation are moved from an afterthought in the workflow to an integral part of each phase of the design process. Sigrity Aurora PCB Analysis provides IDA to the Cadence Allegro PCB Designer layout environment with integrated Sigrity analysis engines.

l Integrated IDA Methodologies

Sigrity Aurora PCB Analysis enables designers to boost their efficiency and avoid manual re-entry mistakes. Sigrity simulation engines within Allegro PCB Designer offer easy-to-use IDA methodologies integrated within the Allegro environment that empower PCB designers to quickly detect and address potential electrical problems as the design progresses from beginning to end, enabling them to correct basic SI/PI issues by themselves. It is directly integrated into the PCB design framework and simulation results are presented as “vision” overlays with integrated fundamental SI/PI analysis flows (Figure 2).

l Fast and Accurate Design and Analysis Results

Sigrity Aurora PCB Analysis provides a SPICE-based simulator and the patented Sigrity embedded hybrid field solvers for extraction of 2D and 3D structures and supports power-aware IBIS (behavioral) models, as well as transistor-level models, if necessary. High-speed signals can be explored pre-layout, to compare alternatives, or post-layout, for a comprehensive analysis of all associated signals. To ensure that current is returned efficiently to the component driving the signal, Sigrity Aurora PCB Analysis provides a return path workflow that identifies signals where current returns inefficiently (Figure 3). Corrections can be made to the design and the analysis rerun to ensure that the problem is solved.

l DC PI Analysis Visualized on the Design Canvas

DC PI analysis measures any voltage drop between the source and the sink. The results can be visualized on the design canvas as voltage, voltage drop, or current density. Designers can change the design and quickly see the impact of their changes without ever leaving the Allegro PCB implementation canvas (Figure 4).

Features

l Signoff Accuracy

Catch electrical problems earlier in the design cycle to deliver products on time and within budget utilizing the trusted accuracy of Sigrity simulation engines. Leverage the Clarity 3D Solver for electromagnetic (EM) analysis and signoff simulation accuracy without leaving the Allegro design framework.

l    Early SI/PI Issue Detection

Integration into the efficient and accurate Allegro design flow with visions identifies SI/PI issues early, minimizing analysis/layout iterations and accelerating time to market (Figure 5).

l Improved Product Performance

Enables users to ensure their designs deliver the highest performance possible through solution-space exploration and investigation of alternative topologies at the earliest stages.

l Enhanced Usability

Sigrity Aurora PCB Analysis includes Topology Explorer (TopXp) where extracted interconnect models are cascaded between the I/O drivers and receivers. This provides a what-if simulation environment where topology parameters can be varied to determine what the routing constraints need to meet acceptable signal integrity (Figure 6).

Benefits

ü Bridges the gap between design and analysis with in-design SI/PI analysis

ü Tightly integrates Sigrity analysis engines with the Allegro implementation design canvas

ü Provides quick screening of a design for SI problems without the need for any SI models

ü TopXp can be used pre-design to explore solution space and derive constraints into Allegro PCB Designer layout during the exploration phase of the design

ü Accelerates time to design success while lowering cost of end products

ü Provides in-design SI/PI analysis within the Topology Explorer constraint-driven flow

ü Input from Sigrity PowerTree utility can drive IR drop analysis by the non-expert, enabling real-time copper edits to address IR drop in-design

Operating Systems and Interface Databases

Ø Works with Microsoft Windows and Linux

Ø Interfaces to PCB and IC package layout databases from Cadence, Mentor Graphics, Altium, Zuken, and AutoCAD