ADW Overview

The MultiMatch Amplifier Design Wizard (ADW) is a software package which allows  you to design state-of-the-art, first-time-right RF and microwave amplifiers (class A, B) in an integrated environment. The ADW also has powerful impedance-matching synthesis and oscillator analysis capabilities (Oscillator synthesis capabilities are available in the Extended Dos version of MultiMatch). The Amplifier Design Wizard is practical enough to solve real-world problems and at the same time general enough to serve as a high-end research and development tool.

Narrowband or wideband amplifiers can be synthesized for low noise and/or high power (high dynamic range) with the Amplifier Design Wizard.

The ADW Impedance-Matching Module can be used to synthesize lumped-element,  distributed or mixed lumped/distributed matching networks. Commensurate and non-commensurate networks can be synthesized. When non-commensurate networks are designed, the line widths are set by the user. The line lengths are fixed when commensurate networks are synthesized. When commensurate networks are synthesized, different lengths can be set for the main-line sections, the open-ended stubs and the short-circuited stubs. Pads can be specified for the lumped elements when mixed lumped/distributed networks are synthesized. The option to terminate any short-circuited stubs used with single hole vias or by using  inductors (bond wires) is also provided. Parasitic inductance | capacitance can also be specified for the capacitors | inductors used. 

Amplifier design based on impedance-matching only is very limited. The device-modification synthesis capabilities (adding feedback and/or loading sections to a transistor) provided in the Amplifier Design Wizard are essential elements in realizing high performance first-time right amplifiers. The device-modification capabilities are used to remove inherent gain slopes, to stabilize the transistors, to reduce the gain-bandwidth constraints associated with the input impedance and the output impedance of the transistors used, to move the points of optimum gain or optimum power close the maximum gain points, etc. Device modification is usually the first step in designing an amplifier stage. At least two modification sections are usually required to optimize the potential performance of a transistor.

MultiMatch circuits are synthesized electrically. Any connecting lines and/or pads required can be added during the synthesis stage. If required, the synthesized circuit can  be optimized directly or by re-synthesis in the Analysis Section of the ADW. A wide range of synthesis commands are provided for this purpose.

The microstrip or stripline artwork for the circuit synthesized (or specified) can be created automatically (auto-processing of the electrical circuit description to artwork). Multiple substrates (up to 9) are supported. The artwork can be modified graphically in an Artwork View by using the commands provided for this purpose. Modification of the artwork includes curving and meandering of lines, tapering of step junctions, changing the orientation of stubs, and adjusting the gaps or the offset vectors used for the lumped components. The artwork and the schematics can be exported in DXF or HPGL format. A Super Compact^TM or a Touchstone^TM netlist, or a Microwave Office^TM schematic script can also be created for the microstrip | stripline circuit.

The power capabilities (estimation of the 1dB compression points of FET, HEMT and bipolar transistor circuits; generation of the power contours for transistors with or without feedback and loading) provided in MultiMatch have proved to be very accurate. Compared to the requirements for a full non-linear simulation, very little information is required by MultiMatch to control the power performance of a linear amplifier (The power performance is calculated by assuming that clipping of the intrinsic output current and/or output voltage is the main factor determining the output power). When a multi-stage amplifier is analyzed, the potential power performance of each stage in the amplifier is evaluated (power compression budget). The third-order intercept points of the amplifier can now also be estimated by assuming that the ratio of the third-order intercept and the 1 dB compression point of each transistor is fixed. This ratio can be specified by the user. During optimization of the power performance the target 1 dB compression point and third-order intercepts can be specified, with margins on the 1 dB compression points of the driver stages in the amplifier.

For detailed information on the MultiMatch amplifier design philosophy download the Multimatch.pdf file from the public download section of this site.

Overview