industry news
Subscribe Now

Keysight Unveils Comprehensive Design and Test Workflow for Next-Generation Memory Designs

PathWave ADS 2022 simulation software reduces design time and de-risks product development for DDR5, LPDDR5 and GDDR6 memory systems

SANTA ROSA, Calif. April 27, 2021

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced a comprehensive workflow solution – PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS) 2022 – that reduces design time and de-risks product development for Double Data Rate 5 (DDR5), Low-Power Double Data Rate 5 (LPDDR5) and Graphics Double Data Rate 6 (GDDR6) memory systems.

From cloud computing to autonomous vehicles, the demand for faster memory interfaces is accelerating. A disruptive technology feature of fast interfaces such as DDR5, LPDDR5 and GDDR6 is equalization on the memory chip’s receivers, which recovers signals degraded by their path through the printed circuit board (PCB). Hardware engineers need to minimize the risk of signal integrity issues in memory bus designs, which requires the ability to predict the signal quality after equalization, prototype the design and test for performance.

Keysight’s PathWave ADS 2022, a design and test workflow for next-generation memory, enables hardware engineers to meet time-to-market requirements and deliver a high-performance, reliable end-product. The Memory Designer in PathWave ADS 2022 addresses the following design challenges:

  • Model the transmitter and receiver behavior accurately by generating advanced simulation models of both DDR transmitters and receivers, with flexible equalization and external clock inputs.
  • Optimize equalization settings to predict design margins with an advanced simulator that uses adaptive equalization to find the optimal settings for the best signal integrity of the data link.
  • Quantify margin to the eye-mask by predicting eye closure down to standard-specific Bit-Error-Rates, and report remaining margin to the eye-mask.
  • Find failing conditions with design exploration by generating a batch simulation list to sweep through all possible design parameters and report passing/failing configurations as spreadsheet data.
  • Confidence in design sign-off, from design through to test by performing an automated compliance report on simulated signal waveforms and utilizing consistent measurement science to identify issues early and trial potential fixes efficiently

“PathWave ADS’ leading-edge signal integrity simulator helps Xilinx in our advanced system memory development. Working with Keysight, we’re able to optimize system memory solutions for our customers,” said Thomas To, director of System Memory SI at Xilinx.

“DDR5 is a revolutionary technology, requiring designers to re-assess their simulation and measurement approaches,” stated Brig Asay, director of Strategic Planning – Internet Infrastructure Group at Keysight. “Keysight’s knowledge in both DDR5 simulation and measurement techniques, enables us to help customers through this technology hurdle, and speed them to a first-pass design success.”

Additional information on PathWave ADS Memory Designer is available at:

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight’s dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics. Keysight generated revenues of $4.2B in fiscal year 2020. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com.

Leave a Reply

featured blogs
Apr 19, 2024
Data type conversion is a crucial aspect of programming that helps you handle data across different data types seamlessly. The SKILL language supports several data types, including integer and floating-point numbers, character strings, arrays, and a highly flexible linked lis...
Apr 18, 2024
Are you ready for a revolution in robotic technology (as opposed to a robotic revolution, of course)?...
Apr 18, 2024
See how Cisco accelerates library characterization and chip design with our cloud EDA tools, scaling access to SoC validation solutions and compute services.The post Cisco Accelerates Project Schedule by 66% Using Synopsys Cloud appeared first on Chip Design....

featured video

MaxLinear Integrates Analog & Digital Design in One Chip with Cadence 3D Solvers

Sponsored by Cadence Design Systems

MaxLinear has the unique capability of integrating analog and digital design on the same chip. Because of this, the team developed some interesting technology in the communication space. In the optical infrastructure domain, they created the first fully integrated 5nm CMOS PAM4 DSP. All their products solve critical communication and high-frequency analysis challenges.

Learn more about how MaxLinear is using Cadence’s Clarity 3D Solver and EMX Planar 3D Solver in their design process.

featured chalk talk

Audio Design for Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Glasses
Open ear audio can be beneficial to a host of different applications including virtual reality headsets, smart glasses, and sports and fitness designs. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Ryan Boyle from Analog Devices explore the what, where, and how of open ear audio. We also investigate the solutions that Analog Devices has for open ear audio applications and how you can design open ear audio into your next application. 
Jan 23, 2024
11,997 views