What simulators are included in Cadence AWR?

AWR includes several integrated simulation engines: Microwave Office for linear and nonlinear circuit simulation (S-parameters, harmonic balance, transient, oscillator analysis), AXIEM for planar 3D electromagnetic simulation using method of moments (MoM) for microstrip, stripline, and coplanar waveguide structures, Analyst for 3D finite-element method (FEM) EM simulation of arbitrary 3D structures like connectors, packages, and waveguide transitions, and Visual System Simulator (VSS) for system-level simulation of complete transmitter/receiver chains including modulation, coding, and BER analysis. The platform also includes yield analysis with Monte Carlo and sensitivity tools.

How does AWR compare to Keysight ADS?

Both are full-featured RF EDA platforms with comparable circuit simulation capabilities. AWR Microwave Office has a reputation for a more intuitive user interface and faster learning curve, making it popular in defense and smaller design teams. Keysight ADS has deeper integration with Keysight test equipment, larger model libraries from its longer market presence, and Momentum EM simulator which is well-established. AWR's AXIEM MoM solver and ADS's Momentum are comparable for planar EM. AWR's system simulator (VSS) competes with ADS's Ptolemy. Price points are similar ($15,000-50,000 per seat depending on configuration). The choice often depends on existing tool investments and foundry PDK availability.

What types of RF designs is AWR best suited for?

AWR excels at MMIC and RFIC design (GaAs, GaN, SiGe), PCB-level RF module design (filters, amplifiers, mixers on microstrip/stripline), antenna feed network design, and radar/EW subsystem simulation. Its integrated schematic-layout-EM flow is particularly efficient for iterative design of matching networks, power amplifier load-pull optimization, and filter tuning. AWR's process design kit (PDK) support covers major foundries including WIN Semiconductors, Qorvo, and MACOM for III-V designs. For primarily digital or mixed-signal RFIC work, Cadence Virtuoso (same company) is typically preferred due to its deeper integration with digital design flows and TSMC/Samsung PDKs.

What is Cadence AWR? | RF/Microwave EDA Platform

Overview & History

Cadence AWR is an electronic design automation (EDA) software suite for designing RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave circuits, modules, and systems. Originally developed by Applied Wave Research (AWR), the platform was acquired by National Instruments in 2011 and subsequently by Cadence Design Systems in 2020 when Cadence purchased NI's AWR business. The flagship product, Microwave Office, provides schematic capture, linear/nonlinear circuit simulation, physical layout, and integrated electromagnetic (EM) analysis in a single environment.

AWR's integrated design flow allows RF engineers to design a circuit schematically, simulate its performance using harmonic balance or S-parameter analysis, create the physical layout, extract parasitic effects using AXIEM (planar MoM) or Analyst (3D FEM) EM solvers, and verify that the layout meets performance specifications without leaving the platform. This closed-loop methodology significantly reduces design iterations compared to disconnected tool flows. AWR supports foundry process design kits (PDKs) from major GaAs, GaN, and SiGe foundries, enabling MMIC designs from initial concept through tape-out.

Core Components

Microwave Office: Linear/nonlinear circuit simulation

Harmonic balance, S-parameter, load-pull, oscillator analysis

AXIEM: Planar 3D EM (Method of Moments)

Microstrip, stripline, CPW structures to 100+ GHz

Analyst: Arbitrary 3D EM (Finite Element Method)

Connectors, packages, waveguide transitions, antennas

VSS: Visual System Simulator

Full TX/RX chain, modulation, BER, ACLR analysis

RF EDA Tool Comparison

Feature	Cadence AWR	Keysight ADS	Ansys HFSS	Sonnet
Circuit Sim	HB, S-param, transient	HB, S-param, transient	Limited (via links)	None
Planar EM	AXIEM (MoM)	Momentum (MoM)	HFSS 2D (FEM)	MoM (primary)
3D EM	Analyst (FEM)	EMPro (FDTD/FEM)	HFSS (FEM)	Limited
System Sim	VSS	Ptolemy	None	None
Strength	MMIC, defense RF	Test integration	3D structures	Planar accuracy
Cost/Seat	$15K-50K	$15K-50K	$30K-80K	$5K-25K

Practical Application

A defense contractor designs a 28 GHz GaN power amplifier MMIC in AWR Microwave Office using a WIN Semiconductors NP15 0.15 µm GaN PDK. The design flow starts with ideal-element schematic simulation of a two-stage PA achieving 35 dBm output power and 25 dB gain using harmonic balance analysis. The engineer replaces ideal elements with PDK transistor models and performs load-pull simulation to find optimal output matching impedance (8+j12 ohms at the drain). Physical layout of the matching networks uses microstrip transmission lines on the 100 µm SiC substrate, with AXIEM EM simulation verifying that parasitic coupling between input and output matching networks does not cause instability. After three EM-circuit co-simulation iterations, the design meets all specifications: Psat = 35.2 dBm, PAE = 38%, gain = 24.8 dB at 28 GHz with unconditional stability from DC to 60 GHz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What simulators does AWR include?

Microwave Office (circuit: HB, S-param, transient), AXIEM (planar MoM EM), Analyst (3D FEM EM), and VSS (system-level TX/RX chain). Integrated schematic-layout-EM flow for closed-loop design.

AWR vs. Keysight ADS?

Comparable circuit simulation capabilities. AWR: more intuitive UI, popular in defense. ADS: deeper test equipment integration, larger model libraries. Similar pricing ($15K-50K/seat). Choice depends on existing tools and foundry PDK availability.

What designs is AWR best for?

MMIC/RFIC (GaAs, GaN, SiGe), PCB RF modules (filters, amps, mixers), antenna feeds, and radar/EW subsystems. Integrated schematic-layout-EM flow excels at matching networks, PA load-pull, and filter tuning.

Cadence AWR