Bern University of Applied Sciences

Engineering and Information Technology

Division of Electrical and Communication Technology

AgilentEESof Advanced Design System

ADS 2009U1

The ABC of ADS

and
Quick Reference Guide

After launching ADS and open or create a new project there are 3 main steps to get simulation
results:

2.2010

Draw schematic

Setup and run simulation

Display data from simulation

Prof. F. Dellsperger

1. Launching the Advanced Design System

the First Time
You set the default design schematic for Analog/RF, Digital Signal Processing, or both.

Select design type to assign search path

Default is Both with Analog/RF Design

This dialog box automatically appears only once (the first time you run the program). If you want to
change the default path later, you can open this window by using the Main window command Options>Advanced Design System Setup.
When you click OK, the Main window appears.

2. Main Window

Startup Wizard

More Videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/AgilentEEsof

2

Creating a new project:

File > New Project

or

When you enter a name for the project,

the program adds the suffix _prj.
Do not use dash (-), use underscore (_)
instead.
Default length unit in layout is mil.
You can change this default either here,
or in layout.

Never use spaces or dashes in any names. Use underscore instead.

Opening an existing project:
File > Open existing Project

or

When the directory from which you launch the program contains projects, they are listed in the
main window.

The project directory contains several subdirectories:

Data
contains simulation data files with extension ds
Mom_dsn
contains momentum data
Networks
contains schematic files with extension dsn
Substrates
contains Substrate data from momentum
Synthesis
contains synthesis data
Verification
contains design verification files
Note: Data displays (extension dds) are stored in the project directory, but do not appear in the
main window.

Copying a project:
File > Copy Project

To Project: enter a project name without suffix

Step A:

Draw Schematic

Schematic Window

Toolbar can be customized by adding or deleting icons in menu Tools Hot Key/Toolbar Configuration Toolbar Toolbar Groups.

Center marker

Component
palette

Currently selected
action

Number of
currently selected
items

Current
insertion layer

Cursor position
related to
center marker

Cursor Schematic
Schematic
units
position
or layout
related to
Design
selected
type
element

Schematic Wizard

Component Parameters
Hide: Edit > Component > Edit Component Parameters > Component Options
Move: Edit > Text > Move Component Text, or F5 or right click on component

Generating a Layout/Schematic (Design Synchronisation)

In a Schematic Window:
In a Layout Window:

Layout > Update/Generate

Schematic > Update/Generate

Step B:

Setting Up and Launching a Simulation

Setting Up a Circuit Simulation

(Analog/RF)
A simulation is set up in a schematic window, using sources and simulators available in the Palette List. Simulator components are placed in the Schematic window. Simulation data are stored into a
dataset.

Source palettes

Simulation palettes

Launching a Circult Simulation (Analog/RF)

You can launch a simulation from the Main window, or from the Simulation Setup dialog box, or F7, or
with

You can place any number of simulator components, and turn them off or on by using the Deactivate/ Activate components icon.
Note By default, all simulations in the schematic window are run.

DC Bias Back Annotation

lmmediately following a DC simulation:
Simulate > DC Solution
displays current and voltage data at the ports of active devices and lumped elements.

Simulate > Detailed Device Operating Point

displays a detailed listing of operating points for all parameters of a selected device.
Simulate > Brief Device Operating Point
displays a brief listing of operating points for common parameters of a selected device.
Simulate > Clear DC Annotation
removes the current and voltage text produced by DC Solution.

Step C:

Display Simulated Data

Data Display Window

Marker insert palette

10

Doubleclick to Equation

11

Doubleclick to plot

Plot options

12

Substrate for Microstriplines

(and other planar lines)
MSub
MSUB
RO4350
H=60 mil
Er=3.48
Mur=1
Cond=1.0E+50
Hu=3.9e+34 mm
T=35 um
TanD=0
Rough=0 um

lossless

H=

substrate thickness, in specified units

Er =

relative dielectric constant

Mur =

relative permeability (1 for nonferrite)

Cond =

conductor conductivity, in Siemens/meter

Hu =

cover height, in specified units

T=

conductor thickness, in specified units

TanD =

dielectric loss tangent

Rough = conductor surface roughness,

in specified units; RMS value

Conductivity:

MSub

Copper
Gold
Silver
Aluminium
Brass MS58
Brass MS63

MSUB
RO4350
H=60 mil
Er=3.48
Mur=1
Cond=5.8E+7
Hu=3.9e+34 mm
T=35 um
TanD=0.0037
Rough=2 um

5.8e7 S/m
4.5e7 S/m
6.25e7 S/m
3.6e7 S/m
1.7e7 S/m
1.4e7 S/m

Losses

Cu Clad
oz/ft

Thickness

um

mil

mm

mil

mm

0.500

17.5

0.102

45

1.143

1.000

35 (Standard)

0.127

50

1.270

2.000

70

6.6

0.168

60

1.524

10

0.254

62

1.575

Cu Surface Roughness:

15

0.381

75

1.905

ED

2.4 um;

19

0.483

93

2.362

Rolled 1.4 um

20

0.508

100

2.540

25

0.635

125

3.175

30

0.762

187

4.750

31

0.787

250

6.350

Standard
1 mil = 1/1000 inch = 25.4 um

13

Substrates on stock in lab

Type

Er

Stock

tan d
1 MHz

4.70
10.00
10.00
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
3.50
6.15
3.20
3.20
3.20
3.20
3.20
3.00
2.55
2.55
2.55
2.50
2.20
2.20
2.17
3.48
3.48

/x GHz

Thickness

Cu Clad

mil

oz/ft2

0.0028
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0030
0.0028
0.0019
0.0019
0.0019
0.0019
0.0009
0.0009
0.0009
0.0037
0.0037

20, 31, 62
47
125
20
20
30
30
30
60
25
31
31
45
60
125
5.2
62
20
30
5
20
62
20
30
60

1
0.5
0.5
1
0.5
1
1
0.5
1
1
1
0.5
1
1
0.5
2
1
0.5
1
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1
1

10 GHz

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

FR4
CER-10-0470-CH/CH
CER-10-1250-CH/CH
RF-35-0200-C1/C1
RF-35-0200-CH/CH
RF-35-0300-C1/C1
RF-35-0300-C1/C1
RF-35-0300-CH/CH
RF-35-0600-C1/C1
RF-60-0250-C1/C1
TLC-32-0310-C1/C1
TLC-32-0310-CH/CH
TLC-32-0450-C1/C1
TLC-32-0600-C1/C1
TLC-32-1250-CH/CH
TLE-95-0052-C2/C2
TLT-8
TLX-8-0200-CH/CH
TLX-8-0300-C1/C1
TLX-9-0050-CH/CH
TLY-5-0200-CH/CH
TLY-5-0620-RH/RH
TLY-5A-0200-CH/CH
RO 4350B
RO 4350B

0.0200

RO 3006

6.15

0.0020

50

RO 3010

10.20

0.0023

50

RT/duroid 5880

2.20

0.0009

31

RT/duroid 5880

2.20

0.0009

62

0.0035
0.0035
0.0018/1.9
0.0018/1.9
0.0018/1.9
0.0018/1.9
0.0018/1.9
0.0018/1.9
0.0010
0.0010
0.0010
0.0010
0.0010
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
0.0004
0.0004
0.0004

Standard

14

Default Keyboard Shortcuts (hotkeys)

To customize the Keyboard/Toolbar, use the Main window command
Tools > HotKey/Toolbar Configuration
New Design
Open Design
Save Design
Print Design
Close Window

Ctrl+N
Ctrl+0
Ctrl+S
Ctrl+P
Ctrl+F4

Edit Undo
End Command
Cut
Copy
Paste
Delete
Rotate
Mirror About X
Mirror About Y
Move
Move Component Text

Ctrl+Z
ESC
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Del
Ctrl+R
Shift+X
Shift+Y
Ctrl+M
F5

Select all
View All
Restore Last View
Zoom In X2
Zoom Out X2
Clear Highlighting
Grid Display

Ctrl+A
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+L
Add (+)
Sub (-)
F8
Ctrl+G

Insert Wire
Insert Text
Insert Polygon
Insert Rectangle
Undo Vertex
Snap Enabled (toggle)

Ctrl+W
Ctrl+Shift+T
Ctri+shift+P
Ctrl+Shift+R
Shift+Z
Ctrl+E

Window Schematic
Window Layout

Ctrl+Shift+S
Ctrl+Shift+L

Simulate

F7

Help Whats this

Help Topics and Index

Shift+F1
F1

15

Built-in Constants
The following constants
Constant
PI (also pi)
e
ln10
boltzman
qelectron
plank
c0
e0
u0
i,j

can be used in expressions:

Description
Eulers constant
Natural log of 10
Boltzmans constant
Electron charge
Planks constant
Speed of light in free space
Permittivity of free space
Permeability of free space
Sqrt(-1)

Value
3.1415926535898
2.718281822
2.302585093
1.380658e-23 J/deg.K
1.60217733e-19 C
6.6260755e-34 J-sec
2.99792e+8 m/sec
8.85419e-12 F/m
12.5664e-7 H/m
1j

System Units
Type
Angle
Capacitance
Concuctance
Current
Frequency
Inductance
Length
Linear Power
Power (dBm)
Resistance
Time
Voltage

Units
Deg
F
Sie
A
Hz
H
m, inch, mil
W
dBm
Ohm
sec
V

System Prefixes
Factor
Meaning
System Prefix
10e12
Tera
t or T
10e9
Giga
g or G
10e6
Mega 1)
M (only)
10e3
Kilo
k or K
10e-2
Centi
c or C
10e-3
Milli 1)
m (only)
10e-6
Micro
u or U
10e-9
Nano
n or N
10e-12
Pico
p or P
10e-15
Femto 1)
f or F
1) The prefixes m, M and f (or F) must be followed by a unit description (MHz, fF, mOhm, MOhm) or
they will be ignored.

16