Tutorial-17: RF Budget Analysis in SystemVue

Summary

In this tutorial, the presenter explains how to perform out-of-budget analysis in SystemVue, starting from setting up a basic RF transmitter test bench. The process includes defining paths for analysis, setting up budget calculations, and visualizing measurements such as power, voltage, and impedance. The tutorial covers handling complex simulations, adjusting component properties, and plotting results efficiently to monitor system performance. Key insights include adding paths for multiple calculations and fine-tuning parameters to optimize results, making it easy for users to perform complex budget analyses with just a few clicks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learn how to perform out-of-budget analysis in SystemVue.
• 😀 The tutorial builds on the previous lesson, where a simple RF transmitter test bench setup was created.
• 😀 It's important to properly rename and organize different components to avoid confusion during analysis.
• 😀 To start budget analysis, double-click on the simulator, define the path from source to destination, and select the frequency if multiple contenders are involved.
• 😀 SystemVue automatically selects the right source and destination for analysis, but custom paths can be defined if necessary.
• 😀 Various budget calculations can be activated, such as intermodulation, voltage, impedance, and power measurements.
• 😀 After defining the path and running the simulation, SystemVue generates a data folder containing all budget calculations automatically.
• 😀 Different data sets represent spectral calculations and budget measurements; the data can be analyzed and plotted on graphs.
• 😀 Cascaded gain and other parameters can be plotted on graphs, with the x-axis representing node names and component symbols.
• 😀 Budget calculations such as cascaded noise figure can be easily plotted by right-clicking on the desired measurement.
• 😀 Changes to component properties, such as gain, can be made directly in the graph, and the simulation can be rerun to observe the results.

Q & A

What is the focus of the tutorial in the provided script?

The tutorial focuses on performing 'Out of Budget' analysis in SystemVue, demonstrating how to set up paths, define parameters, and visualize results for RF design simulations.

Why is it important to rename components in SystemVue during simulation?

Renaming components is crucial to avoid confusion when working with multiple data sets or paths, making it easier to identify which data corresponds to which component in the simulation.

How does SystemVue help with defining the path for budget analysis?

SystemVue allows users to define the start and stop points of a path, helping to specify the frequency of the calculation and the relevant parameters to be analyzed.

What happens when you add multiple frequencies for budget calculation in SystemVue?

When using multiple frequencies, the budget calculations will differ depending on the frequency input. This allows for more detailed analysis of how different frequencies impact system performance.

What types of budget calculations can be activated in SystemVue?

SystemVue supports a variety of budget calculations, including intermodulation, power, voltage, impedance, and channel effects, which can be customized according to the analysis needs.

How does SystemVue handle multiple paths in budget analysis?

SystemVue allows users to define multiple paths for budget analysis. For example, a path can be set from a low to a mixer or from the source to another component, enabling detailed analysis of different parts of the system.

What does the new 'data folder' in SystemVue contain after running a simulation?

The new data folder created after running a simulation contains all the budget calculations that SystemVue has automatically performed, including spectral calculations.

How can the user visualize the budget calculations in SystemVue?

Users can visualize budget calculations by adding them to a graph, where the x-axis represents nodes and components, and the y-axis shows the measurement values, such as gain or noise figure.

What is the significance of the component property sheet in SystemVue?

The component property sheet allows users to modify properties of components directly within the graph, such as adjusting the gain of an amplifier, which helps in analyzing the effects of these changes on the overall system performance.

How does SystemVue help track changes in the simulation over time?

SystemVue allows users to checkpoint a graph, which freezes its state. This feature enables users to track changes over time, such as after modifying component properties, to observe the impact on the simulation results.