Improved design tools save engineering resources

Component manufacturers are continuously improving and upgrading their design tools to make it even easier for engineers to select the right device for their designs. Two of the most recent upgrades are Murata’s noise filter tool and Nexperia’s electrothermal simulation models for MOSFETs, both developed to help engineers bring their products to market faster.

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. recently released its free Advanced Noise Filter Design Support Tool that helps engineers select a noise filter for their designs. The enhanced automatic component selection function helps save the engineering team’s design resources.

The software tool enables engineers to set the target noise frequency and other conditions. “When designing noise suppression, designers first measure the frequency that needs to be resolved by using actual equipment and set a target noise reduction level based on the standards at the location where the final products are going to be shipped to,” said Murata.

“When formulating a noise suppression policy, it is very useful to be able to verify the noise suppression effect while selecting components and noise filter configuration in terms of verifying how close the test models are to the target noise suppression level,” added the company. This is where the design tool helps meet these requirements.

Previously, the conventional Noise Filter Design Support Tool was only capable of automatic optimal component selection for filter configuration upon initial setup. The enhanced version adds functionality that automatically selects the optimal components for any filter configuration selected any time after the initial setup. This function also allows for the selection of a frequency range for considering insertion loss properties, while taking into account the component’s footprint when reviewing the filter configuration.

The design tool automatically calculates and displays the component combination that provides the highest noise suppression effect with the user setting the conditions. In addition, any frequency range can be selected when considering insertion loss properties, said Murata, and multiple filter configurations can be compared using the reference display for the component implementation footprint.

Nexperia recently released its enhanced electrothermal models for its MOSFET devices that cover the entire MOSFET operating temperature range and help evaluate electromagnetic capability (EMC) even before prototyping. The new models were developed in partnership with a Tier 1 OEM who needed functionality that was not available by other tools in the market.

Nexperia said “semiconductor manufacturers commonly provide simulation models for their MOSFETs, but these usually only include a limited number of device parameters that have been modelled at typical operating temperatures.” The advanced models capture the thermal interdependency of the complete set of device parameters across the full operating temperature range from -55°C to 175°C.

Overall accuracy is further improved by including the reverse diode recovery time and device EMC performance in the advanced models. With the new functionality, engineers can create accurate circuit and system level simulations and assess the electrical, thermal, and EMC performance before building a prototype. “These models also help save time and resources because engineers, who were previously required to ensure that their designs could operate under (unlikely) worst-case conditions, can now simulate their designs across specific temperatures ranges,” said Nexperia.

Nexperia plans to release additional advanced support tools in the coming months.