MathWorks have updated the RF Toolbox, SimRF, and Antenna Toolbox in Release 2016a to help engineers ramp-up on RF simulation, assist in performing a first order RF budget analysis that is extendable with advanced models, and help integrate the results of RF design in system-level simulation.
The introduction of RF Budget Analyzer in RF Toolbox helps engineers design RF front ends, focusing on getting started with RF modeling and simulation. This helps teams efficiently iterate between system-level specifications and implementation of architectural designs, and reduces time spent in debugging validation test benches. Engineers can now rapidly build executable specifications of the RF front-end and integrate the results of RF design into a system-level simulation. This allows for help with validation of behavior and, by facilitating sharing, supports collaboration with colleagues, suppliers, and customers.
The Antenna Toolbox helps to rapidly model, design, analyze, and visualize real-life antennas and antenna arrays, including dielectric substrate and custom geometry. Engineers can now perform a first-order design in MATLAB with immediate insights and automation, reducing time spent in assessing suitability for the desired application. This added ability to integrate the results of antenna and array design in system-level simulation helps engineers account for the coupling between antenna elements and edge effects early in the design process.
As multi-antenna applications become critical to next-generation communications infrastructure, consumer electronics, and defense applications, it is no longer viable to divorce RF and antenna modeling from the rest of the system design. Now, wireless R&D engineers working on 5G and other advanced wireless communications systems can use MATLAB and Simulink directly for RF and antenna modeling, avoiding the need to learn and maintain separate, specialized tools.
