OptEM Cable Designer models high-performance multi-conductor twisted-pair cables.

OptEM Cable is a CAE software tool for engineers designing high-performance data transmission cables. At high frequencies between 100 MHz to 10 GHz, the behavior of the signal that travels along the cable changes due to electromagnetic effects. Typical problems include increased attenuation, dispersion, distortions, and crosstalk. OptEM Engineering offers a cost effective and efficient software solution to test the cable's signal integrity by building transmission line models and performing a simulation of the cable system. The software performs an electromagnetic (EM) field analysis to generate accurate L, R, C, G reports and cable transmission line models. Using these models a TDR simulation of the cable system is run to test signal integrity of the cable and tune the system performance.

OptEM Cable Designer uses a hierarchical design concept where existing design elements are used as building blocks (instances) in constructing higher-level cable designs. Objects in the cross section are tagged to identify key object properties including the core material (conductor or dielectric), plating material and thickness, on-screen color representation, and the object name. When an existing structure is inserted into a new design the existing structure is referred to as an instance which has its own unique position, rotation and lay length. The unique properties of the instance define realistic twisting parameters for individual pairs, bundles, shields and cables. The hierarchical design concept, and position, rotation and lay length details, allow the design engineer to quickly and easily model complex twisted-pair cable geometries.

The strength of OptEM Cable Designer lies in the accuracy of the models generated and the ease of use of the tool. The cable models are built using an EM field analysis engine that runs in the background. The EM field solution is based on the Helmholtz equation which, unlike static field solvers, takes into account dielectric and conductor losses inherent within the cable structure. The results produced by OptEM's EM field solver are frequency-dependent and include proximity and skin effects.

Using OptEM Cable Designer an engineer can model cables of any length and observe L, R, C, G and characteristic impedance (Zo) results, as well as create frequency-dependent transmission line models for TDR, ground bounce and near/far end crosstalk simulation.

minimum 64 MB RAM, 128 MB swap, 30 MB disk, and

PC workstation with a Pentium based processor or equivalent running Windows XP, NT, or 98

hierarchical design concept

each multi-conductor cable instance within the hierarchy can have its own position, rotation and lay length

key object properties include core material (conductor or dielectric), plating material and thickness, and on-screen color representation

object properties bundled as a single object definition and tagged to a selected object

performs frequency-dependent electromagnetic field analysis and generates L, R, C, G reports and transmission line models

EM field solver runs in batch analysis

calculate time domain reflectometry (TDR) waveforms, characteristic impedance values, losses, and crosstalk

quickly and easily model high-performance multi-conductor twisted-pair cable structures

detailed modeling properties provide real-world cable geometries for accurate simulation

re-use object definitions to speed-up the cable modeling process

EM field solver based on a quasi-static technique which takes into account dielectric and conductor losses, including proximity and skin effect, inherent in long cable structures

inclusion of losses in the EM field analysis provides accurate L, R, C, G reports and transmission line models

batch analysis allows for concurrent modeling and simulation

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