At the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium this week, Ansoft Corporation released a new version of its 3D full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation software HFSS. Featuring new higher-order hierarchical basis functions combined with an iterative solver that provides accurate fields using smaller meshes and more efficient solutions for large multi-wavelength structures, the HFSS v11 delivers greater accuracy, capacity and performance than before. Plus, a new fault tolerant, high-quality finite element meshing algorithm allows HFSS to simulate complex models two to five times faster using half of the memory compared to previous versions.

"The new technology in HFSS v11 allows our customers to perform massive simulations of structures that were simply too large to solve previously," said Zoltan Cendes, Ansoft's chairman and chief technology officer. "Designers of high-frequency and high-speed components now have the ability to explore electromagnetic performance over a range of dimensions, orientations, material parameters and frequencies and hence to gain design insights that were not possible before."

In summary, key highlights of HFSS v11 include higher-order, hierarchical basis functions, iterative solver, enhanced port solver, floquet ports, genetic algorithm to expand optimization choices, auto-assign capability for terminals, fault tolerance, and high-quality finite element mesh generation algorithm. Additionally, it also features automatic distributed solve for discrete and interpolating frequency sweeps and parametric sweeps. It offers sensitivity and statistical analysis, as well as refined user interface and dynamic link capabilities.

According to Ansoft, HFSS v11 is available on Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, XP Professional, XP x64 edition, Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux v3, Solaris 8 and Solaris 9.