Out in Front: September 2, 1996

Analogy has enhanced its SaberDesigner mixed-signal, mixed-technology simulator family with several new products. Two SaberLink interfaces integrate popular numerical computation and visualization packages into SaberDesigner. The Linear Systems Analysis (LSA) option adds control design capabilities to the simulator.

With the SaberLink interfaces, you integrate The Mathworks' (Natick, MA) Matlab or Integrated Systems' (Sunnyvale, CA) Xmath mathematical-analysis software into the SaberDesigner environment. This feature gives Matlab and Xmath users access to SaberDesigner's higher accuracy simulation and analysis tools. You can take Matlab and Xmath data and analyze it in SaberScope, SaberDesigner's graphical waveform-analysis tool; use it as a Saber simulator stimulus; or use it for parameter or simulation control. Current SaberDesigner users can now use Matlab and Xmath visualization and graphing functions for tasks such as digital-filter design and synthesis and control-system-algorithm design.

The LSA option extends the use of SaberDesigner into control-system design with pole/zero-, root-locus-, and eigenvalue-analysis capabilities. These analyses let you transform the nonlinear behavior of a system into linear behavior, simplifying design analysis and verification. By locating the poles and zeros of a transfer function, you can describe how system behavior relates to speed and stability. Root-locus analysis lets you see how design changes affect system performance. Eigenvalue analysis is similar to pole/zero analysis but is used for systems with multiple inputs and outputs.

SaberDesigner runs on HP and Sun platforms. The SaberLink interface is available now and starts at $2500. The LSA option will be available next month, starting at $7000.

—by Jim Lipman

Analogy, Beaverton, OR. (503) 626-9700, fax (503) 643-3361, http://www.analogy.com.