HP Releases Windows Version of AppCAD RF Design Software

Hewlett-Packard Company announced a Windows version of AppCAD, a software program based on the popular MS-DOS version of HP's original radio frequency (RF) and microwave AppCAD product. The new version runs on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT4 systems. The announcement was made at the Wireless Symposium/Portable by Design Conference, which runs Feb. 22 - 26 at the San Jose Convention Center.

AppCAD provides designers with a suite of RF design tools and computerized application notes that speed and simplify design. The program's interactive approach makes engineering calculations quick and easy for many RF, microwave and wireless applications using products that range from discrete transistors and diodes to radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). As a personal design assistant for wireless applications, AppCAD simplifies tasks related to the design and analysis of many circuits, signals and systems.

Among AppCAD's design tools are calculators for using voltage and current-biased RFICs, large- and small-signal detectors, transistor biasing, transmission lines and system reflection/transmission. The modules allow a designer to input values for circuit variables in a generalized circuit and calculate results, thus saving design time and increasing the probability of system success. Also included are modules on designing for reliability and a device thermal calculator.

AppCAD is provided free of charge by HP to RF and microwave design engineers and will be updated periodically as new features are added. AppCAD can be downloaded from the Web at http://www.hp.com/go/rf in the design section of HPRFhelp and will be included in the next edition of the "HP Electronic Components Designer's Catalog CD-ROM" (expected to be released in May).