The Advantages of Multi-Rate Harmonic Balance
Harmonic balance analysis has been the fundamental simulation solution for nonlinear frequency-domain simulation for more than 25 years, and the most advanced versions are more capable than ever. AWR’s APLAC® HB simulator, for example, can efficiently solve designs with thousands of analysis frequencies, and its ability to scale in a near-linear fashion as circuit elements, nodes, and frequencies increase makes it highly productive.
The limitation of traditional harmonic balance analysis occurs when it is used to solve large circuits with many different signal sources because it requires long computational times and large amounts of computer memory. To make harmonic balance analysis viable when analyzing such circuits, AWR has developed a multirate harmonic balance (MRHB) technology within its APLAC family of harmonic balance and time-domain simulators. MRHB overcomes the aforementioned limitations, significantly reducing the solution time as well as the computer memory required when applied to frequency-rich nonlinear systems that have multiple signal sources. The capabilities provided with MRHB make it possible to solve entire complex subsystems such as mobile phone transceivers in a practical amount of time.