Welcome to Optimum

RF and DSP Design Consulting ServicesProviding Optimum Solutions Since 1999

What we can do for you

Complete End to End System and Hardware Design.
Provide Additional Expertise and Resources to Your Design Team.
Test Troubleshoot and Optimize Existing Hardware Designs.
Independent Design Reviews.
Trade Studies and Technical Proposal Writing.

RF System Design

Optimum Engineering Inc has developed proprietary cascade optimizations techniques which yield significant improvements of overall system performance. These results are used in combination with standard RF system level simulations to further analyze performance. Combining the two approaches results in better overall system performance while maximizing the likelihood of a successful first cut design.

RF Circuit Design and Simulation

Optimum Engineering Inc specializes in low power, miniature RF circuit designs. After the initial pencil and paper design is complete, the entire circuit is entered into RF simulators to account for reflections between components, transmission lines, filter responses, component variations, etc. Matching networks are added, and optimization is performed to obtain the best circuit performance and yield. Time domain simulations are performed to check the transient response for overshoot and stability.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Layout

Optimum Engineering Inc specializes in high density mixed signal PCB design. We will work independently or with your PCB designer on component placement, layer stack up, signal routing and PCB design rules to ensure that the resulting circuit meets RF performance requirements and has minimum undesired cross coupling between circuits.

Electromagnetic (EM) Simulations 

As component density on the printed circuit boards increase the amount of coupling between components and traces needs to be considered in the design. This is especially important with high-speed large level digital circuits are combined low signal level RF components on a single PCB. EM simulations are performed to verify sufficient isolation exists between components. EM simulations are also performed to model non-standard structures such as RF Vias and RF interconnects.

Digital Signal Processing

Optimum Engineering Inc specializes in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA's). Starting with the signal processing goals a general block diagram is obtained. Next a mathematical model of the system is generated and simulated to verify that the algorithms perform as expected. VHDL code corresponding to the mathematical model is written to implement the DSP algorithms within the FPGA. The design is simulated and optimized for fit, speed, and for the use of special resources available within the FPGA.

Testing And Verification

Optimum Engineering Inc.'s test lab supports RF testing from DC to 26.5GHz. We perform standard RF measurements such as Gain, Noise Figure and IP3. On the bench tuning is performed using network analysis combined with circuit simulation. Spur source analysis and mitigation is performed using a combination of spectrum analysis, network analysis, shielding and filtering. In house fabrication of custom shields combined with solder mask removal allows us to add shields to existing PCB's for improved noise and spur performance. By using small 0201 components its usually possible to add filtering to the existing PCB’s to filter out noise and spurs. RF load-pull testing is performed to assure stability over different load/source impedance's which may be present in real world applications. Power supply step response and stability testing is performed using a programmable DC load. The use of automated testing results in increased measurement speed and consistency between measurements. Integration of automated testing and control can be used to perform automated circuit calibration, for example, carrier and side-band suppression of I/Q transmitters. The thermal test chamber is used to characterize circuit performance over temperature and to generate temperature compensation lookup tables.