PathWave Design
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic design automation |
| Predecessor | EEsof |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Charles J. ("Chuck") Abronson, Bill Childs |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | Keysight Technologies |
PathWave Design operates as a segment within Keysight Technologies, previously recognized under the name EEsof (electronic engineering software). It specializes in delivering electronic design automation (EDA) solutions tailored for developing devices such as mobile phones, wireless communication systems, radar technology, satellite links, and advanced high-speed digital frameworks. The suite of tools addresses electronic system level (ESL) design, high-speed digital circuits, RF-mixed signal applications, device modeling, as well as RF and microwave engineering for sectors including commercial wireless, aerospace, and defense.
History
EEsof was established in 1983 by entrepreneur Charles J. ("Chuck") Abronson alongside Bill Childs, who had previously worked at Compact Software.
Initial offerings featured high-frequency circuit simulation tools like Touchstone and Libra. Although the Touchstone simulator itself is no longer in use, its file format continues to be extensively adopted. In 1993, EEsof was acquired by Hewlett-Packard, later transitioning to Agilent Technologies in 1999, before ultimately becoming part of Keysight Technologies.
Post-merger with HP, EEsof's product line was combined with HP’s Microwave Design System (MDS), which debuted in 1985. MDS introduced a linear circuit simulator equipped with schematic capture and graphical layout capabilities including back-annotation—a pioneering feature in RF EDA software—available on both UNIX workstations and PCs. Prior to MDS’s release, HP distributed EEsof's Touchstone on select platforms but discontinued it following MDS's launch.
Both HP and EEsof independently pursued the development of harmonic balance simulators. HP supported Ken Kundert’s doctoral research at UC Berkeley, which resulted in the prototype Spectre harmonic balance simulator. Some accounts indicate that EEsof became aware of this research early on and launched Libra before HP commercialized MDS; other reports suggest Libra was created independently. Kundert subsequently joined Cadence Design Systems, where he further developed Spectre and SpectreRF.
In 1997, HP acquired Optimization Systems Associates (OSA), founded by John Bandler in 1983, incorporating OSA’s harmonic balance optimization technology and the Empipe suite into HP EEsof. This acquisition laid the groundwork for HFSS Designer and Momentum Optimization tools, representing a strategic evolution from analysis-focused to design-centric solutions across HP’s circuit and device simulation portfolio.
On January 7, 2014, Agilent revealed its intention to spin off its electronic measurement divisions—including EEsof—forming Keysight Technologies.
By 2019, Keysight initiated the gradual retirement of the EEsof brand in favor of the PathWave Design TestOps platform; however, the EEsof name still sees limited usage.
Products
- Platforms:
- PathWave Advanced Design System (previously EEsof ADS) – EDA software for RF, microwave, and high-speed digital applications supporting wireless communications, aerospace, defense, and signal integrity
- PathWave EM Design (formerly EEsof EMPro) – A 3D electromagnetic platform combining full-wave EM simulation with circuit analysis
- PathWave RF Synthesis (formerly EEsof/Eagleware Genesys) – RF and microwave design tools aimed at circuit board and subsystem engineers
- PathWave System Design (formerly EEsof/Eagleware/Elanix SystemVue) – An electronic system-level design environment tailored for system architects and algorithm developers in wireless and aerospace/defense communications
- PathWave RFIC Design (formerly EEsof GoldenGate and RF Design Environment) – Simulator for RFIC and RF mixed-signal designs
- PathWave Device Modeling (formerly EEsof IC-CAP), along with PathWave Model Builder (MBP), PathWave Model QA (MQA), and PathWave WaferPro – Solutions focused on device modeling, characterization, and validation
- Electromagnetic solvers:
- Momentum – A 3D planar EM solver based on frequency domain Method of Moments (MoM), included within PathWave ADS, RF Synthesis, and RFIC Design platforms
- FEM Element (previously Electromagnetic Design System) – Full-wave 3D frequency domain simulator available with PathWave ADS and EM Design products
- FDTD Element – A full 3D time-domain solver designed for analyzing complex 3D structures; offered as part of PathWave EM Design
Mergers and acquisitions
The GoldenGate solution became part of the portfolio through the acquisition of Xpedion. SystemVue and Genesys were incorporated following the 2005 purchase of Eagleware-Elanix, a company formed by merging Eagleware—originally established by Randy Rhea in 1985—and Elanix. Additionally, the MBP and MQA platforms were integrated after EEsof acquired Accelicon Technologies.