Ansoft

Ansoft Corporation was a software company specializing in electromagnetic field simulation. The firm developed a suite of simulation tools used to analyze and design electrical machines, RF components, high-speed interconnects, and electromagnetic compatibility issues. Core products included Maxwell, a 2D/3D magnetostatic and time-harmonic solver for electric machines and devices; HFSS (High Frequency Structure Simulator) for 3D full-wave electromagnetic analysis of high-frequency components and antennas; Q3D Extractor for 3D capacitance extraction; and Simplorer, a system-level simulator for mixed-signal, EMC/EMI, and power electronics applications. The software addressed applications in telecommunications, aerospace, defense, automotive, and consumer electronics, enabling engineers to optimize performance, reduce prototyping, and assess thermal and packaging interactions.

In 2008, Ansoft was acquired by ANSYS, Inc., joining ANSYS's multiphysics portfolio. The acquisition integrated Ansoft's EM tools with ANSYS's structural, thermal, and fluid solvers, facilitating co-simulation across multiple physical domains and enabling more comprehensive design workflows. Following the purchase, Ansoft products were marketed and supported under the ANSYS brand, with ongoing development aligned to ANSYS Workbench and other modernization efforts.

History and impact: Ansoft's tools are widely cited in academic and industry settings for electromagnetic analysis, antenna design, RF circuitry, filters, and electromagnetic compatibility studies. The company's technology contributed to CAD modeling of devices ranging from wireless transceivers to electric machines and packaging.