ALMOND - ALgorithm for Microwave Optimal Network Design

ALMOND is a DOS utility programme for the design, analysis, and optimization of RF passive, distributed, and active networks. The programme was originally written in 1980/81 on an Atari 800, and in 1982 was transcribed to the IBM PC, becoming the first such software to be made available for personal computers.

ALMOND uses two-ports to calculate the network response, and is organized as a series of element blocks, which include:

	1.	Passive elements (resistors, capacitors, and inductors)
		either indivudually or as simple series or parallel com-
		binations.

	2.	Distributed elements, such as transmission lines, open
		and shorted stubs, and parallel-coupled lines.

	3.	User-defined S-parameter two-ports, which are created
		with an element file editor within ALMOND.

	4.	User-defined one-port and impedance elements, also cre-
		ated with the element file editor.

	5.	Block modifiers, including Inverse (INV), Common-Emitter
		to Common-Base (CEB), Common-Emitter to Common-Collector
		(CEC), and Image (IMA).

	6.	Block interconnections, including Cascade (CAS and CAX),
		Series (SER), Parallel (PAR), and Hybrid (HYB).

Designers who are familiar with the field of RF CAD will recognize that the network structure is similar to COMPACT, which, at the time ALMOND was written, was essentially the only RF CAD routine available.

ALMOND includes features that, when first introduced, were unique to the field of RF/Microwave CAD, including:

	1.	S-parameter file interpolation.

	2.	Graphics output, including Smith Charts.

	3.	Adaptive optimization.

All of these features are now common amongst all higher-level RF CAD routines, which are all very costly and virtually out of reach for most hobbyists. ALMOND, on the other hand, is shareware, and was a pioneer in RF CAD software.

           If you wish to download a copy of ALMOND,
           along with a Word 6.0 version of the manual, 
         / proceed from here to the shareware page.
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