Analysis and Verification

EM solvers, analysis functions, mesh configuration, utility functions

Each element in the RF PCB Toolbox™ library has a set of analysis functions. Use these functions to analyze:

All the components in PCB Components Catalog.
Printed circuit board (PCB) components designed using design function.
Custom PCB components created using functions and objects in Custom Geometry and PCB Fabrication.

Use this category also to mesh the PCBs into discretized triangles and tetrahedrons for solving analysis equations. You can also compare RF PCB Toolbox simulations with fabricated PCBs, measured results, and technical articles.

Functions

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Analysis

`current`	Calculate and plot current distribution
`charge`	Calculate and plot charge distribution
`capacitance`	Calculate capacitance
`coupling`	Calculate coupling factor of coupler
`design`	Design PCB component around particular frequency
`dgs`	Create defected ground structure of PCB element
`directivity`	Calculate directivity of coupler
`feedCurrent`	Calculate current at feed port
`getZ0`	Calculate characteristic impedance of transmission line
`getZEven`	Calculate even mode impedance of differential PCB transmission line
`getZOdd`	Calculate odd mode impedance of differential PCB transmission line
`inductance`	Calculate inductance
`isolation`	Calculate isolation of coupler
`propagationDelay`	Compute propagation delay of transmission line
`rlgc`	Compute resistances, inductances, conductances, and capacitances
`sparameters`	Calculate S-parameters for RF PCB objects

Meshing

`mesh`	Change and view mesh properties of metal or dielectric in PCB component
`meshconfig`	Change mesh mode of PCB component or shape structure

Utility

`cylinder2strip`	Cylinder equivalent width approximation
`dielectric`	Dielectric material for use as substrate
`DielectricCatalog`	Catalog of dielectric materials
`metal`	Conductor material
`MetalCatalog`	Catalog of metals
`voltagePort`	Create voltage source with N-ports

Topics

Fundamental RF PCB Analysis

Scattering Parameters or S-Parameters
Basics of S-parameters, how to analyze PCB components using S-parameters.
Behavioral Models
Accelerate circuit level analysis, behavioral s-parameter calculations, optimize layout and performance.
Characteristic Impedance of Transmission Lines
Characteristic impedance of transmission lines; even and odd mode impedances of coupled transmission lines.

Solvers

Method of Moments Solver for Metal and Dielectric Structures
Method of Moments computation technique for metal and dielectrics in a PCB.
2-D Field Solver
The 2-D field solver in RF PCB Toolbox™ allows you to model and analyze the cross-sections of multiconductor transmission lines in a multilayered dielectric above a ground plane like a microstrip line.
Eigenmode-Based Solver for PCB Vias
Wave generation and propagation in vias, circuit model, equations.

Featured Examples

Analysis of a Single Ended Via for Proper Placement of Ground Return Vias for 40+ Gbps Signaling

Model the return path of single ended printed circuit board vias using the via analysis feature in RFPCB Toolbox viaSingleEnded .

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Surrogate Based Optimization of a Planar Spiral Inductor

Use an optimization based approach for designing a planar PCB spiral inductor. A surrogate optimization technique available in Global Optimization Toolbox™ is used as the optimizer. The spiral inductor material parameters and geometry gives rise to an effective inductance across the input and output ports. A rectangular spiral on a silicon substrate is chosen based on [1]. The target inductance to be achieved is 10 nH at a frequency of 3 GHz.

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Model and Analyze Microstrip Interdigital Capacitor as Bandpass filter

The interdigital capacitor (IDC) is a multi-finger periodic structure and is frequently used in the microstrip microwave integrated circuits for RF or microwave development. The interdigital capacitors use the capacitance that occurs across a narrow gap between conducting fingers. They are optimized based on applications.

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Create and Analyse Dual Characteristics of Complementary Split Ring Resonators from Gerber Files

Create a complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) from Gerber files and subsequently analyze the model. The Gerber file format is used in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing and is available in two formats: RS-274D, which was the initial release standard, and RS-274X, which is the newer extended Gerber format. The RF-PCB Toolbox™ supports the newer RS-274X format both to generate Gerber files from a PCB model and to create the PCB model from a set of Gerber files.

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Prototype, Design, and Analysis of SIW based Microstrip Tapered Transmission Line

Design and analyze a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) microstrip transmission line using Gerber files.

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Create and Analyze PCB Interconnects using Custom Traces

Use the custom traces traceLine and tracePoint in RF PCB Toolbox and create PCB traces with different shapes and orientations. The traceLine uses the lengths and angles properties to create a trace and the tracePoint uses points to create the trace. For both the traces, corner property can be set to Sharp, Miter, and Smooth to create specific corners at all the bends.

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