A Multilayer Planar Electromagnetic Field Solver

Anew software tool, Maxwell® Strata, has been introduced to solve the next generation of dense planar circuits, including microwave and millimeter-wave monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) and planar antennas. The new tool, based on a method of moments (MoM) solution of the mixed potential integral equation, is able to solve for the S-, Yand Z-parameters of true three-dimensional traces and structures. Radiation effects, conductor loss and dielectric loss are included in the analysis. The traces and structures can lie either on or within layered dielectric substrates. This three-dimensional capability, as well as other advanced implementation features to speed solution time, enables the simulation of larger, denser and more complicated structures than ever before possible, and opens the door to highly dense RF, microwave, millimeter-wave and MMIC circuit design. The Maxwell Strata software runs on all popular UNIX-based workstations and on high performance personal computers (PC). The advanced Motif-based graphical user interface simplifies model generation, simulation and postprocessing. The program has an integrated simulation environment with the ability to import/export from/to computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering tools, such as Autocad, Cadence, Mentor Graphics, HP EEsof and SuperCompact. The Maxwell Strata multilayer planar solver has several unique features that distinguish it from the currently available commercial tools. It is a true three-dimensional current solution. Automatic triangular mesh generation and adaptive mesh refinement are featured, resulting in a highly dense mesh that only occurs in regions where needed and an adaptive solution that ensures convergence. A fast iterative matrix solver is used for fast solution of large problems. Asymptotic methods provide a fast frequency sweep for fast calculation of wideband S-parameters and radiation. The program is capable of solving two-dimensional and true three-dimensional structures on and in multilayer planar substrates, including airbridges, standard and tapered vias, and finite trace thickness. In addition, the program can solve for arbitrary trace contours, such as S-shaped meander lines and circular spirals, using a triangular surface mesh. The Motif graphical user interface and postprocessing provide animated current and field plots, far-field computation/plotting, accurate port de-embedding/ renormalizing and Smith chart plots.