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Boundary and Excitation Training: February 2003

This document discusses the importance of properly applying boundary conditions in electromagnetic simulations. Boundary conditions define how fields behave at material interfaces or boundaries. They are critical for obtaining accurate results, but can also be used to simplify models. Common boundary condition types include wave ports, lumped ports, perfect electric/magnetic surfaces, and radiation boundaries. It is important to select the proper boundary conditions based on the structure being modeled and ensure assumptions made by the conditions are valid. Examples are provided to illustrate proper and improper boundary condition usage.

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Sandrine Gallard
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
309 views

Boundary and Excitation Training: February 2003

This document discusses the importance of properly applying boundary conditions in electromagnetic simulations. Boundary conditions define how fields behave at material interfaces or boundaries. They are critical for obtaining accurate results, but can also be used to simplify models. Common boundary condition types include wave ports, lumped ports, perfect electric/magnetic surfaces, and radiation boundaries. It is important to select the proper boundary conditions based on the structure being modeled and ensure assumptions made by the conditions are valid. Examples are provided to illustrate proper and improper boundary condition usage.

Uploaded by

Sandrine Gallard
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Boundary and Excitation Training

February 2003

Boundary Conditions

Why are They Critical?


For most practical problems, the solution to Maxwells equations requires a rigorous matrix approach such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) which is used by Ansoft HFSS. The wave equation solved by Ansoft HFSS is derived from the differential form of Maxwells equations. For these expressions to be valid, it is assumed that the field vectors are: single-valued, B bounded, and have a E = t continuous distribution (along with their derivatives) Along boundaries of media or at sources, Field vectors are discontinuous Derivatives of the field vectors have no meaning

H = J + D= B=0

D t

Boundary Conditions define the field behavior across discontinuous boundaries

Boundary Conditions

Why do I Care?
They Force the fields to align with the definition of the boundary condition As a user I should be asking
What assumptions, about the fields, do the boundary conditions make? Are these assumptions appropriate for the structure being simulated?

Model Scope/Complexity The infinite space of the real world needs to be made finite
Ansoft HFSS Background or Outer boundary

When applied properly, they can be used to reduce the complexity


Solution Time Computer Resources

Failure to understand boundary conditions may lead to inconsistent results

Boundary Conditions

Application of Boundary Conditions - Case 1


Emulate laboratory measurements
Verification/Validation before production

Picture courtesy of Delphi

Picture courtesy of Tektronix

Boundary Conditions

Application of Boundary Conditions - Case 2


Isolate part of a structure (i.e. Exciting arbitrary transmission lines)
Not physically possible to measure in the laboratory Full-Wave analysis not required for total system Or total system too complex Design work/Component level optimization Post production problem solving
Total System Isolated Component Via Transition

Boundary Conditions

What are Common Ansoft HFSS Boundary Conditions?


Sources Wave Ports (External) Lumped Ports (Internal) Surface Approximations Symmetry Planes Perfect Electric or Magnetic Surfaces Radiation Surfaces Background or Outer Surface Material Properties Boundary between two dielectrics Finite Conductivity of a conductor

Largely the users responsibility

Transparent to the user

Example

Example Structure
Coax to Stripline

LAYER 1 (TOP SIDE) LAYER 2 (SIGNAL) LAYER 3 (BOTTOM SIDE)

Example

Material Properties
All 3D (Solid) objects have material definitions To complete the model shown previously we must include the air that surrounds the structure.

air

Note: Substrate/Air boundary included in structure

Example
Remember! Material Boundary conditions are transparent to the user They are not visible in the Project Tree Example Material Boundary: Conductors Surface Approximations Perfect Conductors Perfect E Boundary (Boundary Name: smetal) Forces E-Field perpendicular to surface Lossy Conductors Finite Conductivity Boundary Forces tangential E-Field to ((1+j)/())(n x Htan). Assumes one skin depth User must manually force Ansoft HFSS to solve inside lossy conductors that are = a skin depth
smetal

Example

Surface Approximations
Background or Outer Boundary Not visible in the Project Tree Any object surface that touches it Perfect E Boundary Default boundary applied to the region surrounding the geometric model Model is encased in a thin metal layer that no fields propagate through

outer Override with Radiation Boundary

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Excitations

Excitations
Ports are a unique type of boundary condition Allow energy to flow into and out of a structure. Defined on 2D surface Arbitrary port solver calculates the natural field patterns or modes Assumes semi-infinitely long waveguide Same cross-section and material properties as port surface 2D field patterns serve as boundary conditions for the full 3D problem Excitation Types Wave Port External Recommended only for surfaces exposed to the background Supports multiple modes (Example: Coupled Lines) and deembedding Compute Generalized S-Parameters
Frequency dependent Characteristic Impedance (Zo) Perfectly matched at every frequency

Measurements Constant Zo

Lumped Port Internal Recommended only for surfaces internal to geometric model Single mode (TEM) and no deembedding Normalized to a constant user defined Zo

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Excitations

Excitation Types Boundary Conditions


Wave Port
Perfect E or Finite Conductivity Default: All outer edges are Perfect E boundary. Port is defined within a waveguide. Easy for enclosed transmission lines: Coax or Waveguide Challenging for unbalanced or non-enclosed lines: Microstrip, CPW, Slotline, etc. Symmetry or Impedance Recognized at the port edges Radiation Default interface is a Perfect E boundary

Lumped Port
Perfect E or Finite Conductivity Any port edge that interfaces with a conductor or another port edge Perfect H All remaining port edges

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Excitations

Excitation Types Calibration


Ports must be calibrated to ensure consistent results. Determines: Direction and polarity of fields Voltage calculations.

Solution Type: Driven Modal


Expressed in terms of the incident and reflected powers of the waveguide modes. Definition not desirable for problems having several propagating quasi-TEM modes Coupled/Multi-Coupled Transmission Lines Always used by the solver Calibration: Integration Line Phase between Ports Modal voltage integration path: Zpi, Zpv, Zvi Solution Type: Driven Terminal Linear combination of nodal voltages and currents for the Wave Port. Equivalent transformation performed from Modal Solution Calibration: Terminal Line Polarity Nodal voltage integration path

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Excitations
Example Solution Types:

Mode 1 (Even Mode)

Integration Line Port1 2 Modes

Modal

Port2 2 Modes

Mode 2 (Odd Mode)

Integration Line

Modes to Nodes Transformation


T1 Port1 T1 T2 T2 T1

Terminal

Port2 T2

SPICE Differential Pairs

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Example

What Port Type Should I Use?


Example is easy decision Port touches background (External) Cross Section is Coax (Enclosed Transmission Line)

Wave Port
Solution Type: Driven Terminal SPICE Output

Identify Port Type & Cross Section

Assign Excitation & Calibrate Port

Define Default Post Processing

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Example

Is it Really that Simple?


Yes, but the geometric model was setup with several considerations 1. Only the face of the coax dielectric was selected for the port face
Port Boundary conditions define outer conductor Material Definitions define inner conductor
2.

Uniform port cross-section


Only supports a single mode Higher-order modes caused by reflections would attenuate before port Modes attenuate as a function of e-z, assuming propagation in the z-direction. Required distance (uniform port length) depends on modes propagation constant.

Uniform cross-section Rule of Thumb: 5x Critical Distance

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Example

How often is the Setup that Simple?


If you are emulating laboratory measurements? [Case 1] Most of the time! Laboratory equipment does not direct connect to arbitrary transmission lines Exceptions Emulating Complex Probes with a Port Understanding of Probe If you are isolating part of a structure? [Case 2] For real designs - usually only by dumb luck! User Must Understand and/or Implement Correctly: 1. Port Boundary conditions and impact of boundary condition 2. Fields within the structure 3. Assumptions made by port solver 4. Return path

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Example

Side Note: Problems Associated with Correlating Results [Case 2]


Can be broken into two categories of problems 1. Complex Structure BGA, Backplane, Antenna Feed, Waveguide Plumbing, etc Most common problems result from Measurement setup Test fixtures, deembedding, etc. Failing to understand the fields in the structure Boundary Problem Return path problems Model truncation
2.

Simple Structures Uniform transmission lines Equations or Circuit Elements Most common problems result from Improper use of default or excitation boundary conditions Failure to understand the assumptions used by correct results (Equations or Circuit Elements)

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Return Path

Why are they critical?


Any current injected into a system must return to the source DC Chooses path of least resistance AC Chooses path of least inductance A signal propagates between the signal trace and its reference plane Reference plane is just as important as signal trace!

Why do I care?
Many real designs have nonideal return paths Effects only captured by full-wave simulators Isolating parts of a structure Failure to maintain the correct return path will Limit correlation to measurements Mask or create design problems Port and Boundary setup most common source of error in model setup

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Return Path Example

Port2

Port3

No DC Return Path

Port1

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Return Path Example

Port2

Port3

DC Return Path

Port1

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Return Path Example

DC & RF Return Path

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Example

Isolate part of structure - Case 2


Isolate Transition Deembed Recombine using Ansoft Designer - Circuit

Wave Port

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Example

Ansoft Designer - Circuit

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Example

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Example

What went wrong?


Isolate Port from Discontinuity? Yes Uniform Cross-Section? NO The cross section of the port (including its boundaries) is not maintained Maintain Return Path? NO Boundary on port shorts the planes together at edges Identical to placing vias at port edge! All Modes Accounted for? NO Did not consider Parallel Plate mode Even if we did, the via (port edge) cuts off mode Reason vias are used!

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Example
2 Terminals

Parallel Plate

Mode Matching
Ansoft Designer - Circuit Stripline

Wave Port

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Example

Lumped Port

Port Influences Results

No DC Return Path

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Example

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Closing Remarks

Understand Boundary Conditions!

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