PCB

Importing PCB Data

The project will open and show the imported PA board layout, an EM structure created from the imported layout, and simulation results. Unfortunately this public domain demo board is not an RF or microwave design. We're working on finding a more realistic example, but, in the meantime, this board is sufficient for showing the PCB import flow.

The optional steps below provide more detail on PCB import and setting up the EM structure from the imported data by walk through re-creating the data in this project. Alternatively, you may want to just look around the project as it stands and not worry about the detailed steps.

PCB Import Wizard

Closes all the open windows so that there is no clutter during the import process.

1. Open the cds_routed instance of the PCB Import Wizard.
2. Click on Import Format and note that the wizard supports both ODB++ and IPC-2581 files.
3. Click through the tabs to show the control of which layers import, which nets import, and how the STACKUP imports.
• STACKUP verification is important as often PCB export data doesn't contain the proper electrical properties.
4. Press OK and the entire PCB will import and create a new Circuit Schematic called cds_routed

Selecting Nets and Configuring EM Clip Region

Entire nets can be selected by clicking on a shape in the layout, right clicking, and choosing Select By Name or with Edit > Select By Name. This example uses the latter approach.

1. Choose Edit > Select By Name.
2. Filter the list by typing RA in the filter field.
3. Select RA6 and RA0 (use ctrl for multi-select).
4. Select Preview.
5. Note the two selected nets near the top of the board.
6. Close the Select Net By Name dialog by choosing OK.

EM Clip Regions (i.e. cutting out area around the nets) are auto-defined as a bounding boxes, convex hull, or concave hull with an expansion distance by choosing Draw > Create EM Clip Region or by drawing any shape and converting it to an EM Clip Region. This example doesn't use clip regions because the design is clearly digital with almost perfect ground planes so it seemed that clip regions would only add unnecssary complexity to the EM Structure

Creating EM Document

1. Make sure that the two nets from the previous step are still selected.
2. Choose Layout > Copy to EM Structure.
• Use the default name.
• Select AXIEM as the Available Simulator.
• Push Create.
3. Choose OK in the Simplifiation Properties dialog.
4. Choose Draw > Create Ports from PCB Pins.
5. Note that ports are automatically generated at the component pin locations.
6. Choose OK in the Select EM Ports dialog.
7. Note that an EM Structure is created with just the selected nets and not other shapes because an EM Clip Region was not defined.
8. It only took a few clicks and a short amount of time to get to this point!
9. The EM Structure is now ready for manual refinement and simulation.