Package, Chip, and PCB Electromagnetic Field Simulation

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In recent years, electronic devices and systems have been decreasing in size, weight, and supply voltage yet increasing in speed, frequency, and circuit complexity.  Gone the days when the electronics engineer used to do away with just a knowledge of the circuit schematic and some hand calculations. Nowadays, the smallest physical details such as holes, bents, bond wires,  dielectric material, stack-ups, junctions, discontinuities, and of course the frequency and clock speed hugely and exceedingly affect the performance of the electronic device and system such as packages, chips, PCBs, CPUs, and ICs.  For instance, a CPU chip operating at ISM and radio bands has literally become just like an antenna radiating a significant amount of electromagnetic energy, especially when a heatsink is present in the design.  The electronics engineer has no choice but to consider electromagnetic field simulation to accurately characterize electronic components and circuits.  

Electronics Design Simulation in Solidworks 

EMWorks has the ideal electromagnetic solution, EMS and HFWorks, for you, the electronics engineer, fully and seamlessly embedded in Solidworks.  Whether your design involves signal integrity, power integrity, battery management, ICs, RF ICs, RF MEMS, power supply, power management, the combination EMS and HFWorks along with the CAD integration empower you to analyze the most intricate electronics devices and systems in record time.  You may even grab a 3D CAD model from the free CAD depositories such as grabcad.com,   www.3dcontentcentral.com, and  www.traceparts.com  which can save you time and effort.

Do I Need EMS or HFWorks for my electronic device?

Using a physics jargon:
  • EMS neglects Maxwell’s displacement current.  It is a static and quasi-static approach. The electric and magnetic fields decouple.  Hence, EMS addresses static electric and magnetic fields calculation, electromagnetic induction, eddy current skin effect, proximity effect, electromagnetic pulse, and motion phenomena. Valid for frequencies from DC to ~ 1GHz.
  • HFWorks accounts for Maxwell’s displacement current.  It is a full-wave approach where the electric and magnetic field are coupled.  Hence, HFWorks addresses electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic interference, and electromagnetic compatibility phenomena for frequencies from few hundred MHz and beyond.
Using an electronics and devices language,

EMS shall be used in the following situations:
  • If the device is very small compared to the wavelength.
  • For frequencies ranging from DC to a few hundred MHz.
  • To compute dielectric breakdown and force.
  • To compute structural deformation due to electromagnetic force or heat.
  • If a shield uses steel where the saturation is a concern.
  • To study power integrity, power supply, power management, and battery management.
  • To compute capacitance, inductance, and resistance.
  • To study the skin and proximity effects.

Whereas HFWorks shall be used in the following situations:
  • If the device is comparable or larger than the wavelength.
  • For frequencies ranging from a few hundred MHz to few hundred GHz.
  • To calculate the radiation and far-fields.
  • To compute S-parameters, e.g.insertion loss and return loss.
  • To compute impedance and signal propagation.
  • To compute the TDR.
  • To study crosstalk and distortion.
  • To study signal integrity.
  • To compute the heat due to dielectric and conductor losses.
  • To study resonance behavior and compute quality factors.  
The following examples shed some light on how to use  EMS and HFWorks to model and simulate your electronic device and systems.