XFdtd® Circuit Element Optimizer

Goals and Component Values

The Circuit Element Optimizer characterizes the RF structure using full wave FDTD simulation, then selects optimal component values based on the following user defined goals:

Radiation efficiency
System efficiency
S-parameters

Although traditional components include capacitors, inductors, and resistors, modern applications utilize more advanced components to achieve design requirements. The Circuit Element Optimizer supports the following types of components:

Fixed resistor, capacitor, inductor
Ideal resistor, capacitor, inductor
Realistic capacitor, inductor with user-defined equivalent series resistance
Standard *.s2p file definitions downloaded from component manufacturer
Passive tunable integrated circuits (PTIC or “tuners”) in the MDIF format of *.s2p files

Each component can take on a discrete range of values, representing the parts available from a component supplier.

Additional Information

Webinars

Antenna Design Workflow Using Full-Wave Matching Circuit Optimization

The design of a matched antenna is a fairly involved process. This webinar shows how XFdtd simplifies this process by providing tools to parameterize the unmatched antenna, determine S11, synthesize a matching network topology with Optenni Lab, and determine the final component values using the Circuit Element Optimizer.
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Webinars

Introduction to XFdtd’s Circuit Element Optimizer

Remcom’s Circuit Element Optimizer for XFdtd is a unique tool for full wave matching circuit optimization. This webinar introduces the capability and provides an example of how it is used. A GPS/Bluetooth antenna and an LTE antenna are used for the demonstration.
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Application Examples

FDTD Simulation: Optimizing an LTE Antenna's Matching Network

A simple antenna for LTE band operation is added to the PC board of a smartphone in XFdtd and the matching circuit is tuned for operation in multiple frequency bands. The component values in the matching network are chosen to maximize system efficiency.
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Application Examples

Full Wave Simulation: Matching Network Design for GPS / Bluetooth Antenna

XFdtd's Circuit Element Optimizer is used to determine optimal matching component values for a dual purpose antenna.
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Videos

Demonstration of Full-Wave Matching Circuit Optimization in XFdtd

This video gives a demonstration of Full-Wave Antenna Matching Circuit Optimization using XFdtd's Circuit Element Optimizer (CEO). The antenna matching circuit design flow is discussed, including C
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Videos

XFdtd and Optenni Lab Integration for Matching Circuit Design

Remcom's XFdtd 3D EM simulator integrates with Optenni Lab for antenna matching circuit optimization. This brief video shows the highlights of the workflow and integration using a GPS and Bluetooth
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Publications

Full Wave Matching Circuit Optimization Shortens Design Iterations

Full wave matching circuit optimization (FW-MCO) is a new technology that combines full wave, 3D EM simulation with circuit optimization into a novel approach for solving an age-old RF problem: determining which component values provide the desired match for a given matching network layout. This article describes the design process using the design of a matching circuit for a GPS-Bluetooth antenna.
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Publications

Overview of XFdtd's Circuit Element Optimizer

XF’s Circuit Element Optimizer utilizes full wave analysis to select the component values for a given printed circuit board (PCB) layout. The tool allows design engineers to optimize matching circuit lumped element values directly in the EM layout where the coupling from multiple antennas and the ground return current paths are taken into account. This whitepaper gives an overview of how the Circuit Element Optimizer works and the benefits it provides.
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Brochures

Full Wave Matching Circuit Optimization Brochure

Determining the final set of component values in a matching network can be a challenging process. At higher frequencies, especially VHF and above, significant EM effects on the real circuit (inter-connection transmission line effects and coupling between the antenna being tuned, other antennas, and other parts of the structure) are difficult to quantify and account for in circuit schematic simulators alone.
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