Microstrip

Currently the standard library includes several components in the microstrip tool box. A tool box is just a directory with the description of models in it.

Remember the arguments are case sensitive, and you can use units.

Properties (TinyCAD only)

These values are translated into the variable block on the text file version of Mason. If you are manually writing the Mason file, you probably want to add these values to the variable block yourself to maintain consistency throughout the design.

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  3. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  4. loss_tan: the loss tangent of the material

  5. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

  6. cu_sigma: the conductivity of the metal (Siemens per meter)

mline

    1. This is a straight low loss microstrip line. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width: the metal width (in meters)

    2. length: the length of the microstrip line (in meters)

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  3. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  4. loss_tan: the loss tangent of the material

  5. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

  6. cu_sigma: the conductivity of the metal (Siemens per meter)

mcurve

    1. This is a curved low loss microstrip line. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.radius: the radius of the curved line (in meters)

    2. angle: the length of the curve (in degrees) [for PADS Layout output, keep under 90-degrees]

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  3. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  4. loss_tan: the loss tangent of the material

  5. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

  6. cu_sigma: the conductivity of the metal (Siemens per meter)

mlintaper

This element is used taper between two microstrip widths and prevent parasitics due to a step discontinuity. This is an approximation using the mean of the two widths. Should be reasonably accurate for electrically short lengths- keeping the length of the taper to the dielectric height should be a reasonable . In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.

  1. W1: the starting metal width (in meters)

  2. W2: the ending metal width (in meters)

  3. length: the length of the microstrip line (in meters)

  4. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  5. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  6. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  7. loss_tan: the loss tangent of the material

  8. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

  9. cu_sigma: the conductivity of the metal (Siemens per meter)

mopen (Stub)

    1. This is a open circuit low loss microstrip line. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width: the metal width (in meters)

    2. length: the length of the microstrip line (in meters)

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  3. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  4. loss_tan: the loss tangent of the material

  5. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

  6. cu_sigma: the conductivity of the metal (Siemens per meter)

mtee

mtee_compensated

    1. This is a lossless microstrip tee-junction. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width_a: Port 1 width, in line with width_b (in meters)

    2. width_b: Port 2 width, in line with width_a (in meters)

    3. width_2: Port 3 width, crosses with width_a and width_b (in meters)

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  1. This is a compensated lossless microstrip tee-junction. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width_a: Port 1 width, in line with width_b (in meters)

  2. width_b: Port 2 width, in line with width_a (in meters)

  3. width_2: Port 3 width, crosses with width_a and width_b (in meters)

  4. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  5. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

mcross

    1. This is a lossless microstrip cross. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.W1: width of ports 1 and 2 (in meters)

  1. W2: width of ports 3 and 4 (in meters)

  2. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  3. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

mbend_compensated (Optimal Bend)

    1. This is an optimally mitered lossless microstrip bend. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width1: metal width for Port 1 (in meters)

    2. width2: metal width for Port 2 (in meters)

  1. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  2. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

  3. height_c: height to the ceiling (in meters)

  4. cu_thickness: thickness of the copper (in meters)

mgap

    1. This is a lossless microstrip gap. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width: width of the microstrip line (in meters)

  1. gap: length of the gap (in meters)

  2. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  3. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

medgecoupled

    1. This is a lossless edge coupled pair of microstrip lines. In TinyCAD many of these values are set equal to the variables defined in the Properties block.width: width of the symmetric microstrip lines (in meters)

  1. gap: width of the gap (in meters)

  2. length: the length of the coupled lines (in meters)

  3. eps_r: the permittivity of the dielectric

  4. height_d: the dielectric height (in meters)

Copyright 2010, Gregory Kiesel