Getting Started with HFSS: Matching

Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

ANSYS, Inc. Release 2020 R1

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Conventions Used in this Guide

Please take a moment to review how instructions and other useful information are presented in this
guide.
l Procedures are presented as numbered lists. A single bullet indicates that the procedure
has only one step.
l Bold type is used for the following:
o Keyboard entries that should be typed in their entirety exactly as shown. For example,
“copy file1” means the word copy must be typed, then a space must be typed, and
then file1 must be typed.
o On-screen prompts and messages, names of options and text boxes, and menu com-
mands. Menu commands are often separated by carats. For example, “click
HFSS>Excitations>Assign>Wave Port.”
o Labeled keys on the computer keyboard. For example, “Press Enter” means to press
the key labeled Enter.
l Italic type is used for the following:
o Emphasis.
o The titles of publications.
o Keyboard entries when a name or a variable must be typed in place of the words in ital-
ics. For example, “copy file name” the word copy must be typed, then a space must
be typed, and then name of the file must be typed.
l The plus sign (+) is used between keyboard keys to indicate that you should press the keys
at the same time. For example, “Press Shift+F1” means to press the Shift key and the F1
key at the same time.

Ribbons, menu bars, and short-cut menus are three methods that can be used to see what
commands are available in the application.

l Ribbons are the rectangular area on top of the application window and contain multiple tabs.
Each tab has relevant commands that are organized, grouped, and labeled. An example of a
typical user interaction is as follows:

"On the Draw ribbon tab, click the Box primitive" means you can click the Box icon on the
Draw tab and execute the Box command to draw a box.

l The menu bar (located above the ribbon) is a group of the main commands of an application
arranged by category such File, Edit, View, Project, etc. An example of a typical user inter-
action is as follows:

"On the File menu, click the Open Examples command" means you can click the File menu
and then click Open Examples to launch the dialog box.

l Another alternative is to use the short-cut menu that appears when you click the right-mouse
button. An example of a typical user interaction is as follows:

3
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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

“Right-click and select Assign Excitation> Wave Port” means when you click the right-
mouse button with an object face selected, you can execute the excitation commands from
the short-cut menu (and the corresponding sub-menus).
Getting Help: ANSYS Technical Support
For information about ANSYS Technical Support, go to the ANSYS corporate Support website,
https://www.ansys.com/Support. You can also contact your ANSYS account manager in order to
obtain this information.
All ANSYS software files are ASCII text and can be sent conveniently by e-mail. When reporting dif-
ficulties, it is extremely helpful to include very specific information about what steps were taken or
what stages the simulation reached, including software files as applicable. This allows more rapid
and effective debugging.
Help Menu
To access help from the menu bar, click Help and select from the menu:
l HFSS Contents - click here to open the contents of the help.
l HFSS Search - click here to open the search function of the online help.
Context-Sensitive Help
To access help from the user interface, do one of the following:
l To open a help topic about a specific menu command, press Shift+F1, and then click the
command or toolbar icon.
l To open a help topic about a specific dialog box, open the dialog box, and then press F1.

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Table of Contents
Table of Contents Contents-1
1 - Introduction 1-1
2 - Set Up the Project 2-1
Launch ANSYS Electronics Desktop 2-1
Open Project File 2-2
Insert Chip Antenna 2-3
Set HPC Analysis Options 2-5
3 - Validate and Analyze HFSS Design 3-1
4 - Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-1
Insert Circuit Design 4-1
Add HFSS Model to Circuit 4-1
Add Port to Schematic 4-3
Add Components to Schematic 4-5
Connect Components in Schematic 4-8
Configure Circuit Excitation 4-10
Add Frequency Sweep and Analyze 4-11
5 - Tune Matching Network 5-1
Create S-Parameter Report 5-1
Prepare Report for Tuning 5-2
Select Variables for Tuning 5-5
Tune Component Values 5-5
6 - Push Excitations 6-1
7 - Verify Excitation Data in HFSS 7-1
8 - Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-1

Contents-1
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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Contents-2
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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

1 - Introduction
In this Getting Started guide, you will learn about dynamic linking capabilities between HFSS and
Circuit designs in the ANSYS Electronics Desktop application. Specifically, the guide provides an
example of a matching network for a Bluetooth chip antenna.
By following the procedures in this guide, you will learn how to perform the following tasks:
l Dynamically link an HFSS design to a Circuit simulation
l Use the tuning feature in the Circuit design to match the antenna using lumped components
(you will tune the component values)
l Create an S-parameter plots
l Apply a marker to a plot to assist in component tuning
l Push excitations from the Circuit design to the HFSS design
l Create gain plots (radiation pattern) and overlay them on the model geometry

You will begin with a partially completed project file containing a model of a Johanson evaluation
board, to which you will add a Johanson 2450AT18D0100 Bluetooth chip antenna. There is a com-
pleted example model of this evaluation board and antenna included with the ANSYS Electronics
Desktop installation (in the Examples subfolder). However, you will use an incomplete version of
this model as your starting point for this exercise.
The antenna is designed to work at a frequency in the range of 2.4 to 2.48 GHz. The following
images show the evaluation board with the chip antenna mounted to it and the matching network
circuit:

Introduction 1-1
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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Introduction 1-2
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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

2 - Set Up the Project

In this chapter, you will perform the following tasks:
l Launch the ANSYS Electronics Desktop application
l Open the evaluation board project file
l Insert the chip antenna from the Components Libraries
l Rename the predefined lumped port excitation

Launch ANSYS Electronics Desktop

For convenience, a shortcut to the ANSYS Electronics Desktop (EDT) application is placed on
your desktop during program installation. Optionally, you may want to pin the shortcut to your Win-
dows Start Menu too. Before proceeding to the next topic, launch EDT and add a blank project, as
follows:

1. Double-click the ANSYS Electronics Desktop shortcut on your desktop (or the
same shortcut on your Start Menu).

The ANSYS Electronics Desktop application opens:

Note:

When you launch the application, a new, blank project is created automatically. For
this exercise, you will not start with a new project. Therefore, you will close it in the
next step.

2. Right-click Projectx at the top of the Project Manager and choose Close from the shortcut
menu.

Set Up the Project 2-1

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Open Project File

The project file for this exercise is located in the Help subfolder within the ANSYS Electronics
Desktop installation path. The Program Files folders have restricted access permissions, and
besides, you shouldn't overwrite the sample models. Therefore, you will save the project to a suit-
able working folder after opening it.

1. On the Desktop ribbon tab, click Open Examples. Then:

a. In the Open dialog box that appears, click the parent folder icon ( ) once to move up
one level above the Examples folder.
b. Double-click the Help folder and then the HFSS folder.
c. Select the file Chip_Antenna_Board.aedt and click Open.

The model appears in the Modeler window:

Note:

This project is deliberately incomplete. You need to add the chip antenna to com-
plete the HFSS model. Additionally, you must insert a circuit design, add a port and
lumped components, configure the Circuit design excitation, add a frequency
sweep, tune the component values, push excitations from Circuit to HFSS, and
generate reports. For this reason, the project file is located in the Help folder
instead of the Examples folder.

Since you will not be constructing geometry for this exercise, the drawing grid and ruler are
hidden in the project file.

2. On the Desktop ribbon tab, click Save As.

Set Up the Project 2-2

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3. Navigate to a working folder of your choice. (Do not attempt to write to the program install-
ation path.)

Note:

Optionally, you can click the Create New Folder icon ( ) within the Save As dia-
log box to create a new working folder in a suitable location.

4. Click Save to place a copy of the model in your working folder using the same file name.

Insert Chip Antenna

The chip antenna evaluation board has a coordinate system predefined (AntCS), which has its ori-
gin specified at the antenna insertion point. For this particular model, that point corresponds to the
global origin, and the Global and AntCS coordinate systems are identical. However, that is often
not the case. You will use the predefined AntCS coordinate system to add the antenna to the
board, demonstrating the required method for cases in which the antenna insertion point does not
correspond to the global origin.

Note:

The Johanson evaluation board model is protected. You cannot move, copy, delete, or
otherwise modify any of the objects that comprise it. However, you can add objects to the
model.

1. Under Coordinate Systems in the History Tree, ensure that AntCS is the working coordin-
ate system. (A red "W" appears in the lower right corner of the icon when it is active.) If not,
select AntCS to make it active.
2. If the Component Libraries window is not already visible, use the menu bar to toggle its vis-
ibility. (Click View> Component Libraries.)
3. Expand the HFSS Components> Johanson> Bluetooth_Zigbee_Wifi folder in the Com-
ponent Libraries window.

Set Up the Project 2-3

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

4. Right-click 2450AT18D0100 and choose Place Component from the shortcut menu:

The Insert 3D Component dialog box appears.

5. Ensure that the AntCS is selected from the Target Coordinate System drop-down menu.
6. Click OK to place the antenna on the board.

The antenna appears at the correct position on the evaluation board:

Set Up the Project 2-4

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Note:

Alternatively, you could click and drag the antenna from the library to the Modeler
window, bypassing the Insert CD Component dialog box. You can drop the com-
ponent anywhere in the Modeler window. It will be automatically positioned at the
correct insertion point (the origin of the currently active coordinate system) and cor-
rectly oriented.

7. Click in the Modeler window's background area to clear the selection.

8. Save your project. (This command is available from all ribbon tabs and from the File
menu.)

Set HPC Analysis Options

The high performance computing (HPC) capabilities of ANSYS Electronics Desktop enable you to
take advantage of multiple processing cores, which are common on all high-end computer work-
stations. Different portions of the analysis can thereby be solved in parallel, shortening the solution
time.

Note:

The number of cores is determined based on hardware and licensing options. For the pur-
pose of this exercise, use four cores, which is the supported number of cores for a basic
software license.

1. On the Simulation ribbon tab, click HPC Options.

The HPC and Analysis Options dialog box appears.

2. If the configuration named Local does not say YES in the Active column, select this con-
figuration and click Make Active.
3. With Local still selected, click Edit.
4. In the Analysis Configuration dialog box that appears, specify the following settings:
a. Select Use Automatic Settings
b. In the Cores column for localhost, specify 4.

Set Up the Project 2-5

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

5. Click OK twice to close the Analysis Configuration and HPC and Analysis Options dialog
boxes.

6. Save your project.

Set Up the Project 2-6

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3 - Validate and Analyze HFSS Design

An analysis setup named Bluetooth and a 1 to 4 GHz frequency sweep (1_4GHz) are already
defined in the HFSS design. If desired, you can double-click either of these two entries under Ana-
lysis in the Project Manager to review the settings. Click Cancel in each dialog box to close them
without modification before proceeding further.
Additionally, an open region, radiation boundary, ground boundary, and four lumped port excit-
ations are already defined. Do not modify any of the boundaries or excitations.
Verify that there are no model setup errors and run the HFSS simulation, as follows:

1. On the Simulation ribbon tab, click Validate.

The Validation Check window appears, and it should show no warnings or errors:

2. On the Simulation ribbon tab, click Analyze All.

Note:

The Validate and Analyze All commands are also available from the HFSS menu
and from the shortcut menu that appears when you right-click the HFSS design in
the Project Manager.

3. If the Message Manager and Progress windows are not displayed, click Show Messages
and Show Progress, at the right end of the status bar, to see the solution messages and
progress.
4. Optionally, click and drag the borders to resize these windows as preferred.

The HFSS solution takes less than 15 minutes to solve on a reasonably current computer work-
station.

Validate and Analyze HFSS Design 3-1

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

4 - Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design

In this chapter, you will perform the following tasks:
l Insert a Circuit design into the project
l Add the HFSS design to the Circuit design
l Add a port to the HFSS model's schematic in the Circuit design
l Add lumped components to the Circuit design
l Connect components in the schematic
l Configure the Circuit design excitation
l Review the port source properties

Insert Circuit Design

You will add the matching network components and perform their tuning in a Circuit design. Add
one to the project as follows:

1. When the HFSS analysis has finished solving, Save the project.

2. On the Desktop ribbon tab, choose Circuit from the Circuits & Systems
drop-down menu.

The Workflow dialog box appears.

3. In the list at the right side of the Workflow dialog box, ensure that None is selected and click
OK.

An empty Schematic window appears and a Circuit1 branch is added to the tree in the Pro-
ject Manager.

4. In the Project Manager, right-click Circuit1 and choose Rename.

5. Type Matching_Network and press Enter.

Add HFSS Model to Circuit

In this procedure, you will copy the HFSS design of the evaluation board and chip antenna into the
Circuit design.
1. In the Project Manager, right-click Matching_Network and choose Add Subcircuit> Add
HFSS Link from the shortcut menu.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-1

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

The HFSS Dynamic Link dialog box appears.

2. On the left side of the dialog box, under Chip_Antenna_Design> HFSSDesign1, select the
frequency sweep (Bluetooth : 1_4GHz):

3. Click OK.

A subcircuit model of the HFSS design is inserted into the Circuit design Matching_Network
in the Program Manager. The number at the end of the HFSS design name has been incre-
mented:

The HFSS model also appears in the Schematic window.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-2

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

4. On the Schematic ribbon tab, click Fit All. Then, click Zoom Out once or twice to
make room in the Schematic window for adding some lumped components.

Note:

Zoom in or out and scroll in the Schematic window as needed while completing the
circuit. The mouse buttons and scroll wheel work somewhat differently in the
Schematic window than they do in the 3D Modeler. Roll the mouse wheel to zoom
in or out, as in the 3D Modeler. Press Shift while rolling the wheel, or use the scroll
bar on the right edge of the window, to scroll the schematic vertically. Use the bot-
tom scroll bar to scroll horizontally.

Add Port to Schematic

Add an interface port to the schematic. Then, connect it to pin 1:1 of the HFSS evaluation board
model you added to the schematic in the last procedure.

1. On the Schematic ribbon tab, click Interface port.

2. Place the port symbol on the schematic in the approximate position shown below. When you
click, the insertion point of the symbol will snap to the nearest grid point.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-3

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3. Right-click and choose Finish to exit the Interface port command (alternatively, press
Space or Esc).
4. Point to the bottom end of the Port1 pin (but do not click yet).

The cursor changes to an X when near a valid connection point.

5. Click this point.

The Wire command is started automatically, and the start point of the wire snaps to the
Port1 pin.

6. In the same manner, click the mouse at the pin labeled 1:1. (A small circle indicates the snap-
ping point.)

The completed connection wire should match the following image:

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-4

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Because the line completes a connection to a pin, the segment is terminated. Otherwise, if
you clicked at a non-connection point (say to change directions) you can continue to draw
line segments until a valid termination point is reached.

Add Components to Schematic

Next, you will add two capacitors and one inductor to the schematic. You will also specify the appro-
priate parameters and values.
1. Navigate to the Components tab of the Component Libraries window.
2. Under Nexxim Circuit Elements, expand the Capacitor branch.

3. Click and drag the component labeled CAP_: Capacitor onto the left side of the schematic.
Then move the cursor and click again to place a second one on the right side. Locate the two
capacitors at the approximate positions shown below:

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-5

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

4. Right-click and choose Finish (or press Space or Esc) to terminate the component place-
ment operation.
5. Click the capacitor on the left side of the schematic to select it.

The settings associated with this component appear in the docked Properties window.

6. In the Param Values tab of the docked Properties window, change the default numerical
value of C to the variable Shunt1 and press Enter
7. In the Add Variable dialog box that appears, do the following:
a. Select Capacitance from the Unit Type drop-down menu
b. Select pF from the Units drop-down menu.
c. Type 1 in the Value text box.
d. Click OK.
8. In the Component tab of the docked Properties window, change the InstanceName value
to C1 if it is not already specified as such.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for the capacitor on the right side of the schematic. This time, spe-
cify the variable Shunt2 with the same value (1 pF) and name it C2.
10. Under Nexxim Circuit Elements, expand the Inductor branch.

11. Double-click the component labeled IND_: Inductor.

12. Right-click at the desired inductor insertion point (as shown below) and choose Place and
Finish from the shortcut menu.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-6

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

13. Click the inductor you just placed on the schematic to select it.
14. In the Param Values tab of the docked Properties window, change the default numerical
value of L to the variable Series and press Enter.
15. In the Add Variable dialog box that appears, do the following:
a. Select Inductance from the Unit Type drop-down menu.
b. Select nH from the Units drop-down menu.
c. Type 1 in the Value text box.
d. Click OK.
16. In the Component tab of the docked Properties window, change the InstanceName value
to L1 if it is not already specified as such.
17. In the Schematic window, click and drag the Design Properties legend to your preferred loc-
ation.
18. Click in the background to clear the current selection.

The schematic should resemble the following image:

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-7

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Connect Components in Schematic

Next, you will connect the discrete components just added to the schematic to the appropriate
points on the evaluation board.
1. Click the right end of capacitor C1 to start a connection line, click two intermediate points,
and click pin parallel_1:1 to terminate the connection.

Note:

In a proper schematic, diagonal connection lines are avoided. The intermediate

points enable a multi-segment connection in which all line segments are ortho-
gonal. This connection should resemble the following image when completed:

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-8

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

2. In the same manner, connect the left end of C2 to pin parallel_2:1 and the left end of L1 to
pin series:1:

3. Connect the left end of C1 and the right ends of C2 and L1 to each other, as shown below:

4. On the Schematic ribbon tab, click Ground.

5. Click to connect the Ground to any grid point along the connection made in step 3.
6. Press Space to exit the Ground command.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-9

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

7. Click in the background to clear the selection.

The finished schematic should resemble the image below:

8. Save the project.

Configure Circuit Excitation

In this procedure, you will add a 1 volt peak magnitude AC power source to the circuit's Port1 con-
figuration.
1. Under Matching_Network in the Project Manager, right-click Excitations and choose Con-
figure Sources from the shortcut menu.

The Configure ports and sources dialog box appears. Port1 is already selected because it's
the only item in the Ports List.

2. With the drop-down menus in the Add New Source section of the dialog box set to Power
and Sinusoidal (if not already selected); then click Add to selected port:

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-10

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

The Properties dialog box appears.

3. For the parameter ACMAG, specify a value of 1 V:

Note:

This voltage is the peak magnitude of the AC signal, not peak-to-peak. The peak-
to-peak amplitude = 2 * ACMAG, and the amplitude = ACMAG / √2.

4. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

5. Click OK to close the Configure ports and sources dialog box.

Add Frequency Sweep and Analyze

You will now set up a frequency sweep in the Circuit design spanning from 1 to 4 GHz in 0.005 GHz
increments.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-11

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

1. On the Simulation ribbon tab, click LNA. (If LNA is not shown as the default action for
any of the simulation type drop-down menus, select it from the first drop-down menu.)

After clicking the icon, the default action is to set up a Nexxim, Linear Network Analysis
(LNA).

The Linear Network Analysis, Frequency Domain dialog box appears.

2. Immediately below the Sweep Variables table, click Add.

3. In the Add/Edit Sweep dialog box that appears, specify the following settings:
a. Select the Linear step option.
b. Start = 1 GHz
c. Stop = 4 GHz
d. Step = 0.005 GHz
4. Click Add to populate the Sweep Values box.

5. Click OK to close the Add/Edit Sweep dialog box.

6. Click OK to close the Linear Network Analysis, Frequency Domain dialog box.

The Circuit design is ready to be analyzed.

7. On the Simulation ribbon tab, click Analyze.

The Circuit simulation only takes a second or two to finish.

Set Up and Analyze Circuit Design 4-12

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

5 - Tune Matching Network

In this chapter, you will tune the component values in the matching network to minimize the signal
reflection at 2.44 GHz. The goal is for the circuit and antenna to be resonant at this frequency. The
process involves the following steps:
l Create an S-parameter plot
l Prepare the S-parameter plot for circuit tuning
l Select the variables to be tuned
l Tune component values

Create S-Parameter Report

The first step in tuning the circuit is to create an S-parameter report of the signal reflection at Port1.
This plot will be used as the basis of the component tunings to be performed. The signal reflection
will be minimal at the resonant frequency of the circuit. Varying the capacitance and inductance val-
ues will alter the resonant frequency of the circuit.

1. On the Results ribbon tab, click Standard Report> 2D.

2. In the Report dialog box that appears, ensure that all settings are as shown in the following
image:

Tune Matching Network 5-1

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3. Click New Report and click Close.

S Parameter Plot 1 appears in a new window:

Prepare Report for Tuning

In this procedure, you'll modify the Y scaling of the S-parameter plot and add an X-marker at the
desired resonant frequency of 2.44 GHz.
1. Click on the Y axis of S Parameter Plot 1 to select it.

The Y axis becomes bold, and the associated settings appear in the docked Properties win-
dow.

2. In the Scaling tab of the docked Properties window, make the following changes:
a. Select the Specify Min option.
b. Change the Min value to -50 and press Enter.

Tune Matching Network 5-2

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3. Right-click in the S Parameter Plot 1 window and choose Marker > Add X Marker.

A vertical marker line is added to the plot. The bottom yellow box indicates the frequency
value and the top one the corresponding S-parameter value.

4. Click inside the bottom yellow marker box (frequency).

The X marker settings appear in the docked Properties window.

5. In the X Marker tab of the docked Properties window, scroll down to the properties under
the Selected heading (if necessary) and make the following changes:
a. Select the Lock Drag option.
b. Change XValue to 2.44 GHz.
c. Change Line Width to 2 and press Enter.

Tune Matching Network 5-3

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

6. Click in the plot background area to clear the selection.

The modified plot should look like the following image:

Tune Matching Network 5-4

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

Select Variables for Tuning

You must specify which variables you want to include in the tuning process. You will include all
three of the previously defined variables: Shunt1, Shunt2, and Series.
1. In the Project Manager, right-click Matching_Network and choose Design Properties
from the shortcut menu.
2. In the Local Variables tab of the Properties dialog box that appears, make the following
changes:
a. Select the Tuning option.
b. Select the check boxes in the Include column for all three variables (Shunt1,
Shunt2, and Series).
c. In the Min column, type 0.1 for all three variables. (The Units are pF for both of the
Shuntx capacitors and nH for the Series inductor.)
d. In the Max column, type 5 for all three variables. (The Units are the same as for the
Min values.)

3. Click OK to accept the settings and close the Properties dialog box.

Tune Component Values

In this procedure, you will determine the Shunt1, Shunt2, and Series component values that
provide the minimal S(Port1,Port1) parameter (signal reflection or return loss) at a frequency of
2.44 GHz.
1. Bring the S Parameter Plot 1 window back to the foreground using one of the following
methods:
l If the plot window is partially visible, just click anywhere in the window or on its title
bar.
l Using the Window menu, select Chip_Antenna_Board - Matching_Network - S
Parameter Plot 1.
l Under Matching_Network> Results in the Project Manager, double-click S Para-
meter Plot 1. (This method will reopen the plot window if you previously closed it.)

Tune Matching Network 5-5

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

2. Under Matching_Network in the Project Manager, right-click Optimetrics and choose Tun-
ing from the shortcut menu. Alternatively, using the menu bar, click Circuit> Tune.
3. To provide an unobstructed view of the S Parameter plot, particularly in the area around
2.44 GHz, reposition the Tune dialog box that appears. (Do this by clicking and dragging its
title bar.)
4. Clear the Browse available variations option in the Tune dialog box.
5. For each of the three variables in the Variations section, slowly drag the sliding pointers
upward and downward to adjust the values within the Min to Max range. Allow sufficient time
for the plot to update at each component value step. The goal is to minimize the value at the
point of intersection of the plot trace and the X marker line. This set of adjustments is tricky
because the three components have a complex interaction. You can't alter one variable
without affecting the optimal setting for the other two variables.

The Tune dialog box and updated S Parameter Plot 1 should resemble the following two
images when you reach the optimal settings:

Tune Matching Network 5-6

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

6. Close the Tuning dialog box.

The Apply Tuned Variation dialog box appears.

7. Click OK to apply the selected variation, which represents the current slider positions.

8. Save the project.

Tune Matching Network 5-7

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

6 - Push Excitations
Push the excitation information from the Circuit design to the HFSS design as follows:
1. Bring the Schematic window back to the foreground using one of the following methods:
l If the Schematic window is partially visible, just click anywhere in the window or on its
title bar.
l Using the Window menu, select Chip_Antenna_Board - Matching_Network -
Schematic.
l Using the menu bar, click Circuit> Schematic Editor.
l In the Project Manager, double-click Matching_Network.
2. In the Schematic window, right-click the HFSS design component (evaluation board) and
choose Push Excitations from the shortcut menu.

The Push Excitation Information dialog box appears:

3. Click OK.

Push Excitations 6-1

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

7 - Verify Excitation Data in HFSS

Next, verify that the excitation information has been transferred from the Circuit design to the
HFSS design. This information includes the following items:
l Frequency-dependent port excitation magnitude data (four datasets)
l Frequency-dependent port excitation phase data (four datasets)
l System power

1. In the Project Manager, double-click HFSSDesignx (DrivenModal) to make it the active

design and to bring the Modeler window to the foreground.
2. Under HFSSDesignx (DrivenModal) in the Project Manager, right-click Excitations and
choose Edit Sources from the shortcut menu.

The Edit post process sources dialog box appears.

3. In the Spectral Fields tab of the dialog box, ensure that the Specify System Power option is
selected under System power for gain calculations:

The system power value has been updated to reflect the excitation defined in the circuit
schematic, as explained below:

Verify Excitation Data in HFSS 7-1

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

l The specified peak AC magnitude is 1 V with a 50 Ω generator impedance.

l The chip antenna board's port impedance is also 50 Ω. Therefore, the voltage divides
in half across the two equal series impedances, resulting in a 0.5 V peak magnitude at
the HFSS port.
l The system power is V2 / 2Z = 0.52 /100 = 0.0025 W
l The peak current (J) is V / Z = 0.5 / 50 = 0.01 A
l The system power can also be expressed as VJ / 2 = 0.5 * 0.01 / 2 = 0.0025 W

Also, notice that the Magnitude and Phase columns contain references to frequency-depend-
ent magnitude and phase datasets. Prior to pushing the excitation information from the Cir-
cuit design, this dialog box would have shown 1 W magnitude at 0° phase for the first port
and all zeros for the magnitude and phase values of the other three ports.

4. Click OK.
5. Using the menu bar, click HFSS> Design Datasets.

The Datasets dialog box appears.

6. Select any of the listed datasets to see a graph of the frequency-dependent magnitude or
phase data.

Two of the eight dataset graphs are shown below:

Verify Excitation Data in HFSS 7-2

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

7. Click Done.

Verify Excitation Data in HFSS 7-3

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

8 - Create and Overlay Gain Plots

Finally, create two total gain plots, one for Phi = 0° and one for Phi = 90°. A gain plot is a far fields
report showing the antenna's radiation pattern. You could plot both Phi values as two traces on a
single plot. However, after creating the plots, you will overlay the radiation patterns on the model
geometry to better visualize the radiation patterns in different directions. To qualify for overlaying, a
plot cannot contain multiple Phi values. However, you can overlay multiple individual plots, each
with single Phi values.

1. On the Results ribbon tab, click Far Fields Report> Mag/Ang Polar.
2. In the Report dialog box that appears, specify the following settings:
a. Select Elevation from the Geometry drop-down menu.
b. Ensure that all settings under the Trace tab are as shown below:

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-1

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

3. Under the Families tab, select the Phi value of 0deg:

4. Click New Report but keep the dialog box open.

Gain Plot 1 appears in a new window:

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-2

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

5. In the Families tab of the Report dialog box, select the Phi value of 90deg.
6. Click New Report and click Close.

Gain Plot 2 appears in a new window.

To differentiate the appearance of the two gain plot curves, you will next change the color of
the trace in Gain Plot 2.

7. Click the trace in Gain Plot 2 to select it.

8. In the docked Properties window, change the Color value from red to medium blue
(column 6, row 1 of the Basic colors; Red: 0, Green: 128, Blue: 255) and click OK.

The modified plot should look like the following image:

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-3

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

9. Use the Window menu to bring the Modeler window to the foreground (Chip_Antenna_
Board - HFSSDesignx - Modeler).
10. Right-click in the Modeler window and choose Plot Fields> Radiation Field.
11. In the Overlay radiation field dialog box that appears, specify the following settings:

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-4

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 Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

12. Click Close.

13. The open region surrounding the model was initially hidden in the project file you used to
start the exercise. If, for whatever reason, the open region is now visible, click it (in Object
selection mode), or select it from the History Tree (Model> Solids> vacuum> Radi-
atingSurface). Then, on the Draw ribbon tab, click Hide selected objects in active
view.

Next, rotate the model viewpoint for the best view of the two overlays, as follows:

14. On the Draw ribbon tab, click Orient> Back.

15. Hold down the middle mouse button and drag the mouse slowly toward the left and down-
ward to produce an isometric view looking at the model from the back corner.

Note:

This viewpoint prevents a significant portion of the red and blue traces from being
hidden by the evaluation board.

The overlaid plots should resemble the following image:

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-5

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Getting Started with HFSS: Matching Network – Using Tuning in Circuits

16. Save the project.

You have completed the Matching Network exercise. You can now close the project.

Create and Overlay Gain Plots 8-6

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