Q3D Extractor: PCB DCIR analysis

This example shows how you can use PyAEDT to create a design in Q3D Extractor and run a DC IR Drop simulation starting from an EDB Project.

Perform required imports

Perform required imports.

import os
import tempfile
import pyaedt

Set up project files and path

Download needed project file and set up temporary project directory.

project_dir = pyaedt.generate_unique_folder_name()
aedb_project = pyaedt.downloads.download_file('edb/ANSYS-HSD_V1.aedb', destination=project_dir)
coil = pyaedt.downloads.download_file('inductance_3d_component', 'air_coil.a3dcomp')
res = pyaedt.downloads.download_file('resistors', 'Res_0402.a3dcomp')
project_name = pyaedt.generate_unique_name("HSD")
output_edb = os.path.join(project_dir, project_name + '.aedb')
output_q3d = os.path.join(project_dir, project_name + '_q3d.aedt')

Open EDB

Open the EDB project and create a cutout on the selected nets before exporting to Q3D.

edb = pyaedt.Edb(aedb_project, edbversion="2023.2")
edb.cutout(["1.2V_AVDLL_PLL", "1.2V_AVDDL", "1.2V_DVDDL", "NetR106_1"],
           ["GND"],
           output_aedb_path=output_edb,
           use_pyaedt_extent_computing=True,
           )

C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt\pyaedt\testenv\lib\site-packages\pyaedt\edb_core\components.py:163: DeprecationWarning: Use new property :func:`instances` instead.
  warnings.warn("Use new property :func:`instances` instead.", DeprecationWarning)

True

Identify pin positions

Identify [x,y] pin locations on the components to define where to assign sources and sinks for Q3D.

pin_u11_scl = [i for i in edb.components["U11"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "1.2V_AVDLL_PLL"]
pin_u9_1 = [i for i in edb.components["U9"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "1.2V_AVDDL"]
pin_u9_2 = [i for i in edb.components["U9"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "1.2V_DVDDL"]
pin_u11_r106 = [i for i in edb.components["U11"].pins.values() if i.net_name == "NetR106_1"]

Append Z Positions

Compute Q3D 3D position. The factor 1000 converts from “meters” to “mm”.

location_u11_scl = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u11_scl[0].position]
location_u11_scl.append(edb.components["U11"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u9_1_scl = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u9_1[0].position]
location_u9_1_scl.append(edb.components["U9"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u9_2_scl = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u9_2[0].position]
location_u9_2_scl.append(edb.components["U9"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_u11_r106 = [i * 1000 for i in pin_u11_r106[0].position]
location_u11_r106.append(edb.components["U11"].upper_elevation * 1000)

Identify pin positions for 3D components

Identify the pin positions where 3D components of passives are to be added.

location_l2_1 = [i * 1000 for i in edb.components["L2"].pins["1"].position]
location_l2_1.append(edb.components["L2"].upper_elevation * 1000)
location_l4_1 = [i * 1000 for i in edb.components["L4"].pins["1"].position]
location_l4_1.append(edb.components["L4"].upper_elevation * 1000)

location_r106_1 = [i * 1000 for i in edb.components["R106"].pins["1"].position]
location_r106_1.append(edb.components["R106"].upper_elevation * 1000)

Save and close EDB

Save and close EDB. Then, open EDT in HFSS 3D Layout to generate the 3D model.

edb.save_edb()
edb.close_edb()

h3d = pyaedt.Hfss3dLayout(output_edb, specified_version="2023.2", non_graphical=False, new_desktop_session=True)

Initializing new desktop!

Export to Q3D

Create a dummy setup and export the layout in Q3D. The keep_net_name parameter reassigns Q3D net names from HFSS 3D Layout.

setup = h3d.create_setup()
setup.export_to_q3d(output_q3d, keep_net_name=True)
h3d.close_project()

Returning found desktop with PID 9292!

True

Open Q3D

Launch the newly created q3d project.

q3d = pyaedt.Q3d(output_q3d)
q3d.modeler.delete("GND")
q3d.delete_all_nets()

Returning found desktop with PID 9292!

True

Insert inductors

Create new coordinate systems and place 3D component inductors.

q3d.modeler.create_coordinate_system(location_l2_1, name="L2")
comp = q3d.modeler.insert_3d_component(coil, targetCS="L2")
comp.rotate(q3d.AXIS.Z, -90)
comp.parameters["n_turns"] = "3"
comp.parameters["d_wire"] = "100um"
q3d.modeler.set_working_coordinate_system("Global")
q3d.modeler.create_coordinate_system(location_l4_1, name="L4")
comp2 = q3d.modeler.insert_3d_component(coil, targetCS="L4",)
comp2.rotate(q3d.AXIS.Z, -90)
comp2.parameters["n_turns"] = "3"
comp2.parameters["d_wire"] = "100um"
q3d.modeler.set_working_coordinate_system("Global")

q3d.modeler.set_working_coordinate_system("Global")
q3d.modeler.create_coordinate_system(location_r106_1, name="R106")
comp3= q3d.modeler.insert_3d_component(res, targetCS="R106",geo_params={'$Resistance': 2000})
comp3.rotate(q3d.AXIS.Z, -90)

q3d.modeler.set_working_coordinate_system("Global")

True

Delete dielectrics

Delete all dielectric objects since not needed in DC analysis.

q3d.modeler.delete(q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("Megtron4"))
q3d.modeler.delete(q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("Megtron4_2"))
q3d.modeler.delete(q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("Megtron4_3"))
q3d.modeler.delete(q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("Solder Resist"))

objs_copper = q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("copper")
objs_copper_names = [i.name for i in objs_copper]
q3d.plot(show=False,objects=objs_copper_names, plot_as_separate_objects=False,
         export_path=os.path.join(q3d.working_directory, "Q3D.jpg"), plot_air_objects=False)

<pyaedt.generic.plot.ModelPlotter object at 0x000001D9A4FB65C0>

Assign source and sink

Use previously calculated positions to identify faces, select the net “1_Top” and assign sources and sinks on nets.

sink_f = q3d.modeler.create_circle(q3d.PLANE.XY, location_u11_scl, 0.1)
source_f1 = q3d.modeler.create_circle(q3d.PLANE.XY, location_u9_1_scl, 0.1)
source_f2 = q3d.modeler.create_circle(q3d.PLANE.XY, location_u9_2_scl, 0.1)
source_f3= q3d.modeler.create_circle(q3d.PLANE.XY, location_u11_r106, 0.1)
q3d.auto_identify_nets()

identified_net = q3d.nets[0]

q3d.sink(sink_f, net_name=identified_net)

source1 = q3d.source(source_f1, net_name=identified_net)

source2 = q3d.source(source_f2, net_name=identified_net)
source3 = q3d.source(source_f3, net_name=identified_net)

q3d.edit_sources(dcrl={"{}:{}".format(source1.props["Net"], source1.name): "1.0A",
                       "{}:{}".format(source2.props["Net"], source2.name): "1.0A"})

True

Create setup

Create a setup and a frequency sweep from DC to 2GHz. Analyze project.

setup = q3d.create_setup()
setup.dc_enabled = True
setup.capacitance_enabled = False
setup.ac_rl_enabled = False
setup.props["SaveFields"] = True
setup.props["DC"]["Cond"]["MaxPass"]=3
setup.analyze()

Phi plot

Compute ACL solutions and plot them.

plot1 = q3d.post.create_fieldplot_surface(q3d.modeler.get_objects_by_material("copper"), "Phidc",
                                          intrinsincDict={"Freq": "1GHz"})
q3d.post.plot_field_from_fieldplot(
    plot1.name,
    project_path=q3d.working_directory,
    meshplot=False,
    imageformat="jpg",
    view="isometric",
    show=False,
    plot_cad_objs=False,
    log_scale=False,
)

<pyaedt.generic.plot.ModelPlotter object at 0x000001D9AA278E20>

Close AEDT

After the simulation completes, you can close AEDT or release it using the release_desktop method. All methods provide for saving projects before closing.

q3d.save_project()
q3d.release_desktop()

True