HFSS: 3D Components

This example shows how you can use PyAEDT to place 3D Components in Hfss and in Hfss 3D Layout.

import os
import pyaedt

Set AEDT version

Set AEDT version.

aedt_version = "2024.1"

Set non-graphical mode

Set non-graphical mode. You can set non_graphical either to True or False.

non_graphical = False

Common Properties

Set common properties.

trace_width = 0.6
trace_length = 30
diel_height = "121mil"
sig_height = "5mil"
max_steps = 3
freq = "3GHz"
new_session = True

3D Component Definition

File to be used in the example

component3d = pyaedt.downloads.download_file("component_3d", "SMA_RF_Jack.a3dcomp",)

Hfss Example

This example will create a stackup in Hfss place a 3d component, build a ground plane, a trace, create excitation and solve it in Hfss.

Launch Hfss

Launch HFSS application

hfss = pyaedt.Hfss(new_desktop=True, version=aedt_version, non_graphical=non_graphical)

hfss.solution_type = "Terminal"

Insert 3d Component

To insert a 3d component we need to read parameters and then import in Hfss.

comp_param = hfss.get_components3d_vars(component3d)
hfss.modeler.insert_3d_component(component3d, comp_param)

<pyaedt.modeler.cad.components_3d.UserDefinedComponent object at 0x00000187AC949F60>

Add a new Stackup

Pyaedt has a Stackup class which allows to parametrize stacked structures.

stackup = hfss.add_stackup_3d()
s1 = stackup.add_signal_layer("L1", thickness=sig_height)
d1 = stackup.add_dielectric_layer("D1", thickness=diel_height)
g1 = stackup.add_ground_layer("G1", thickness=sig_height)

Define stackup extensions

Define stackup elevation and size. Defines also the stackup origin.

stackup.start_position = "-131mil"
stackup.dielectric_width = "20mm"
stackup.dielectric_length = "40mm"
stackup.dielectric_y_position = "-dielectric_width/2"
stackup.dielectric_x_position = "-dielectric_length/4"

Padstack Definition

Padstacks are needed to create a clearance around 3d component since intersections are not allowed. There will be 1 padstack for Gnd and 1 for pin.

p1 = stackup.add_padstack("gnd_via", material="cloned_copper")
p1.set_start_layer("L1")
p1.set_stop_layer("G1")
p1.set_all_antipad_value(1.3)
p1.set_all_pad_value(0)
p1.num_sides = 8
p1.add_via(-3.2, -3.2)
p1.add_via(-3.2, 3.2)
p1.add_via(3.2, -3.2)
p1.add_via(3.2, 3.2)
p2 = stackup.add_padstack("signal_via", material="cloned_copper")

p2.set_start_layer("L1")
p2.set_stop_layer("G1")
p2.set_all_antipad_value(0.7)
p2.set_all_pad_value(0)
p2.padstacks_by_layer["L1"].pad_radius = 0.3048
p2.add_via(0, 0)

<pyaedt.modeler.cad.object3d.Object3d object at 0x00000187AA887AC0>

Trace Definition

The trace will connect the pin to the port on layer L1.

t1 = s1.add_trace(trace_width, trace_length)
rect1 = hfss.modeler.create_rectangle(orientation=hfss.PLANE.YZ,
                                                 origin=["0.75*dielectric_length", "-5*" + t1.width.name, "0mm"],
                                                 sizes=["15*" + t1.width.name, "-3*" + stackup.thickness.name])
p1 = hfss.wave_port(assignment=rect1, reference="G1", name="P1")

Set Simulation Boundaries

Define regione and simulation boundaries.

hfss.change_material_override(True)
region = hfss.modeler.create_region([0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 100])
sheets = [i for i in region.faces]
hfss.assign_radiation_boundary_to_faces(sheets)

<pyaedt.modules.Boundary.BoundaryObject object at 0x00000187AA886860>

Create Setup

Iterations will be reduced to reduce simulation time.

setup1 = hfss.create_setup()
sweep1 = hfss.create_linear_count_sweep(setup1.name, "GHz", 0.01, 8, 1601, sweep_type="Interpolating")
setup1.props["Frequency"] = freq
setup1.props["MaximumPasses"] = max_steps

Solve Setup

Save the project first and then solve the setup.

hfss.save_project()
hfss.analyze()

True

Plot results

Plot the results when analysis is completed.

traces = hfss.get_traces_for_plot(category="S")
solutions = hfss.post.get_solution_data(traces)
solutions.plot(traces, formula="db20")

<Figure size 2000x1000 with 1 Axes>

Hfss 3D Layout Example

Previous example will be repeated this time in Hfss 3d Layout. Small differences are expected in layout but results should be similar.

Launch Hfss3dLayout

Launch HFSS3dLayout application

h3d = pyaedt.Hfss3dLayout()

Add stackup layers

Add stackup layers.

l1 = h3d.modeler.layers.add_layer("L1", "signal", thickness=sig_height)
h3d.modeler.layers.add_layer("diel", "dielectric", thickness=diel_height, material="FR4_epoxy")
h3d.modeler.layers.add_layer("G1", "signal", thickness=sig_height, isnegative=True)

<pyaedt.modules.LayerStackup.Layer object at 0x00000187FF5F65C0>

Place 3d Component

Place a 3d component by specifying the .a3dcomp file path.

comp = h3d.modeler.place_3d_component(
    component_path=component3d, number_of_terminals=1, placement_layer="G1", component_name="my_connector",
    pos_x=0.000, pos_y=0.000
)

Create signal net and ground planes

Create a signal net and ground planes.

h3d["len"] = str(trace_length) + "mm"
h3d["w1"] = str(trace_width) + "mm"

line = h3d.modeler.create_line("L1", [[0, 0], ["len", 0]], lw="w1", name="microstrip", net="microstrip")
h3d.create_edge_port(line, h3d.modeler[line.name].top_edge_x, is_wave_port=True, wave_horizontal_extension=15)

<pyaedt.modules.Boundary.BoundaryObject3dLayout object at 0x00000187AA92F610>

Create void on Ground plane for pin

Create a void.

h3d.modeler.create_circle("G1", 0, 0, 0.5)

<pyaedt.modeler.pcb.object3dlayout.Circle3dLayout object at 0x00000187B9E57640>

Create Setup

Iterations will be reduced to reduce simulation time.

h3d.set_meshing_settings(mesh_method="PhiPlus", enable_intersections_check=False)
h3d.edit_hfss_extents(diel_extent_horizontal_padding="0.2", air_vertical_positive_padding="0",
                      air_vertical_negative_padding="2", airbox_values_as_dim=False)
setup1 = h3d.create_setup()
sweep1 = h3d.create_linear_count_sweep(setup1.name,
                                       "GHz",
                                       0.01,
                                       8,
                                       1601,
                                       sweep_type="Interpolating")
setup1.props["AdaptiveSettings"]["SingleFrequencyDataList"]["AdaptiveFrequencyData"]["AdaptiveFrequency"] = freq
setup1.props["AdaptiveSettings"]["SingleFrequencyDataList"]["AdaptiveFrequencyData"]["MaxPasses"] = max_steps

Solve Setup

h3d.analyze()

True

Plot results

traces = h3d.get_traces_for_plot(category="S")
solutions = h3d.post.get_solution_data(traces)
solutions.plot(traces, formula="db20")

h3d.save_project()
h3d.release_desktop()

True