Simulation of S-parameters of general multilayer boxed PCBs with the method of moments and the scattering matrix algorithm

Abstract

Printed circuit board (PCB) modelling is an important part of the PCB production process, in which the designer aims to optimize the desired output characteristics prior to physical PCB manufacturing. Due to the specific shape of PCBs, namely, thin and highly conductive components enclosed within a relatively simply shaped dielectric host, the PCB modelling problem is amenable to solution by the so-called 2.5D Method of Moments (MoM) applied to the integral equation solution of Maxwell's equations. For this purpose, an analytic expression for the Green's function of the host medium needs to be derived. Many studies exist in which expressions are derived for the transverse Green's function components in a waveguide, used for modelling planar metallization layers in shielded layered media. Works containing the full Green's function that allows modelling of both longitudinal and transverse currents are much fewer. In this study, we propose a tool to solve the shielded PCB modelling problem involving both transverse and longitudinal currents, with the Green's function in a layered waveguide derived using the S-matrix formalism. Our approach combines a straightforward, intuitive way of calculating the complete dyadic Green's function in a layered waveguide with the inherent numerical stability of the S-matrix method. The Green's function is expressed in terms of three sets of S-matrices associated with the PCB layers in which the electric current source and the electric field observation point are located. The MoM is implemented using surface rooftop, volume pulse, and linear basis functions, for which we provide the overlap integrals, to model planar metallization layers and wire-like vertical interconnects. The validity of the method is demonstrated on two numerical examples. The method can be extended to other bases to model objects of various shapes.