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Fully arbitrary 3D EM simulation can simulate three dimensional metal shapes including car body sections, coaxial connector SMA launches, printed circuit board edge connectors, horn antennas, curved wire bonds, and flexed MEMS switches. The term ͞fully arbitrary 3D comes from the ability of EM simulators like XFdtd, MWS, and HFSS to model and simulate any shape or configuration of metals and dielectrics that one needs. Fully arbitrary 3D EM simulation allows any dielectric and any metal shapes to be modeled and simulated. The dielectric layers generally extend horizontally to the end of the simulation space. Planar MoM formulations are based on parallel, uniformly thick dielectric layers with parallel metal layers in between those dielectric layers. The technical comparison of 3D planar EM simulation with fully arbitrary 3D EM simulation helps illustrate by comparison how both formulations work and informs users as to which EM approach/formulation may work best for a given application.
CST MICROWAVE STUDIO REDUCING MESH SIZE FULL
Both 3D planar and fully arbitrary 3D EM simulation are full wave, capturing all metal coupling in all three dimensions, but the 3D planar formulations limit what dielectric and metal shapes can be modeled and simulated. 3D planar formulations, such as Sonnet from Sonnet Software, Momentum from Keysight Technologies (formerly Agilent), and Axiem from Applied Wave Research (part of National Instruments), are sometimes referred to as 2.5D or "two and a half D." Other Products such as Remcom’s XFdtd, Ansys’ HFSS, and CST’s Microwave Studio (MWS) are fully arbitrary 3D.
CST MICROWAVE STUDIO REDUCING MESH SIZE SOFTWARE
Several full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulator software products solve Maxwell’s equations in three dimensional detail, using different EM formulations and approaches in order to address high frequency applications such as signal integrity, microwave circuits, and antennas. This paper, featured in the July 2015 issue of Microwave Journal, provides a technical comparison of 3D planar EM simulation with fully arbitrary 3D EM simulation and informs users as to which EM approach/formulation may work best for a given application.
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While the capabilities and application areas of planar MoM and fully arbitrary 3D EM simulators overlap extensively in microwave circuit and antenna design, the two different EM simulation categories each have strengths and limitations beyond the basic dimensionality of the tools. 3D planar formulations are sometimes referred to as 2.5D or “two and a half D.” Other products are fully arbitrary 3D.
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Several full-wave electromagnetic simulator software products solve Maxwell’s equations in three dimensional detail, using different EM formulations and approaches in order to address high frequency applications such as signal integrity, microwave circuits, and antennas.
