What is a Component?

The component feature* allows you to insert a data file or ideal component into your geometry project. The analysis engine, em, uses circuit theory to attach the specified component to your geometry for the simulation, or creates ports which may be used by a circuit simulation tool. The component is represented by a schematic in the project editor. A view of the schematic, with the parts labeled, appears below.

There are three types of components available in your circuit as described below. You select the type of component you wish to model by selecting the appropriate command in the Tools menu.

Data File Allows you to insert a measured or modeled S, Y, or Z-Parameter file into your geometry. The analysis engine, em, first performs an electromagnetic analysis on the geometry, and then uses circuit theory to connect the data file to the geometry. Thus, you may change data files without performing the electromagnetic analysis again. There is no limit as to the number of ports in your data file.
Ideal Component Allows you to add a single 2-port ideal component (resistor, capacitor or inductor) to your geometry. As with the data file, em first performs an electromagnetic analysis of your geometry and then uses circuit theory to connect the ideal element, so you may also change the ideal component type and/or value without needing to do another electromagnetic analysis on your geometry.
Ports Only Allow you to insert internal ports in your circuit which may be used in a circuit design program. All of the ports associated with this component have a common ground and are simultaneously de-embedded during the electromagnetic analysis. The Ports Only component is functionally identical to using co-calibrated ports.

The component is represented in your circuit by a schematic box. The label of the Component appears above the schematic box and the pin numbers are identified on the schematic box. The component ports appear on the polygon edge to which they are attached. An example of a Component as it appears in a circuit is shown below.

Component as it appears in the project editor

Port: The Component port defines the point at which the Component is connected to the circuit metal. There is one port for each pin on the Component. There is also a port for each ground reference pin if present.

Terminal Numbers: Terminal numbers identify to which pin on the Component each port is attached.

Label: This label identifies the Component in your circuit. Each label in a project must be unique.

Physical Size: The physical size of the component is not used in the electromagnetic display and is only included for display purposes. If you choose to display the physical size, it appears as a gray box around the component as shown above.

Both the Data File and Ports Only component types may have an unlimited number of ports. The Ideal Component type is limited to two ports by definition. Terminal pins and ports are numbered in the order in which they are added to your circuit and may be modified after the Component is added to your circuit.

You may also optionally enter a physical package size for your Component. These measurements (height, width, and length) are not used in the em simulation but are there to provide a graphic in both the 2D and 3D view which represent the actual size of the component. This is especially useful for design presentations and reviews.

3D view of the Component

*For an explanation of the de-embedding technique used for components, please refer to the article "De-embedding the effect of a local ground plane in electromagnetic analysis" by James C. Rautio, president of Sonnet Software.