What is an optimization?

Analyzing a Project - Types of Analysis, Optimizing

It is often necessary to perform several iterations of a circuit design in order to meet specifications. Part of those iterations involves changing the dimensions or properties of some part of your circuit. Parameterization and optimization can be used to make this task more efficient. Rather than create multiple circuits each with different lengths of key components, you may select dimensions of your circuit and define them as a parameter. In the analysis, you automatically vary the value of the parameter rather than setting up a separate circuit file for each value. Parameterizing your circuit also provides you with a way to quickly and easily change dimensions in the project editor.

The analysis engine, em, adjusts the value of a parameter in one of two ways. The first is a parameter sweep in which em sweeps the parameter values through a user defined range. The second method is optimization in which the analysis engine controls the parameter value, within a user defined range, in an attempt to reach a user defined goal. Both parameterization and optimization of a geometry may be performed over a range of analysis frequencies.

See the ''Parameterization and Optimization of a Geometry Project'' chapter in the Sonnet User's Guide. This chapter is followed by a tutorial of an optimization. The online manuals can be accessed in PDF format by selecting Help => Manuals from any Sonnet application or by clicking on the Manuals button on the Sonnet task bar.