Tutorial: Microstrip Notch Filter

From openEMS

• Download the latest matlab file using Github: MSL_NotchFilter.m
• Simulation Time: ~ 2 min

The filter geometry

We will cover in this tutorial:

• setup a microstrip line (MSL) and MSL port
• apply an inhomogeneous mesh used for improved accuracy and simulation speed
• calculate the S-Parameter of the filter

First Steps

• Install and verify your openEMS installation: Tutorial: First Steps

Matlab Simulation Script

• Start the script within an empty environment:

close all
clear
clc

• Setup the simulation & geometrical parameter

physical_constants;
unit = 1e-6; % specify everything in um
MSL_length = 50000;
MSL_width = 600;
substrate_thickness = 254;
substrate_epr = 3.66;
stub_length = 12e3;
f_max = 7e9;

• Setup the FDTD parameter including the excitation time signal and boundary conditions

FDTD = InitFDTD();
FDTD = SetGaussExcite( FDTD, f_max/2, f_max/2 );
BC   = {'PML_8' 'PML_8' 'MUR' 'MUR' 'PEC' 'MUR'};
FDTD = SetBoundaryCond( FDTD, BC );

• Setup the inhomogeneous FDTD mesh, including an improved handling of the thin metal edges by using two mesh lines, one line is located 1/3 inside and the other one 2/3 outside of the thin metal.

CSX = InitCSX();
resolution = c0/(f_max*sqrt(substrate_epr))/unit /50; % resolution of lambda/50
mesh.x = SmoothMeshLines( [0 MSL_width/2+[resolution/3 -resolution/3*2]/4], resolution/4, 1.5 ,0 );
mesh.x = SmoothMeshLines( [-MSL_length -mesh.x mesh.x MSL_length], resolution, 1.5 ,0 );
mesh.y = SmoothMeshLines( [0 MSL_width/2+[-resolution/3 +resolution/3*2]/4], resolution/4 , 1.5 ,0);
mesh.y = SmoothMeshLines( [-15*MSL_width -mesh.y mesh.y 15*MSL_width+stub_length], resolution, 1.5 ,0);
mesh.z = SmoothMeshLines( [linspace(0,substrate_thickness,5) 10*substrate_thickness], resolution );
CSX = DefineRectGrid( CSX, unit, mesh );

Mesh at end of stub

Mesh at T-junction

• Add the MSL substrate

CSX = AddMaterial( CSX, 'RO4350B' );
CSX = SetMaterialProperty( CSX, 'RO4350B', 'Epsilon', substrate_epr );
start = [mesh.x(1),   mesh.y(1),   0];
stop  = [mesh.x(end), mesh.y(end), substrate_thickness];
CSX = AddBox( CSX, 'RO4350B', 0, start, stop );

Mesh in the vertical direction

• Add the two MSL ports

It is important to note that the thru-line is not explicitly defined (as is the stub). Instead, the thru-line is formed by defining two ports which meet at x = 0. The z-coordinate of the metal layer is at portstart(3).

These ports are terminated by PML boundary conditions on the -x and +x planes. Normally the measurement plane of a microstrip port is (portstart(1) + portstop(1))/2 but in this case it is moved to MSL_length/3. Details of the ports are visible with CSXGeomPlot and by turning the PEC layer off, turning on voltage probes, and zooming in.

CSX = AddMetal( CSX, 'PEC' );
portstart = [ mesh.x(1), -MSL_width/2, substrate_thickness];
portstop  = [ 0,  MSL_width/2, 0];
[CSX,port{1}] = AddMSLPort( CSX, 999, 1, 'PEC', portstart, portstop, 0, [0 0 -1], ...
     'ExcitePort', 'excite', 'FeedShift', 10*resolution, 'MeasPlaneShift',  MSL_length/3);
 
portstart = [mesh.x(end), -MSL_width/2, substrate_thickness];
portstop  = [0          ,  MSL_width/2, 0];
[CSX,port{2}] = AddMSLPort( CSX, 999, 2, 'PEC', portstart, portstop, 0, [0 0 -1], 
    'MeasPlaneShift',  MSL_length/3 );

• Add the open-ended stub with the given length

start = [-MSL_width/2,  MSL_width/2, substrate_thickness];
stop  = [ MSL_width/2,  MSL_width/2+stub_length, substrate_thickness];
CSX = AddBox( CSX, 'PEC', 999, start, stop );

• Create the simulation folder/ write the xml file/ View the file using AppCSXCAD and run openEMS

Sim_Path = 'tmp';
Sim_CSX = 'msl.xml';
 
[status, message, messageid] = rmdir( Sim_Path, 's' ); % clear previous directory
[status, message, messageid] = mkdir( Sim_Path ); % create empty simulation folder
 
WriteOpenEMS( [Sim_Path '/' Sim_CSX], FDTD, CSX );
CSXGeomPlot( [Sim_Path '/' Sim_CSX] );
RunOpenEMS( Sim_Path, Sim_CSX );

• Do the post-processing: Read the port voltages & currents and calculate the port characteristics.

MSL Notch Filter S-Parameter

close all
f = linspace( 1e6, f_max, 1601 );
port = calcPort( port, Sim_Path, f, 'RefImpedance', 50);
 
s11 = port{1}.uf.ref./ port{1}.uf.inc;
s21 = port{2}.uf.ref./ port{1}.uf.inc;
 
plot(f/1e9,20*log10(abs(s11)),'k-','LineWidth',2);
hold on;
grid on;
plot(f/1e9,20*log10(abs(s21)),'r--','LineWidth',2);
legend('S_{11}','S_{21}');
ylabel('S-Parameter (dB)','FontSize',12);
xlabel('frequency (GHz) \rightarrow','FontSize',12);
ylim([-40 2]);

Discussion

This simulation deliberately mis-aligned the mesh with the edges of the microstrip conductor. This can be seen in the images above showing the grid cells and the conducting layer. This is done to compensate for the peaking of the surface current at the edge of strip lines without having to resort to very small grid cells which would greatly increase the number of time steps required. With the 1/3 : 2/3 grid offset the edge cells defining the microstrip line effectively increase the surface current while using a relatively coarse mesh.

This can be examined in some detail by removing the stub, adjusting the mesh, and comparing the characteristic impedance with a theoretical value.

In the first test the thirds mesh is compared with a uniform mesh that is aligned with the edges of the microstrip line, and a variable mesh which has narrow cells adjacent to the edge of the line. The characteristic impedance, calculated with transcalc, is 47.6 ohms. Note that the variable mesh took longer to simulate and yet was less accurate than the thirds meshing.

The next test examines varying the ratio away from 1/3 : 2/3. This shows that the ratio is not critical. Again, the theoretical value for Zc = 47.6 ohms.

Lastly, the influence of the dielectric is examined. In this test 1/3 : 2/3 gridding was used, the dimensions of the microstrip line were unchanged, and the dielectric constant of the substrate was varied.

This effect is because errors from the edge current singularities are to first order (with respect to meshing) while errors are in general to the second order. For discussion, see for example: W. Heinrich, K. Beilenhoff, P. Mezzanotte and L. Roselli, "Optimum mesh grading for finite-difference method," in IEEE Trans. MTT, vol. 44, no. 9, pp. 1569-1574, Sep 1996. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/536606/

Discussion on the effective strip width can be found in: J.H. Oates, R.T. Shin, "Analytical Evaluation of Finite-Difference Time-Domain Transmission Line Properties," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, PIER 16, pp. 87--115,1997 https://www.jpier.org/PIER/pier16/04.960510p.Oates.S.pdf

For discussion on applying the one-third two-thirds rule, see page 14 in: https://www.ate.uni-due.de/data/coft1/CoFT_EC_FDTD_Rennings.pdf

Return To Tutorials Index