General
Efficient Meshing in Sonnet
In this document, we will discuss efficient meshing in Sonnet, based on a wide variety of application examples. It will be shown how manual changes to the mesh can be applied that save memory and analysis time.
Sonnet Training:
Parameters, Variables and Equations
In this document, we will discuss the use of geometry parameters, material parameters, equations and the parameter sweep.
Integrated Circuits
Using Sonnet in a Cadence RFIC design flow.
This document describes the Sonnet plug-in integration for the Cadence Virtuoso design flow, for silicon accurate EM modelling of passive structures. The design flow and examples in different technologies are shown.
Cell size and box size in Sonnet RFIC inductor analysis.
This document describes the effect of some analysis settings in Sonnet: Influence of the cell size, influence of thick metal vs. thin metal for conductors, influence of the box size, influence of the box cover.
Defining a stackup for Sonnet RFIC analysis
The purpose of this document is to assist you in defining the dielectric layers and metal definitions for Sonnet, based on the technology cross section provided by the semiconductor foundry. The side effects of thick metal vs. thin metal stackup are discussed.
Sonnet Training:
Understanding Ports for RFIC Analysis
In this document, we will discuss the use of Sonnet ports for RFIC. It will be shown how to use groups of co-calibrated ports, and avoid parasitic coupling between ports. The use of global (box) ground vs. floating (local) ground is explained for RFIC use.
Inductors with Patterned Ground Shield in Sonnet
In this document, we will discuss the analysis of patterned ground shield1 inductors in Sonnet, and the related mesh settings.
It will be shown how a hidden feature in v12.56, the anisotropic metal, can be used to further simplify the meshing and speed up the analysis.
EM Analysis of RFIC Transmission Lines
In this document, we will discuss the analysis of single ended and differential on-chip transmission lines, the interpretation of results and the use of extracted models.
For those readers who are interested in some theoretical background, the document includes an introduction to transmission line concepts, such as characteristic line impedance and impedance transformation.
RFIC Inductor Measured vs. Simulated
The purpose of this document is to assist you with resolving possible differences between simulated RFIC inductor results and values obtained from the design kit or from measurement.
This document is based on extensive practical experience. The author has worked for many years in RFIC inductor modelling, and worked closely with the modelling and measurement groups of different foundries.
Stacked Metal in Sonnet Inductor Models
The purpose of this document is to assist you with simulation of inductors that have stacked metal, connected by large via array.
Often, these via arrays cover the entire conductor area, making the analysis slow and take much memory. We will investigate the physical behaviour of the via array at high frequency, and derive better modelling techniques that are more efficient in terms of simulation time and memory.
Printed Circuit Boards
Analysis of an 868 MHz Loop Antenna.
In this application note we demonstrate the electromagnetic analysis of a planar antenna for the ISM frequency band 868 MHz with Sonnet Professional.
The antenna layout used for this demonstration was developed by Dr. Lutz Konstroffer, RF Consult, www.rfconsult.com
