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RFIC/MMIC Analysis with  Sonnet 

New application notes for analysis of RFIC/MMIC components and circuits, based on Cadence Virtuoso or simple GDSII layout cells. 

Getting started with Sonnet RFIC inductor analysis (PDF, 300kB)

Using Sonnet in a Cadence RFIC Design Flow (PDF, 1.5MB)

Using GDSII layout data in Sonnet for RFIC analysis (PDF, 350kB)
Example file for this application note (zip, 600kB)

RFIC layout analysis with Sonnet and ADS (PDF, 400kB)
Example file for this application note (ADS archive zap, 30kB)

Using Sonnet to analyze PCB loop antennas

This application note demonstrates the electromagnetic analysis of a planar antenna for the ISM frequency band 868 MHz - 870 MHz with Sonnet Professional. It is shown how SMD components can be embedded and tuned very efficiently .

Download the application note ... (477kB, PDF) 

Using Sonnet with  Eagleware Genesys

Genesys 2004/07 introduces an easy to use interface to the Sonnet Software Suite (Release 9.52 or later). You can now integrate Sonnet analyses directly in the Genesys Workspace to replace the internal simulator Empower, and to benefit from the advanced features and options of the Sonnet electromagnetic simulator.  

Download the application note ... (300kB,PDF) 

Analysis of rectangular and spiral RFIC inductors 

Sonnet is well suited for the analysis of inductors on silicon due to its very accurate and robust FFT based simulation method. 

In the Sonnet 9 release, a new technology called Conformal Meshing extends the FFT based Method-of-Moments planar EM analysis to efficient and accurate analysis of large strongly curving geometries, like circular spiral inductors. Conformal meshing is very time and memory efficient while maintaining the known accuracy of Sonnet's FFT based approach. The conformal meshing technology allows accurate analysis in minutes while this same problem can not be successfully analyzed by any other approach.

With Sonnet 10, this becomes even easier to use:

The application note has been updated to reflect some of these changes: Inductor_Analysis_with Sonnet Professional (1.6MB, PDF).

Equations in the Sonnet Response Viewer

With Sonnet 9.0 you have can define a curve in the response viewer as a function of an equation. Equations are available through the new equation menu in the response viewer. Sonnet supplies a basic set of equations including inductance, capacitance, Q factor, phase difference, dB difference, and group delay as well as allowing the users to define their own equations. This application note gives an overview on how the equations in the response viewer are used.

Application Note - Equations in the Sonnet V9 Response Viewer.pdf (206kB, PDF)

Analysis of differential lines with Sonnet

This application note describes the configuration and analysis of differential lines in Sonnet. A differential line consists of a differential pair of traces and has in most cases also a ground reference plane.

Application Note - Analysis of differential lines with Sonnet.pdf (165kB, PDF)

Use Sonnet to design LTCC integrated inductors and capacitors 

This application note shows how Sonnet can be used to lay out capacitors and inductors in LTCC technology with Sonnet . Different methods, including Sonnet generated design curves and optimization, are  presented to achieve the desired component values. Design of LTCC capacitors and inductors (244kB, PDF)

Create Equivalent Circuit SPICE Models from S-Parameter Files

Besides just plotting S-parameter data, the Sonnet Response Viewer can also be used to create the equivalent Pi model and RLCG transmission line model. This capability is not limited to Sonnet generated data – data from any source, including measured values, can be converted to the equivalent  Pi circuit this way. This very useful to get equivalent lumped element values for electrically small circuits, or extract parasitic element values. For distributed circuits where the Pi model does not apply, a distributed SPICE RLCG model can be created. An unlimited number of circuit ports is supported.

The document Use Sonnet results with Spice.pdf (802kB, PDF) describes how to do this in Sonnet Lite or Sonnet Professional.

Calculate transmission line impedance curves in Sonnet

Often, the design engineer is interested in the characteristic impedance of a transmission line configuration, as a function of frequency or as a function of geometry. This data can be found in text books for typical configurations, but results for complex layer stackup and complex conductor configurations are usually not available.

The document  "Calculate transmission line impedance diagrams in Sonnet 7.0" (175kB, PDF) describes an easy method to generate such design curves with Sonnet Professional and Sonnet Lite, Version 7 or newer.

Modelling Coplanar waveguides; Push-pull & push-push ports

Sonnet can be used to model many different types of coplanar waveguide transmission lines, but each type is modelled differently. Follow this link for a description of possible ground and port configurations (push-pull, push-push) for coplanar waveguides.
Modelling Coplanar Waveguides in Sonnet (updated 29. May 2001)

A related issue is the question how to determine the even- and odd mode impedance of the line.
Computing even and odd mode parameters