Solver Technologies

HFSS offers multiple state-of the-art solver technologies for high-frequency electromagnetic field simulation. Powerful solvers based on the proven finite element method, the well-established integral equation method, or combined hybrid techniques deliver the most advanced computational methods available in an easy to use design environment.

HFSS for ECAD Interfaces

The HFSS for ECAD interface enables users to drive HFSS directly from the intuitive stack-up-based layout interface. It is an ideal design flow for electrical CAD (ECAD) import, drawing and parameterization of electromagnetic designs. This interface is for engineers who want the 3-D rigor, accuracy and reliability of HFSS from a familiar 2-D layout-based design.

With HFSS for ECAD modeling, material properties, port setup and boundary conditions are set automatically in the layout interface. Models of RFIC layout, IC packages, and printed circuit boards from Cadence Design Systems, Mentor Graphics, and Zuken can be imported directly to HFSS without any further setup. The package layout can be parameterized to compute tuning and sensitivity to understand impedance variations due to process. The interface supports traditional ECAD primitives, such as padstacks, traces, wirebonds and solderballs; it propels a new state-of-the-art solution for digital and RF engineers.

HFSS for ECAD Interface Advantages

Cadence-Specific HFSS for ECAD

HFSS for ECAD technology enables users of Cadence software to set up ready-to-solve chip, package and PCB simulations directly from Allegro® Package Designer, Allegro PCB Designer, SiP Digital Layout, or Virtuoso® Analog Design Environment for analysis in HFSS. All the necessary HFSS setup steps (geometry and net selection, material properties, excitations and boundary conditions) are completed in Cadence software and transferred to HFSS for solving the electromagnetic field and S-parameters via a single click. Users never leave the Cadence interface.

Advanced Finite Array Simulation Technology

ANSYS HFSS software allows calculation of finite-sized phased-array antennas with all electromagnetic effects, including element-to-element coupling, and critical array edge effects.

The traditional approach for simulating large phased-array antennas is to approximate antenna behavior by assuming an infinitely large array. In this technique, one or more antenna elements are placed within a unit cell with periodic boundary conditions on the surrounding walls that mirror the fields to create an infinite number of images in two directions. For many years, engineers have used the periodic boundary condition capability in HFSS to simulate infinitely large phased arrays to extract per-element impedance and elemental radiation pattern, including all mutual coupling effects. The method is especially useful for predicting array blind zones that can occur under certain scan conditions. The method, however, is unable to predict behavior of finite-sized arrays that the array edge affects.

Far field antenna patterns of finite array calculated with HFSS. Graph on right shows effect of finite array (solid lines) size on sidelobes when compared to infinite array (dashed lines).

The finite-sized array simulation technology leverages the repeating nature of array geometries. It can be used with the HPC domain decomposition capability to obtain a very fast solution time for large finite-sized arrays. This technology makes it possible to perform complete array analysis to predict all mutual coupling, scan impedance, element patterns, array patterns and array edge effects.

Phased-array antenna electric field distribution with far-field radiation pattern simulated by finite antenna-array capability in HFSS

Automatic Adaptive Meshing

A key benefit of HFSS is its automatic adaptive meshing techniques for which you need to specify only geometry, material properties and the desired output. The meshing process uses a highly robust volumetric meshing technique and includes a multi-threading capability that reduces the amount of memory used and speeds simulation time. This proven technology eliminates the complexity of building and refining a finite element mesh and makes advanced numerical analysis practical for all levels of your organization.

Automatic adaptive meshing concentrates elements where needed based on field requirements, thus providing an accurate and efficient solution.

Mesh Element Technologies

ANSY HFSS software utilizes tetrahedral mesh elements to determine a solution to a given electromagnetic problem. These mesh elements in combination with the adaptive mesh procedure create a geometrically conformal, and electromagnetically appropriate, mesh for any arbitrary HFSS simulation. This ensures that HFSS will provide the highest-fidelity result for any given simulation. In addition to creating standard first-order tetrahedral mesh, HFSS can employ zero-order and second-order elements as well as a mixture of elements of different orders. Using mixed-order elements enables HFSS to assign an element order based on the element size, which creates an exceptionally efficient mesh and overall solution process.

HFSS also allows the use of curvilinear elements. These elements are perfectly conformal to any associated curved surface. This then provides the highest degree of accuracy possible, as absolutely no assumptions or tessellation are performed.

Conformal curvilinear adapted mesh

High-Performance Computing

High-performance computing (HPC) adds tremendous value to HFSS. With ANSYS Electronics HPC, you can solve ever-larger, more complex electromagnetic field simulations and leverage the networked computer resources to achieve faster solutions.

Learn more about ANSYS Electronics HPC

Electric field in cavity filter simulated by HFSS

Advanced Broadband SPICE Model Generation

ANSYS Full-Wave SPICE provides frequency-dependent SPICE models for accurate time-domain simulation in time-domain circuit analysis tools. ANSYS Full-Wave SPICE models can be created for use with ANSYS Nexxim, HSPICE®, Spectre® RF and MATLAB®. Full-Wave SPICE is the only tool available that produces highly accurate, high-bandwidth SPICE models at the touch of a button. This capability enables you to design electronic and communication components while taking Gigahertz-frequency effects into account.

Optimization and Statistical Analysis

ANSYS Optimetrics is a versatile optional software program that adds parametric, optimization, sensitivity and statistical analysis capabilities to the HFSS 3-D interface. Optimetrics automates the design optimization process for high-performance electronic devices by quickly identifying optimal values for design parameters that satisfy user-specified constraints.

Coupled to ANSYS electromagnetic field simulation software, Optimetrics delivers optimized designs that favorably impact the bottom line.

Features

Parametric analysis

Optimization

Sensitivity analysis

Tuning

Statistical analysis