Patent ID: 6031986
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A simulator for simulating electromagnetic behaviour of an electrical conductor pattern, by a process which includes the steps of:creating a geometric model of a surface of the pattern,forming a matrix representation of Maxwell's equations with values associated with electric and magnetic field couplings between locations each of which is centred on a main geometrical element, which main geometrical elements are a subset of geometrical elements in the geometric model, andcorrelating values of matrix coefficients of the equations with coefficients of an admittance matrix representative of an equivalent circuit model for the pattern in terms of sub-circuits which are interconnected with each other via main nodes having a one-to-one correspondence with the main geometrical elements,characterised in that the pattern forms part of an integrated circuit of thin-film passive circuit components, and in that each of the sub-circuits of the equivalent circuit model for the integrated circuit comprises a set of parallel branches of which:a first branch includes a capacitor which models an electric field contribution,a second branch includes an inductor in series with a capacitor which together model a magnetic field contribution, andat least one further branch includes at least one resistor modelling a contribution to energy loss of the electric and magnetic fields, the energy loss occurring in dielectric material and conductive material of the integrated circuit.