Patent ID: 7197729
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating an equivalent capacitance between a first conductor and a second conductor of a set of conductors within an electrical structure, the method comprising: constructing a Gaussian surface that encloses the first conductor, but does not contain any other conductor, wherein the equivalent capacitance can be estimated by estimating the electric field at a location on the Gaussian surface; and constructing a sequence of locations within the electric structure, wherein the electric potential at a location in the sequence can be used to estimate the electric field or electric potential at the previous location in the sequence; wherein the first location in the sequence is on the Gaussian surface, and the last location in the sequence is on the second conductor; wherein, if a location in the sequence of locations is on the surface of a neighboring conductor that is not in the set of conductors, the next location in the sequence of locations is selected on a neighboring Gaussian surface that encloses the neighboring conductor, but does not contain any other conductor; wherein using the neighboring Gaussian surface to select the next location allows the method to quickly reach the second conductor, thereby quickly estimating the equivalent capacitance by reducing the computational time required to construct the sequence of locations.