PCBWriter

R2026b

Create PCB board definitions from 2-D antenna designs

Description

Use the PCBWriter object to create a printed circuit board (PCB) design files based on multilayer 2-D antenna design. A set of manufacturing files known as Gerber files describes a PCB antennas. A Gerber file uses an ASCII vector format for 2-D binary images.

Creation

Syntax

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject)

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,rfconnector)

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,writer)

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,rfconnector,writer)

Description

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject) creates a PCBWriter object that generates Gerber-format PCB design files based on a 2-D antenna design geometry using PCB stack.

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,rfconnector) creates a customized PCB file using specified rfconnector type.

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,writer) creates a customized PCB file using a specified PCB service, writer.

b = PCBWriter(pcbstackobject,rfconnector,writer) creates customised PCB file using specified PCB service and PCB connector type.

Input Arguments

pcbstackobject — Single feed PCB antenna

pcbStack object

Single feed PCB antenna, specified as a pcbStack object.

Example: p1 = pcbStack; a = PCBWriter(p1); creates a PCBWriter object from PCB stack.

writer — Service to view PCB design

PCBServices object

Service to view PCB design, specified as a PCBServices object.

Example: s = PCBServices.GerbLookWriter; a = PCBWriter(p1,s); uses Gerblook PCB service to view the PCB design.

rfconnector — RF connector type

object

RF connector type for PCB antenna feedpoint, specified as a PCBConnectors object.

Example: c = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch; a = PCBWriter(p1,c); uses SMA_Cinch RF connector at feedpoint.

Output Arguments

b — PCB Board definition of 2.5D antenna design

object

PCB Board definition of 2.5D antenna design, returned as an object.

Properties

Design — PCB Antenna geometry information

Read-only: structure

This property is read-only.

PCB Antenna geometry information, represented as a structure. The geometry information includes:

• Layers — Vector of structures describing all metal layers.

• FeedLocations — Cell vector defining antenna feed points.

• ViaLocations — Cell vector specifying electrical connections (shorts) between pairs of metal layers in the antenna at specified locations.

• ViaDiameter — Diameter of the electrical shorts.

• DefaultConnector — Default RF connector to add to the PCB, when no connector is specified.

• DesignInfo — Structure containing title, comment, and attribute text for the PCB design.

• Source — Source of the PCB design.

Data Types: struct

Writer — PCB manufacturing service

PCBServices object (default)

PCB manufacturing service to generate Gerber files and view the PCB design, specified as a PCBServices object.

Example: a = PCBWriter; a.Writer = PCBService.GerbLookWriter; uses GerbLook PCB service to generate Gerber files and view the PCB design.

Connector — RF connector type

PCBConnectors object

RF connector type for PCB antenna feedpoint, specified as a PCBConnectors object.

Example: a = PCBWriter(pcbStack); a.Connector = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch; uses SMA_Cinch RF connector at the feedpoint.

UseDefaultConnector — Use default connector

1 (default) | 0

Use default connector, specified as 0 or 1.

Example: a.UseDefaultConnector = 1, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: logical

ComponentBoundaryLineWidth — Line widths drawn around components on silk screens

8 (default) | positive scalar

Line widths drawn around components on silk screens, specified as a positive scalar in mils.

Example: a.ComponentBoundaryLineWidth = 10, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: double

ComponentNameFontSize — Font size to label components on silk screen

positive scalar

Font size to label components on silk screen, specified as a positive scalar in points.

Example: a.ComponentNameFontSize = 12, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: double

DesignInfoFontSize — Font size for design information added outside board profile

positive scalar

Design information text font size added outside board profile, specified as a positive scalar.

Example: a.DesignInfoFontSize = 12, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: double

Font — Font used for component name and design info

'Arial' (default) | character vector

Font used for component name and design info, specified as a character vector.

Example: a.Font = 'TimesNewRoman', where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: char | string

PCBMargin — Copper free margin around board

0.5e-3 (default) | positive scalar

Copper free margin around board, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: a.PCBMargin = 0.7e-3, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: double

Soldermask — Add solder mask to top and bottom of PCB

'both' (default) | 'top' | 'bottom' | 'none'

Add solder mask to top and bottom of PCB, specified as 'both', 'top', 'bottom' or 'none'.

Example: a.SolderMask = 'top', where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: char | string

Solderpaste — Generate solder paste files

1 (default) | 0

Generate solder paste files as a part of PCB stack, specified as 1 or 0.

Example: a.SolderPaste = 0, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: logical

EnableSignature — Enable or disable watermark signature

1 (default) | 0

Enable or disable watermark signature, specified as a logical value. By default, the signature is enabled. Specify value as 0 to disable the signature.

Example: a.EnableSignature=0, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: logical

EnableConnectorLabel — Enable or disable connector labels

1 (default) | 0

Enable or disable connector labels, specified as a logical value. By default, the connector label is enabled. Specify value as 0 to disable the connector label.

Example: a.EnableConnectorLabel=0, where a is a PCBWriter object.

Data Types: logical

Object Functions

gerberWrite	Generate Gerber files
openFolder	Open folder containing generated Gerber files in files browser
sendTo	Export generated Gerber Files to service provider

Examples

Generate Gerber Format Files from pcbStack Object

Create a coplanar inverted-F antenna.

fco = invertedFcoplanar(Height=14e-3,GroundPlaneLength=100e-3,...
    GroundPlaneWidth=100e-3);

Create a pcbStack object.

p = pcbStack(fco);
figure
show(p)
title("Inverted-F PCB Antenna")

Generate a Gerber format design file using PCB Writer.

PW = PCBWriter(p)

PW = 
  PCBWriter with properties:

                        Design: [1×1 struct]
                        Writer: [1×1 Gerber.Writer]
                     Connector: []
           UseDefaultConnector: 1
    ComponentBoundaryLineWidth: 8
         ComponentNameFontSize: []
            DesignInfoFontSize: []
                          Font: 'Arial'
                     PCBMargin: 5.0000e-04
                    Soldermask: 'both'
                   Solderpaste: 1
               EnableSignature: 1
          EnableConnectorLabel: 1

   See info for details

Design PCB Antenna with Cinch SMA Connector

Create a coplanar inverted-F antenna.

fco = invertedFcoplanar(Height=14e-3,GroundPlaneLength=100e-3,...
    GroundPlaneWidth=100e-3);

Create a pcbStack object.

p = pcbStack(fco);
figure
show(p)
title("Inverted-F PCB Antenna")

Create an SMA_Cinch connector using the PCBConnectors object.

c = PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch

c = 
  SMA_Cinch with properties:

                    Type: 'SMA'
                     Mfg: 'Cinch'
                    Part: '142-0711-202'
              Annotation: 'SMA'
               Impedance: 50
               Datasheet: 'https://belfuse.com/resources/Johnson/drawings/dr-142-0711-202.pdf'
                Purchase: 'https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/cinch-connectivity-solutions-johnson/142-0711-202/J10154TR-ND/3587681'
               TotalSize: [0.0071 0.0071]
           GroundPadSize: [0.0024 0.0024]
       SignalPadDiameter: 0.0017
         PinHoleDiameter: 0.0013
           IsolationRing: 0.0041
    VerticalGroundStrips: 1

   Cinch 142-0711-202 (Example Purchase)

Create a PCB design file for the antenna with the connector.

PW = PCBWriter(p,c)

PW = 
  PCBWriter with properties:

                        Design: [1×1 struct]
                        Writer: [1×1 Gerber.Writer]
                     Connector: [1×1 PCBConnectors.SMA_Cinch]
           UseDefaultConnector: 0
    ComponentBoundaryLineWidth: 8
         ComponentNameFontSize: []
            DesignInfoFontSize: []
                          Font: 'Arial'
                     PCBMargin: 5.0000e-04
                    Soldermask: 'both'
                   Solderpaste: 1
               EnableSignature: 1
          EnableConnectorLabel: 1

   See info for details

Generate Antenna Design Files Using Advanced Circuits Writer Service

Create a coplanar inverted-F antenna.

fco = invertedFcoplanar(Height=14e-3,GroundPlaneLength=100e-3,...
    GroundPlaneWidth=100e-3);

Create a pcbStack object.

p = pcbStack(fco);
figure
show(p)
title("Inverted-F PCB Antenna")

Use an Advanced Circuits Writer as a PCB manufacturing service.

s = PCBServices.AdvancedCircuitsWriter

s = 
  AdvancedCircuitsWriter with properties:

               BoardProfileFile: 'legend'
          BoardProfileLineWidth: 1
                 CoordPrecision: [2 6]
                     CoordUnits: 'in'
              CreateArchiveFile: 1
                 DefaultViaDiam: 3.0000e-04
             DrawArcsUsingLines: 0
                 ExtensionLevel: 1
                       Filename: 'untitled'
                          Files: {}
         IncludeRootFolderInZip: 0
                   PostWriteFcn: @(obj)sendTo(obj)
    SameExtensionForGerberFiles: 0
                    UseExcellon: 1

Create an antenna PCB design file using the above service.

PW = PCBWriter(p,s)

PW = 
  PCBWriter with properties:

                        Design: [1×1 struct]
                        Writer: [1×1 PCBServices.AdvancedCircuitsWriter]
                     Connector: []
           UseDefaultConnector: 1
    ComponentBoundaryLineWidth: 8
         ComponentNameFontSize: []
            DesignInfoFontSize: []
                          Font: 'Arial'
                     PCBMargin: 5.0000e-04
                    Soldermask: 'both'
                   Solderpaste: 1
               EnableSignature: 1
          EnableConnectorLabel: 1

   See info for details

PCB Antenna Design Using GerbLook Service

Create a coplanar inverted-F antenna.

fco = invertedFcoplanar(Height=14e-3,GroundPlaneLength=100e-3,...
    GroundPlaneWidth=100e-3);

Use this antenna to create a PCB stack object.

p = pcbStack(fco);
figure
show(p)

Use the GerbLookWriter to generate the Gerber files for the PCB.

s = PCBServices.GerbLookWriter;

Create an antenna design file using PCBWriter.

PW = PCBWriter(p,s);

Use the gerberWrite method to create Gerber files from the antenna design files.

gerberWrite(PW)

Generated File: 'C:\Users\user\OneDrive - MathWorks\Documents\MATLAB\ExampleManager\user.Bdoc.DocWork0\antenna-ex14839356\untitled.zip'
'(name is available in system cut-buffer)

13 files in PCB stack
   Size Lines File
     1k    64 untitled.gtl (Copper,L1,Top,Signal)
   239b    19 untitled.gts (Soldermask,Top)
   369b    29 untitled.gbs (Soldermask,Bot)
   285b    18 untitled.gbl (Copper,L2,Bot)
   308b    27 untitled.gtp (Paste,Top)
   215b    19 untitled.gbp (Paste,Bot)
   103b     6 untitled.txt (ExcellonPlated,1,2)
   207k 10349 untitled.gto (Legend,Top)
   118k  6204 untitled.gbo (Legend,Bot)
     1k    38 untitled.gpi (PhotoplotterInfo,Info)
     1k    36 untitled.dri (DrillStationInfo,Info)
   239b    17 untitled.ipc (IPCD356A,Info)
              untitled.gml (Profile,NP)

The location of the folder and the GerbLook viewer website opens automatically.

To view the board, drag and drop the files.

Version History

Introduced in R2017b

R2025a: Support for edge connector, enable/disable signature and connector label

The PCBWriter object now allows you to enable or disable the watermark signature and connector labels in the Gerber files. Use the new:

• EnableSignature property to enable or disable watermark signature.

• EnableConnectorLabel property to enable or disable connector labels.