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pcbComponent

Create single or multifeed PCB component

Since R2021b

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Description

Use the pcbComponent object to create a multiport PCB component consisting of metal and dielectric layers.

Creation

Syntax

pcb = pcbComponent
pcb = pcbComponent(Name=Value)

Description

example

pcb = pcbComponent creates a two-port PCB component.

pcb = pcbComponent(Name=Value) sets Properties using one or more name-value arguments. For example, pcb = pcbComponent(Name=PCBWilkinson) creates a PCB component named 'PCBWilkinson' Properties not specified retain their default values.

Properties

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Name of the PCB component, specified a character vector or string scalar.

Example: component = pcbComponent(Name='PCBsplitter')

Data Types: char | string

Design revision details of the PCB component, specified as a character vector or string scalar.

Example: component = pcbComponent(Revision='v2.0')

Data Types: char | string

Shape of the PC board, specified as a shape object. You can specify any one of the shapes from Custom Geometry and PCB Fabrication.

Example: trace = tracerectangular; component = pcbComponent(BoardShape=trace) creates a rectangle shaped trace on a PCB.

Data Types: char | string

Height of the PCB component, specified as a positive scalar in meters. To understand more about BoardThickness, see Board Thickness versus Dielectric Thickness in PCB.

Example: component = pcbComponent(BoardThickness=0.0026)

Data Types: double

Metal and dielectric layers, specified a cell array of metal and dielectric layers. You can specify one metal shape or one dielectric substrate per layer starting with the top layer and proceeding downward.

Data Types: cell

Feed locations on the PCB component in Cartesian coordinates, specified as either an N-by-3 or N-by-4 array with N representing the number for ports on the PCB component. You can place the feed inside the board or at the edge of the board. The arrays translate into the following:

  • N-by-3 – [x, y, Layer]

  • N-by-4 – [x, y, SigLayer, GndLayer]

Example: component = pcbComponent(FeedLocations=[-0.0187 0 1 2])

Data Types: double

Diameter of center pin of the feed connector, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: component = pcbComponent(FeedDiameter=2.000e-04)

Data Types: double

Electrical short locations on the PCB component in Cartesian coordinates, specified as a real vector of size M-by-4 array. The array translates into the following:

  • M-by-4 – [x, y, SigLayer, GndLayer]

Example: component = pcbComponent(ViaLocations=[0 -0.025 1 2])

Data Types: double

Diameter of electrical shorting pin used between metal layers, specified as a positive scalar in meters for a single pin or a positive vector in meters for multiple pins. Number of values specified in this property must match the number of pins.

Example: component = pcbComponent(ViaDiameter=1.0e-3)

Data Types: double

Model for approximating the feed and via, specified as one of the following:

  • 'strip' – A rectangular strip approximation to the feed and via cylinder. This approximation is the simplest and results in a small mesh.

  • 'square' – A four-sided polyhedron approximation to the feed and via cylinder.

  • 'hexagon' – A six-sided polyhedron approximation to the feed and via cylinder.

  • 'octagon' – A eight-sided polyhedron approximation to the feed and via cylinder.

Example: component = pcbComponent(FeedViaModel='octagon')

Data Types: char | string

Type of the metal used as a conductor, specified as a metal object. You can choose any metal from the MetalCatalog or specify a metal of your choice. For more information, see metal. For more information on metal conductor meshing, see Method of Moments Solver for Metal and Dielectric Structures.

Example: m = metal('Copper'); component = pcbComponent(Conductor=m)

Lumped elements added to the PCB component feed, specified as a lumped element object handle. For more information, see lumpedElement (Antenna Toolbox) Antenna Toolbox™.

Example: Load = lumpedelement. lumpedelement is the object handle for the load created using lumpedElement.

Tilt angle of the PCB component along Z-axis, specified as a scalar or vector with each element unit in degrees.

Example: Tilt=90

Example: pcb.Tilt = 90

Data Types: double

Tilt axis of the PCB component, specified as [0 0 1] or 'Z'.

Example: pcb.TiltAxis = 'Z'

Data Types: double

Object Functions

currentCalculate and plot current distribution
chargeCalculate and plot charge distribution
feedCurrentCalculate current at feed port
gerberWriteGenerate Gerber files
layoutPlot all metal layers and board shape
meshChange and view mesh properties of metal or dielectric in PCB component
meshconfigChange mesh mode of PCB component or shape structure
sparametersCalculate S-parameters for RF PCB objects
showDisplay PCB component structure or PCB shape

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a PCB component using default properties.

pcb = pcbComponent;

View the PCB component.

show(pcb)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title pcbComponent element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 7 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed, Teflon.

Calculate S-parameters over 10 frequencies from 1-5 GHz.

s=sparameters(pcb,linspace(1e9,5e9,10));

Plot the S-parameters.

rfplot(s)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with xlabel Frequency (GHz), ylabel Magnitude (dB) contains 4 objects of type line. These objects represent dB(S_{11}), dB(S_{21}), dB(S_{12}), dB(S_{22}).

Open Live Script

Create a PCB component with a lid at a distance of 2 cm above the component. 

p = pcbComponent;
pcblid = traceRectangular(Length=p.Layers{1}.Length,Width=p.Layers{3}.Width); 
dAir = dielectric('Air');
dAir.Thickness = 2e-2;
p.BoardThickness = p.BoardThickness + dAir.Thickness;
p.Layers = {pcblid,dAir,p.Layers{1},p.Layers{2},p.Layers{3}};
p.FeedLocations(:,3:4) = [3 5;3 5];
show(p)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title pcbComponent element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 10 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed, Teflon.

Calculate the S-parameters over the 10 frequencies from 1-5 GHz.

s = sparameters(p,linspace(1e9,5e9,10));
rfplot(s)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with xlabel Frequency (GHz), ylabel Magnitude (dB) contains 4 objects of type line. These objects represent dB(S_{11}), dB(S_{21}), dB(S_{12}), dB(S_{22}).

Version History

Introduced in R2021b

See Also

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