Si8000m – comprehensive modeling of over 100 structures

Surface coating is often overlooked when modelling and the Si8000m models the resist thickness adjacent to above and between surface traces. This offers a much more elegant solution which can be tailored to the particular resist application method in use on your boards. The new Si8000m also extracts even and common mode impedance. (Even mode impedance is defined as the characteristic impedance of one side of a transmission line pair when both lines are driven by a signal of equal magnitude and polarity). It is becoming increasingly necessary to control these characteristics on  high speed systems such as USB2.0 and LVDS.

Field solving Impedance design system

The Field Solvers in the Si8000m allow you accurately to graph impedance against various PCB parameters. The Si8000m Controlled Impedance Design System is a comprehensive controlled impedance design aid which can run stand alone as a Quicksolver, or the underlying engine can be applied directly though the optional Microsoft Excel user interface.

The Si8000m allows you to produce impedance controlled boards with maximum yields. You can also use the Si8000 to reduce the number of prototype iterations before production ramp up.

How? You have 2 powerful methods of using the field solvers.

One: A quick solving calculator lets you seek a target impedance by varying any one parameter, it could be line width, stack height or Er; you choose the variable and set the goal seek – you can even set realistic targets for your own production limits. Use the Edit / Copy to Excel to take values from the Quick solver and paste directly into the Si8000m Excel spreadsheet

Two: With the Si Excel option, a package of Microsoft® Excel spreadsheets allows direct access to the field solvers; you can graph any parameter you choose using the pre-prepared Microsoft Excel workbooks or build your own workbooks to model your process.

With the ever increasing speeds of modern circuitry the demand for high quality controlled impedance printed circuit boards is continuing to grow. Today's PCBs are not just simple electrical interconnection devices, they are complex highly specified components in their own right. As the demand for controlled impedance PCBs has risen there has been a subsequent increase in requirement to verify these board designs prior to manufacture.