Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 1 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

2015.0 Release

Lecture 3: Antenna Post-Processing

ANSYS HFSS for Antenna Design

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 2 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Post Processing Quantities

• Post-Processing allows users to investigate how a device behaves

• There are 3 general types of post-processing in HFSS • Field Data

– Field quantities are derived from the fields solved throughout the solution domain

• MagE, ComplexMagE, VectorE

• MagH, ComplexMagH, VectorH

• MagJsurf, ComplexMagJsurf, VectorJsurf

• Vector_RealPoynting

• Network Data

– S, Y and Z Parameters

– Propagation Constant (ϒ), Port Characteristic Impedance (Zo), Effective Epsilon (ε), Effective Lambda (λ)

• Radiation Data

– Far-Field

– Near-Field

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 3 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Post-Processing Formats

• There are 4 formats to view these data • Reports

– Results branch in Project Manager window

• Rectangular Plots

• Polar Plots

• Data Tables

• Smith Charts

• Solution Data

– Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Solution Data...

• Field Overlays

– Field Overlays branch Project Manager window

• Volumetric 3D Field Contours

• Volumetric 2D Field Contours

• Radiation Pattern Overlay

• Antenna Parameters

– Right-click on the Infinite Sphere setup in Radiation branch and select Compute Antenna Parameters...

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 4 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Creating Reports

• Report creation can be accessed from 2 different areas of the user interface • Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Create … Report

• From the Project Manager window, right-click on Results and select Create … Report

• Reports are first categorized by the type that will be plotted • Create Modal Solution Data Report

• Create Terminal Solution Data Report

• Create Fields Report

• Create Near Fields Report

• Create Far Fields Report

• Create Emission Test Report

• Reports are then categorized by the Plot Format • Rectangular Plot

• Rectangular Stacked Plot

• Polar Plot

• Data Table

• Smith Chart

• 3D Rectangular Plot

• 3D Polar Plot

• Rectangular Contour Plot

• Smith Contour Plot

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 5 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

The Report Editor

• The Context Section • Controls which Solution the data is plotted from

• Controls if data is in the Frequency Domain (Sweep) or Time Domain

• The Trace Tab • Selects the Quantity to be plotted

• Selects the independent sweep variable

Selecting the Quantity

Selecting the Sweep Variable

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The Report Editor (Continued …)

• The Families Tab • When solutions exist for multiple variations of the design the Families tab allows users to choose which variation’s data is used

• If multiple variations are selected each one shows up as an additional curve

• The button in the Edit column allows finer control over which variations are included

• Variables can be set to their nominal values to simplify the list

– Nominal values are the current values these variables are set in the design.

Selecting the Nominal Variables

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Create Report

• Create Report • The plot created shows 3 curves for different values of the variable Patch_R

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Field Overlays

• Field Overlays • Field Overlays create contour plots that are applied to geometric surfaces or volumes

• The quantities plotted are directly derived from the volumetric E-Field solution HFSS solves with in the solution domain.

• Creating Field Overlays Plot • Select a surface or volume

• Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Plot Fields > E > Mag_E

• Or alternatively, from the Project Manager window, right-click on Field Overlays and select Plot Fields > E > Mag_E

Surface is selected

Choose the Field quantity of interest to plot

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 9 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Create Field Plots

• The Field Overlays plot definition is controlled through the Create Field Plot window • Context Section

– Controls which solution and frequency the field data is plotted from

– If solutions exist for different variable values HFSS will base the Field Overlays on the nominal values currently defined for the variable.

• Quantity Section

– Allows adjustment of the quantity being plotted

• In Volume Section

– Allows users to restrict the plot to only exist in/on certain objects

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 10 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Modify Field Plots

• Modify Field Plot Attributes • Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Modify Plot Attributes...

– Select the Field quantity plot

– Click the OK button,

– Or alternatively, from the Project Manager window, under Field Overlays. Right-click on the Field quantity and select Modify Attributes...

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 11 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Modify Field Plots

• Modify Field Plot Attributes • From the Modify Field Attributes dialog box, click on the Scale tab

– Select the radio button for Log scale

Explore the other tabs in Modify Field Attributes dialog box

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 12 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Animate Field Quantity

• Animate Field Quantity • Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Animate...

– Setup the Animation

• Swept variable: Phase

• Start: 0 deg

• Stop: 170 deg

• Steps: 17

• Click the OK button

Or alternatively, from the Project Manager window,under Field Overlays, Right-click on Field quantity and select Animate...

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 13 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Radiation Computations

• Radiation Setup • Radiation Setup allows users to view fields outside of the solution domain.

• Far-Field Infinite Sphere Setup: • Takes the fields solved on an integration surface and predicts the far-field behavior using equivalence and a far-field approximation.

• The default integration surface is defined as the radiation boundary, FEBI boundary, Floquet Port or the surfaces a PML boundary is defined on.

• An Infinite Sphere Setup controls:

– the directions the far-field is calculated in

– the coordinate system used to define the far-field’s spherical coordinates

– the integration surface used for the calculation

• To evaluate the radiated fields in the far-field region, set up an an infinite sphere that surrounds the radiating object

Note: You must have defined at least one radiation or PML boundary in the design for HFSS to compute far-field quantities, regardless of which radiation surfaces you instruct HFSS to use when calculating the far fields. You do not need to re-solve the problem if you modify radiation surfaces in the Far Field Radiation Sphere Setup window.

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 14 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Far-Field Infinite Sphere Setup

• Far-Field Setup • Select the menu item HFSS > Radiation > Insert Far Field Setup > Infinite Sphere…

• Or alternatively, from the Project Manager window, right-click on Radiation and select Insert Far Field Setup > Infinite Sphere...

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 15 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Compute Antenna Parameters Dialog

• Compute Summary of Far-Field Solutions • From the Project Manager window, Right-click on Infinite Sphere1

– Select Compute Antenna Parameters...

HFSS can also compute antenna parameters, such as the maximum intensity, peak directivity, peak gain, and radiation efficiency

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 16 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Radiation Computations Cont.

• Near Field Setup: • Near fields are evaluated at a fixed finite distance from the radiating device.

• A Near Field Setup controls:

– Fields calculated in 3D space

• There are 2 methods for defining the points where the fields are calculated

– Line (Polyline created in the model which extends beyond the solutions domain)

– Sphere

– Coordinate system used to define those points

– Integration surface used for the calculation

• The default integration surface is defined as the radiation boundary, FEBI boundary, or the surfaces a PML are defined on.

Note: You must have defined at least one radiation or PML boundary in the design for HFSS to compute near-field quantities, regardless of which radiation surfaces you instruct HFSS to use when calculating the near fields. You do not need to re-solve the problem if you modify radiation surfaces in the Near Field Radiation Sphere Setup window.

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 17 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

Near-Field Setup

• Near Field Setup: • Select the menu item HFSS > Radiation > Insert Near Field Setup > Line...

• Or alternatively, from the Project Manager window, right-click on Radiation and select Insert Far Field Setup > Infinite Sphere...

Release 2015.0 May 6, 2015 18 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc.

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