Defining the Layer Configuration

Defining the Material Characteristics.

  1. If not already running, click eCADSTAR [Version] > PCB Editor [Version] on the Start menu to launch eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
  2. On the File tab, click Open. Alternatively, click Open on the Home tab. The Open dialog is displayed.
  3. Browse to the following location and click Open: C:\Users\Public\eCADSTAR\eCADSTAR [Version]\Analysis\SI_PCB\SI.pdes.

  1. On the ribbon, click Home > Design Rules > Rule Editor. Rule Editor dialog is displayed.

  1. Select the Board tab, and check the layer definitions are as shown below.

Reference Planes

A field solver requires a layer that is identified as a reference plane. A layer with the Layer Attribute set to Power-plane is always handled as a reference plane. However, it is possible to have a positive or positive/negative layer identified as a reference plane by defining their electric layer type. If there is no power plane, you must define a reference plane for two or more layers.

  • In Rule Editor, check the entries in the Layer attribute column on the Board tab. The design data does not contain a layer whose layer attribute is set to powerplane. However, as the electric layer type definition is set to power signal or ground signal, each layer is identified as a reference plane.

 

Note
  • The fact that the electric layer type definition is set to power or ground does not mean that you cannot route general signals.
  • In electromagnetic analysis, a reference plane refers to a stable potential plane. Therefore, if a reference plane is defined for a routing layer with smaller area fills, then analytic errors become larger. Also, if Enable enhanced plane extraction is specified in the topology extraction options, then the true shape of a power or GND net is considered.

 

Defining a Resist Layer

A resist layer must be defined to perform more precise simulation. Taking a solder resist into account allows you to consider detailed cross-section models.

  1. Enter the following values for the Resist-A and Resist-B layers.
    Layer thickness: 0.02
    Material: mat1
    Dielectric constant: 4.5
    Loss tangent: 0.02
  2. Click OK. A confirmation dialog is displayed, as shown below.
  3. Click Yes to close the Rule Editor.

 

This task is demonstrated in the following video.


Next topic: Setting Up Components

Related Topics
Setting up Signals