I am starting a new topic, targeting high frequency PCB design. The Gerber Viewer will be a base for it. But for now, my targets are more abstract and more related to general electrotechnic or electromagnetism. I have already realized that the equation system solving is going to be the main difficulty, due to the size of the unknown variable set. So I am learning.
My latest milestone, I am happy to share, is a 2D capacitance solver, which could be used to calculate the capacitance between two layers of metal traces or planes.
The program is now available as open-source on GitHub. You can find the program's source code and more information on its GitHub repository
This simple program reads a bitmap (e.g. png) representing the shape of the capacitor plates. Red and green color channels are used to represent the top and bottom plates, respectively. Overlapped areas are visible as yellow due to the additive mix of the red and green channels.
Additional information, that is bitmap-pixel-scale and distance between plates, can be set in the "Params" dialog.
The program solves the capacitance of a defined 2.5D structure.
On the left window/picture there is a charge density map, also numerically readable by the mouse pointer. There are 3 charge density map views: both plates (R-Y-G colors), top and bottom. In particular, there is a cross-section selection line controlling the cross-section view.
The cross-section view on the right window/picture: Thin red (top) and green (bottom) lines represent the capacitor plates. All over around, the window shows the electric-potential color map. At the mouse pointer, there is the Electric field vector displayed. The corresponding electric-potential value and the electric-field absolute value are displayed numerically below. Assuming the voltage on the top and bottom plates to be +1 and -1 Volt. Color mappings can be changed using the right mouse click or by clicking on the "View" menu.
At the moment, there is no calculation for a dielectric influence!
However, it is still possible to use the program to solve the real-life PCB capacitances,
multiplying the capacitance value by relative permittivity (Εr):
The software is to be downloaded in two versions: 32-bit and 64-bit. The reason for this is that the equation-solving part,
for now, is a straightforward Gaussian elimination, suitable only for a relatively small number of variables and limited by n²
storage requirement. To make it a bit better, the 64-bit version can access much bigger memory, available now on the standard PC.
The program starts with a preloaded demo.
Download all examples: CMatrixExamples.zip
Copyright © ZofzPCB 2015, Updated:
The software is provided FREE ($0.00) of charge.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.