This tutorial is to walk you through the basic steps of getting started with Microwave Office. It will highlight basic steps and then you click buttons to have those steps done for your. The intent is to show you the basic steps without getting into details of how to accomplish each step. The specific steps are covered in the Getting Started Guides. Please select Help > Getting Started from the Help menu to find this guide. (see about button to open this file).
Starting Over
Use the button below to start over at any time.
Getting Started
The first step to any design is to create a schematic or another type of simulation document (data file, netlist or EM structure). In this example, we will
create a simple schematic to start our design.
The next step will be to add elements to your schematics. This example will add a simple transmission line. For linear simulation we also need ports.
Now lets take a look at the schematic layout.
If you simulate at this point, nothing happens. You can try with clicking the button below to simulate. This is because you have not asked for any output. Find the 'Status Window' and notice there is nothing listed meaning no simulation occurred.
Lets fix this problem by adding a graph and a measurement to the graph. We will add a Smith chart with an S(1,1) measurement.
Now that we have a graph, we are ready to simulate again.
Oops, there is no substrate defined for the microstrip line. Look at the status window to see the errors produced by the simulator. To fix this, lets add the substrate block for this microstrip line.
Now everything is ready to go, try simulating again.
Lets change the length of the line.
Notice the graph trace is dimmer than before, indicating the schematic has changed and needs to be resimulated.
Now we need to change our frequency range. The default is 1 and 2 GHz, lets use 1 to 20 in steps of 1.
After frequencies are changed, simulate yet again.
Just for fun, lets now tune the width of the line, watch the layout, schematic results and W parameter in the schematic update.