Overview

There are three major types of simulation tools used to predict the response of power distribution components and networks: (1) analytic expressions, (2) circuit simulators, and (3) electromagnetic field simulators. Closed-form analytic solutions exist for a very small subset of structures, for example, waveguides or coaxial cables. Consequently, their utility in solving real-world problems is limited. Semianalytic solutions can be obtained for a number of useful structures, including, for example, the self-and transfer-impedance profiles of parallel planes. Often, these types of solutions involve infinite series approximations or complicated integrals. Circuit simulators translate conductors and dielectrics into equivalent circuit elements, such as resistances, capacitances, inductances, and their coupling. Then, frequency-domain simulations can be performed on the entire circuit network to capture the device behavior. Although circuit simulators permit the engineer to construct a very sophisticated model of PDN components, realistic 3D structures are difficult to simulate accurately for many reasons. One reason is that creating an equivalent circuit requires some understanding of the current flow and coupling in order to capture its response. Also, circuit simulators require an estimate of the electrical parameters of the model (which is often unknown). On the other hand, electromagnetic field solvers do not share the limitations described above for these two types of simulation tools: they are not limited to solving a class of problems that have closed-form or semianalytic expressions; they can solve a range of problems where no such expression exists. Unlike circuit simulators, they do not require estimates of the equivalent...