ANSYS HFSS MICROSTRIP

PATCH ANTENNA
EXAMPLE - RECTANGULAR PATCH ANTENNA
Microstrip Rectangular Patch Antenna
This example is intended to show you
how to simulate and analyze a
rectangular patch antenna using
ANSYS Electronics Desktop

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RECTANGULAR PATCH ANTENNA GEOMETRY
Rectangular Inset-Fed Microstrip Patch Antenna Geometry

Analyze geometry from 8 GHz to 12 GHz

Antenna is resonant at 10 GHz
50 ohm Port Impedance

Microstrip Length
= 0.914cm
Gap = Substrate
0.05cm Microstrip Width r =2.2
Thickness= 31 mil
= 0.243cm

Inset Length = 0.295cm

Patch Width = 1.19cm

Substrate Width = 2.3cm

Patch Length = 0.97cm

Substrate Length = 2.93cm

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HFSS: GETTING STARTED
Launching ANSYS Electronics Desktop 2017.2
To access HFSS, click the Microsoft Start button,
Select Programs > ANSYS Electromagnetics > ANSYS Electromagnetics Suite 18.2 > ANSYS Electronics
Desktop 2017.2
Opening the Project
In Electronics Desktop, click the icon on the Standard toolbar, or select the menu item File > Open
Browse to the folder containing the file Rectangular Inset-Fed Patch Antenna.aedt and select Open

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HFSS: GETTING STARTED
Setting Tool Options
In order to follow the steps outlined in this tutorial, verify that the following tool options are set:
Select the menu item Tools > Options > General options
Expand HFSS and select Boundary Assignment
Use Wizards for data input when creating new boundaries: Checked
Duplicate boundaries/mesh operations with geometry: Checked
Expand 3D Modeler
Click Drawing
Automatically cover closed polylines: Checked
Edit properties of new primitives: Checked
Expand Display
Click Rendering and set Default transparency to 0.7
Click History Tree
Select last command on object/submodel select: Checked
Click the OK button

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CREATING THE DESIGN
Review Solution Type
Select the menu item HFSS > Solution Type
Note that the following is selected
Driven Terminal
Network Analysis
Click the OK button

Review Model Units

Select the menu item Modeler > Units
Note that the following is selected
Select Units: cm
Click the OK button

Note: The model contains variables

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SETTING THE SUBSTRATE MATERIAL
Set substrate Material
Select the object named sub from the modeler tree
Right click and select Assign Material
From the Select Definition window, click the Add Material Button
For the Material Name type: My_sub
For the Value of Relative Permittivity type: 2.2
Click the OK Button to create the material
Click the OK button to assign the material to Default Material

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ASSIGNING BOUNDARY CONDITIONS: FINITE CONDUCTIVITY

Assigning Finite Conductivity Boundary Condition

Select the menu item Edit > Select > Objects
Select the menu item Edit > Select > By Name
Select the sheets named: patch, Ground
Select the menu item
Click the OK button

Finite Conductivity Boundary

Highlighted

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BOUNDARY CONDITION: CREATE OPEN REGION WITH PML
Select the menu item HFSS > Model > Create Open Region

Under Region, Operating Frequency: 10 GHz

Under Boundary, select PML
Click the OK button
PML layers will be automatically created
Select the menu item View > Fit All > Active View or CTRL+D

Note: Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) is a

fictitious lossy anisotropic material which
fully absorbs electromagnetic fields

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PORT SETUP
Create Lumped Port Excitation
Select the menu item Edit > Select > Objects
Select the menu item Edit > Select > By Name
Select the objects named: port
Click the OK button
Select the menu item HFSS > Excitations > Assign > Lumped Port
Port Name: 1
Conductor: Ground
Use as Reference: Checked
Highlight Selected conductors: Checked
Click the OK button

Note: The ground plane is the conductor

usually used as reference making the
other conductors on the list to be the
signal conductors by default.

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ANALYSIS SETUP
Creating an Analysis Setup
Select the menu item
Click the General tab:
Solution Frequency: 10 GHz Add Solution Setup
Maximum Number of Passes: 30
Max Delta S: 0.02
Click the Options tab:
Select order of basis functions: Mixed Order
Enable the iterative solver: Iterative Solver
Click the OK button

Note: Mixed Order is advised

for first time simulation

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ANALYSIS SETUP
Adding a Frequency Sweep
Select the menu item
Select Solution Setup: Setup1 Alternatively, in the Project Manager Window,
branch and right-click on Add Sweep
Click the OK button
Setup1 Add Frequency Sweep
Edit Sweep Window:
Sweep Type: Interpolating
Frequency Setup Type: Linear Step
Start: 8 GHz
Stop: 12 GHz
Step Size: 0.01 GHz
Click the OK button

Why Interpolating sweep?

Interpolating Adaptively determines discrete solve
points using the adaptive mesh
Matrix Data at every frequency in sweep
Fields at last adaptive solution

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ANALYZE

Save Project
Select the menu item File > Save As
Filename: hfss_patch_ant Validate Analyze All
Click the Save button

Model Validation
Select the menu item HFSS > Validation Check
Click the Close button
Note: to view any errors or warning messages,
use the Message Manager

Analyze
Select the menu item HFSS > Analyze All

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POST PROCESSING: 2D RECTANGULAR PLOT, S-PARAMETERS

Create Reports
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Create Terminal Solution Data Report > Rectangular Plot
Solution: Setup1: Sweep
Domain: Sweep
Category: Terminal S Parameter
Quantity: St(patch_T1, patch_T1)
Function: dB
Click New Report button and then Close

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POST PROCESSING: FIELD OVERLAY, E-FIELD
Hide Box
Return to the 3D Model Window HFSS > 3D Model Editor
View > Visibility > Active View Visibility
Uncheck the box in front of RadiatingSurface to hide the box.
Create Field Overlay
Select the menu item Edit > Select > Faces
By moving the mouse, graphically highlight the top face of the substrate
Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Plot Fields > E > Mag_E
Solution: Setup1:LastAdaptive
Quantity: Mag_E
Click the Done button
Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Modify Plot Attributes
In the Select Plot Folder Window, click the OK button
E-Field Window:
Click the Scale tab
Scale: Log
If real time mode is not checked, click Apply and then Close
To Animate the field plot:
Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Animate
Click the OK button

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POST PROCESSING: 2D RADIATION PATTERN, GAIN
Create a Radiation Setup
Select the menu item HFSS > Radiation > Insert Far Field Setup > Infinite Sphere
Name: ff_2d
Phi: (Start: 0, Stop: 90, Step Size: 90)
Theta: (Start: -180, Stop: 180, Step Size: 2)
Click the OK button
Create Report
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Create Far Fields Report > Radiation Pattern
Solution: Setup1:Last Adaptive
Geometry: ff_2d
Category: Gain
Quantity: GainTotal
Function: dB
Click New Report button
Click Close button

Rename the plot as

Radiation Pattern 1

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POST PROCESSING: 3D RADIATION PATTERN, GAIN
Create a Radiation Setup
Select the menu item HFSS > Radiation > Insert Far Field Setup > Infinite Sphere
Name: ff_3d
Phi: (Start: 0, Stop: 360, Step Size: 5)
Theta: (Start: 0, Stop: 180, Step Size: 2)
Click the OK button
Create Report
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Create Far Fields Report > 3D Polar Plot
Solution: Setup1:Last Adaptive
Geometry: ff_3d
Category: Gain
Quantity: GainTotal
Function: dB
Click New Report button
Click Close button

Rename the plot as

3D Polar Plot 1

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POST PROCESSING: 3D FIELD OVERLAY, RADIATION PATTERN
Create Field Overlay: 3D Radiation Pattern Overlay
Return to the 3D Model Window HFSS > 3D Model Editor
Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Plot Fields > Radiation Field
Overlay Radiation Field Window:
3D Polar Plot 1: Visible
Transparency: 0.6
Scale: 0.25
Click Apply and then Close

Note: the Mag_E field overlay visibility can be turned on/off from the Project Manager Window

The Mag_E field overlay The Mag_E field

visibility on overlay visibility off

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POST PROCESSING: 2D FIELD OVERLAY, RADIATION PATTERN
Item HFSS > Results > Create Far Fields Report > Radiation Pattern
New Report Window:
Solution: Setup1:Last Adaptive
Geometry: ff_2d
Category: Gain
Quantity: GainTotal
Function: dB
Under the Families tab:
For Phi, click Edit, Select values to select 0deg
Click New Report button and then Close
Create Field Overlay: 2D Radiation Pattern Overlay
Return to the 3D Model Window HFSS > 3D Model Editor
Select the menu item HFSS > Fields > Plot Fields > Radiation Field
Overlay Radiation Field Window:
Gain Plot 1: Visible
Click Apply
Click Close

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ANALYTIC DERIVATIVES TUNING
Analytic Derivatives allow the designer to obtain understanding of the sensitivity of the model to
changes in geometry and/or material properties
Copy the Design
In the Project Manager window
Right- Patch_Antenna (Driven Terminal) Copy
Right- hfss_patch_ant Paste
Right- Patch_Antenna1 (DrivenTerminal) Rename and type
Patch_Antenna_Derivatives
Double left-click on the Dependent Solve Setup
In Project Manager Window, double-click on the solution setup
Patch_Antenna_Derivatives (DrivenTerminal) Analysis > Setup1
This will bring up a dialog to edit the Properties
Select the Derivatives tab
Check the following parameters for derivative calculation:
PatchY
Note: Derivative feature produces
InsetDistance derivatives of S-parameters and
related matrix quantity such as Y or Z
parameters. The derivatives are
computed for an offset range of 10%.

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ANALYTIC DERIVATIVES TUNING: SCATTERING PARAMETERS
Analyze
Select the menu item HFSS > Analyze All
Create a new results Report
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Create Terminal Solution Data Report > Rectangular Plot
Solution: Setup1:Sweep
Domain: Sweep
Derivative: All
Category: Tune Terminal S Parameter
Quantity: TuneSt(patch_T1, patch_T1)
Function: dB
Click New Report button
Click Close button
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Tune Reports
Move Slider bars to tune

Note: If you introduce large offset, you might see

unphysical results. This depends on the sensitivity
of the model to the parameter you change.

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ANALYTIC DERIVATIVES TUNING: RADIATION PATTERN
Create a new Report
HFSS > Results > Create Far Fields Report > Radiation Pattern
New Report Window:
Solution: Setup1: Last Adaptive
Geometry: ff_2d
Derivative: All
Category: Gain
Quantity: Tune_GainTotal (All)
Function: dB
Click New Report button and Close
Select the menu item HFSS > Results > Tune Reports
Move Slider bars to tune

Note: Tuning can be

done for all result types.

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