Advanced numerical methods for the simulation of SAW devices

-The characterization of the precise performance of packaged SAW RF filters is an extremely difficult task, due to their high complexity and high performance. If printed circuit boards (PCBs) for testing the filters are not carefully designed, they presumably show parasitic effects influencing the measurement results of the overall system consisting of PCB and filter. Actually, commonly used application environments exhibit different electromagnetic properties, and so the characterization may not be valid.This paper presents a new approach to design physically different PCBs in such a way that SAW RF components exhibit identical performance. The new approach is based on the concept of using optimized test environments, i.e., test environments with minimal reflections, minimal cross-talk, and minimal losses, in order to obtain the pure filter characteristics. The applicability and advantages of the new approach are exemplified.

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“…II, has been simulated on the neutral test and on the quasiapplication PCB structure using techniques explained in [3][4][5]. In Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A combination of commercial field simulators for PCB and package simulation and proprietary tools for SAW chip simulation has proven best for this purpose [3][4][5]. Fig.…”

Section: Characterization Of Relevant Effects By Measurement and mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimized test PCBs for SAW / FBAR RF filters

Bilzer¹,

Pitschi²,

Kiwitt³

et al.

IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2004

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“…With SAW components being on the market for decades, many techniques for SAW modeling have been successfully applied in research and industry and have been reported in the literature [1]- [7]. There are two essentially different types of approaches: specialized procedures, such as, coupling-of-modes (COM) or P-matrix models, and generic tools, such as, finite element method (FEM) or boundary element method (BEM).…”

Section: Simulation Tools and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

An approach to accurate measurements of the electrical characteristics of SAW RF filters using neutral test environments

Pitschi¹,

Kiwitt²,

Wagner³

et al.

IEEE Symposium on Ultrasonics, 2003

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-The paper discusses and classifies typical measurement setups used for the precise electrical characterization of surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio frequency (RF) components, such as, e.g., SAW filters and duplexers, in the context of nowadays demand for increased accuracy of measured filter data. The measurement setups are divided into test environments and application environments. By means of a couple of case studies the paper exemplifies the impact of printed circuit boards (PCBs) on the measured electrical filter characteristics. The effects observed are investigated by measurements and simulation. Simulation models established and analyzed take both relevant electromagnetic and acoustic effects into account. Comparisons of measurements and simulations indicate excellent agreement. The paper points out the necessity for measurement setups that provide a neutral environment to the filter. Here, the notion neutral environment implies minimal reflections, minimal feed-through or cross-talk, and minimal losses. It concludes with the proposal of a neutral environment, which has been successfully implemented in a couple of use cases. Performing the measurement using a neutral environment allows the determination of the filter characteristics without effects caused by the PCB, which is considered an essential prerequisite for an engineering approach to a modular design of a complex system, such as, e.g., the RF section of a mobile terminal.

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