ECEE 471/518

CAD Lab II:

Microstrip Transmission Lines

Stephen Watt

Due: 10/11/13

OBJECTIVE
The objective of CAD Experiment II was to get familiarized with characteristics of microstrip transmission lines using the
LineCalc tool in ADS. The student simulated transmission lines with varying impedances, dimensions, loads, and
configurations to observe the changes in dielectric constant, phase velocity, voltage, current, and input impedance.
SET UP A
1. Microstrip line on FR4 substrate - dielectric constant and phase velocity

Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
28.98
39370.04
3.254
166.19 E 6
28.98
6675.12
3.255
166.17 E 6
28.97
2723.74
3.26
166.04 E 6
28.97
1124.26
3.276
165.63 E 6
28.98
868.15
3.285
165.41 E 6
29.01
649.58
3.301
165.01 E 6
Table 1. 50 transmission line (FR4 substrate) simulation results

Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
1.54
39369.76
2.789
179.51 E 6
1.54
7211.06
2.789
179.51 E 6
1.54
1880.89
2.79
179.48 E 6
1.54
777.73
2.794
179.35 E 6
1.54
601.15
2.797
179.26 E 6
1.55
450.49
2.801
179.13 E 6
Table 2. 150 transmission line (FR4 substrate) simulation results

Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
148.91
39369.92
3.774
154.32 E 6
148.94
6196.57
3.777
154.26 E 6
149.03
2526.60
3.788
154.03 E 6
149.40
1040.72
3.823
153.33 E 6
149.65
802.87
3.842
152.95 E 6
150.11
600.02
3.869
152.41 E 6
Table 3. 15 transmission line (FR4 substrate) simulation results

2. Microstrip Line on Resin Substrate - Dielectric Constant and Phase Velocity

a. 50 line
Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
43.06
20663.11
2.039
209.95 E 6
43.47
2120.63
2.015
211.19 E 6
43.62
867.63
2.008
211.56 E 6
43.78
359.41
2.003
211.83 E 6
43.84
277.93
2.003
211.83 E 6
43.92
208.37
2.005
211.72 E 6
Table 4. 50 transmission line (resin substrate) simulation results

Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Layout

1.8 GHz /4 Line Dimensions

b. 150 line
Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
3.78
21850.28
1.823
222.04 E 6
3.85
2241.19
1.804
223.20 E 6
3.88
916.95
1.797
223.64 E 6
3.91
380.06
1.791
224.01 E 6
3.92
294.02
1.79
224.08 E 6
3.93
220.57
1.789
224.14 E 6
Table 5. 150 transmission line (resin substrate) simulation results

1.8 GHz /4 Line Dimensions

Layout

c. 15 line
Frequency
100 MHz
980 MHz
2.4 GHz
5.8 GHz
7.5 GHz
10 GHz

Width (mils)
Length (mils)
e
Phase Velocity (m/s)
203.62
19672.28
2.249
199.91 E 6
205.25
2020.13
2.221
201.16 E 6
206.02
826.47
2.212
201.57 E 6
207.17
342.14
2.211
201.62 E 6
207.67
264.48
2.212
201.57 E 6
208.41
198.19
2.216
201.39 E 6
Table 6. 15 transmission line (resin substrate) simulation results
1.8 GHz /4 Line Dimensions

Layout

3. COTS components Simulation and Layout

a. 25 Resistor

Schematic

Input Impedance

Series

Shunt

b. 150 nH Inductor

Schematic

Input Impedance

Series

Shunt

c. 100 pF Capacitor

Schematic

Input Impedance

Series

Shunt

d. 600 fF capacitor || 1.6 nH Inductor

Schematic

Input Impedance

Series

Shunt

ANALYSIS
Part A demonstrated that COTS components have a non-ideal frequency response due to equivalent series
resistance, parasitic capacitance, and parasitic inductance. The LineCalc tool showed that the effective dielectric
constant and phase velocity on a transmission line will change over frequency. Both FR4 and aluminum substrates
were used to show the variance in results due to the material properties. The layout feature in ADS demonstrated
the physical realization of various transmission line confiugrations.

SET UP B
1. 5cm 50 and 30 transmission line on FR4 Pulse Response
a. 100 resistor load

30

50

b. 35 resistor

30

50

c. 0.5nH inductor

30

50

d. 450 fF capacitor

30

50

e. 20 resistor || 400 fF capacitor

30

50

ANALYSIS
The pulse responses of the transmission line illustrate the time it takes for the incident and reflected waves to
travel down the line and also the effect of the reflected signal on the voltage and current. Once the reflected signal
reaches the generator a current is induced in the generator impedance.
Problem 1
Is a microstrip line a dispersive line? How are phase velocity and group velocity impacted by impedance of the
line? Compare 10 and 300 lines.
A microstrip line is a dispersive line. The phase velocity of the line follows =

so when the effective

dielectric constant increases, the phase velocity decreases. A 10 line has a higher epsilon and thus a lower phase
velocity than a 300 line. The group velocity follows = (/)1 |=0 and as phase velocity increases
the group velocity decreases.

Problem 2
Show bounce diagrams of V(z,t) and I(z,t) for a 1m lossless line (Z0=50o, vp=(2/3)c, Vg=60V, Zg=100o, ZL=25o)
from t=0 to t=25ns.
See attached.

Problem 3
What is the impact of having a resistor added in shunt to a capacitor?
Adding a resistor in shunt with a capacitor decreases the total load impedance which decreases the load voltage
(or output voltage). The decreased load impedance results in a higher output current. This effect is apparent in the
voltage and current plots in Part B.1d and Part B.1e.

Problem 4
Microwave Engineer (4th Edition) Problems 2.14, 2.19, 3.21, 3.22.

See attached.

CONCLUSIONS
CAD Experiment II provided an introduction to simulation and layout of microstrip transmission lines. The
LineCalc tool provided experience with calculating the dimensions for microstrip lines with different impedances
on both FR4 and aluminum substrates. Set up B demonstrated the pulse response of microstrip transmission lines
with various loads. For future microstrip work, more care will be taken to ensure the board layout has proper
spacing to accommodate the components. Also, only components with proper artwork and landing patterns will be
used.