Problem 4: (Microstrip Transmission Line)

Compute the impedance of a microstrip w

transmission line using the TEM and
quasi-TEM approximation. In the TEM t
case the impedance is obtained by two
separated computations for the per unit
length capacitance and inductance h εr
Z = L′ C ′ since electric and magnetic
field are oriented transversal (i.e.
perpendicular to the current). The TEM
approximation assumes the field inside the conductor to be zero (negligible). It is equivalent
to the high frequency approximation, where –due to pronounced skin effect– the field solely
exists in the dielectric. The quasi-TEM approximation takes the magnetic filed inside the
conductor into account but still assumes transverse fields in the dielectric.

Use the following values for a thin-film Polyimide technology: h = 10µm ; w = 20µm ;
t = 4µm ; ε r = 2.8 .

a) Compute the per unit length capacitance. Investigate the influence of the surrounding box
onto your results, chose an appropriate boundary condition. Find a box size sufficiently
large such that the influence on results can be neglected.
b) Compute the per unit length inductance in the high frequency limit. List results using
different element types (linear, quadratic, cubic) for a fixed coarse mesh. Compare results
using different meshes but same element types (linear). What is the expected accuracy of
your results (for different mesh sizes and fixed element type)? Try to obtain a solution
such that the Error is less than 5%.
c) Compute the impedance and compare with the approximation given at
https://emclab.mst.edu/resources/tools/pcb-trace-impedance-calculator/microstrip/ :
87Ω  5.98 h 
Z= ln .
ε r + 1.41  0.8 w + t 
d) What is the height of the dielectric material h needed to obtain a strip line impedance of
Z = 50Ω ? Obtain an answer first from the approximation in c) and then from COMSOL.
e) Compute per unit length inductance and resistance in the low frequency limit.
f) Compute per unit length inductance for a frequency of f = 1GHz and compare the
magnetic field distribution inside and outside the strip with the field pattern obtained in b)
and e).

Hints:
- In task b) the conductor is field free and should be eliminated from the computational
domain. Additionally, you should explore symmetry. In order to correctly set boundary
conditions at the conductor strip surface investigate the orientation of field lines and field
gradient at the strip surface.
- For conductivity value of the copper strip use κ = 59 ⋅10 6 S/m .
- In task e) the current is homogeneously distributed over the conductor strip. This results in
a magnetic field inside the strip. This will lead to an additional inductance called inner
inductance, which depends on the field distribution. You should assume a perfect
conductor for the ground plane in order to simplify the computation.
- In task f) the current distribution and magnetic field inside the conductor are influenced by
the skin effect. The influence of this effect can be estimated by considering the skin
penetration depth.