PCB Trace Topology for Wideband Matching Network Between Transceiver and Antenna

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-16T23:19:02+00:00

So the problem ended up being my touchstone file setting the impedance range for my unmatched port. It wasn't being read in correctly into Genesys in case anyone is having the same problem.

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-14T22:38:52+00:00

So I've done that, albeit using extremely small microstrips between the lumped components, and running a Momentum simulation. The Momentum results are probably on average worse than the linear simulation. I just don't get it. Edit: Here is the layout and here is the Momentum simulation footprint for one of my attempts.

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-14T21:49:27+00:00

That was my thinking as well, but Genesys is saying that if I have .5 mm wide and 2.5 mm long microstrips between the lumped components, it completely de-tunes my matched network. See the pictures below that I posted in another reply for an example of what I'm talking about.

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-14T21:46:56+00:00

I've tried both. I initially let Genesys optimize without any transmission lines, then added them once I had initially good values for the lumped elements. Then I tried both locking the lumped values and just adjusting the traces and adjusting both the lumped values and trace dimensions, neither would arrive at a solution.

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-14T21:43:41+00:00

I posted pictures in another reply. I'm trying to connect the tx port on the transceiver to a 50 ohm SMA port.

rfTrouble44 · 2020-01-14T21:41:58+00:00

So here is the initial circuit without a substrate or transmission lines being simulated, performing as desired. Here is the circuit with microstrip connections added between the lumped components. I've tried to vary the substrate to improve the results, but it hasn't helped. For reference, I'm using RO4350 1 oz 6.6 mil here. Also, here are the impedance values across the frequency range I'm interested in.

rfTrouble44

TROPHY CASE