Parametric Model Generation Algorithm for Planar Microwave Structures based on Full-Wave analysis and Design of Experiment

The Design of Experiment approach (DoE) and an electromagnetic full-wave solver are combined in a single algorithm in order to produce parametric model of planar microwave and millimeter wave components. The DoE is a technique normally used to improve a process or a system and is here applied for conducting an electromagnetic analysis in which parameter levels, as geometrical dimensions, are made vary and the corresponding changes on the output are recorded. The results are then statistically processed by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for determining which parameters or their combination is more significant. The electromagnetic analysis performed in time-domain by means of a Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) method provides a very broadband characterization. The given structure is simulated for each of the possible combination obtained from changing each parameter between two levels while keeping all the others constant. Once the parameters have been identified multiple linear regression (MLR) approach is applied to develop the model. This algorithm is here tested on two different test structures, as a microstrip patch antenna on teflon substrate and a coplanar waveguide bend on silicon substrate. The accuracy analysis complete the algorithm description by giving an estimation of the model error.