Predict Resonances of Shielded PCBs

8/11/2016
Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs
print | close

Microwaves and RF
Avinash Sharma
Fri, 2007-07-13 (All day)
The equations presented here make it possible to predict and analyze the resonant behavior of microwave
circuits enclosed in rectangular shields.
Microwave circuits are generally enclosed in rectangular shields before integration into a larger system.
Unfortunately, when the shield cover goes on, it can cause unexpected results, such as the oscillation of
"unconditionally stable" amplifiers, an increase in transmission-line losses, and unwanted coupling.
Essentially, the presence of the shielded enclosure can throw off all those advanced computer-aidedengineering (CAE) predictions. And, because it is late in the design cycle, the only recourse may be the
addition of RF absorbers and gasket material to the enclosure. But the effects of a shielded enclosure in
high-frequency printed-circuit boards (PCBs) can be minimized by properly predicting the frequency,
location, and nature of these enclosure-induced resonant modes.
A rectangular shield can be considered a rectangular waveguide with two of its open sides enclosed by a
conducting wall. To better understand the behavior of the resonant modes in a rectangular cavity, it might
make sense to review some of the fundamental relationships of rectangular waveguide theory.
A rectangular waveguide can be considered a hollow rectangular tube that supports the propagation of
electromagnetic (EM) waves. Figure 1 shows a rectangular waveguide with dimensions a, b, and l. Note that a
> b. The two types of EM waves supported in a rectangular waveguide are the transverse-electric (TE) waves
and transverse-magnetic (TM) waves. TE waves do not contain an electricfield (E-field) component in the
direction of propagation while TM waves do not contain a magnetic-field (H-field) component in the
direction of propagation.
A simple way to understand how an EM wave can propagate in a rectangular waveguide can be deduced
starting with the transmission line model of Fig. 2. It shows a two-wire transmission line with quarter-wave
shorted stubs attached across it. The shorted stubs have no effect on the propagation of a signal on the twowire line (at the quarter-wave frequency). If quarter-wave shorted stubs were added with infinitesimally
small spacing between them, the structure would assume the behavior of a rectangular waveguide
transmission line (Fig. 3).
In Fig. 3, the larger cross-sectional diameter is one-half wavelength while the shorter dimension is the
spacing of the original two-wire line. This configuration is the smallest cross-section that can be used to
efficiently propagate a signal of a given wavelength.
If the wavelength of the signal is larger in comparison with the cross-sectional dimensions of the line, the
signal will be significantly attenuated as it propagates down the waveguide. If the wavelength of the signal is
shorter in comparison with the cross-sectional dimensions of the line, then other modes of propagation may
occur.3 These conditions can be modeled as the superposition of two plane waves reflecting and rereflecting down the line. The plane waves set up different mode patterns and propagation characteristics,
http://mwrf.com/print/components/predict-resonances-shielded-pcbs
1/8
8/11/2016
which have been reproduced in equation form (See ref. 1) below for both TE and TM waves.1
For TM waves, the E- and H-fields as a function of position along the waveguide are given by Eqs. 1-5:
where:
a and b = box dimensions as oriented in Fig. 1 and = a propagation constant given by Eq. 6:
and
Both m and n are integers starting at zero, and define a possible transverse mode commonly referred to as a
TMmn mode. The first subscript denotes the number of half-cycle variations of the fields in the x-direction,
and the second subscript denotes the number of half-cycle variations of the fields in the y-direction. It is
evident that there are infinite modes that can exist based on the dimensions of the waveguide.
Similar expressions for TE waves are given by Eqs. 8 through 14:
2/8
8/11/2016
Page Title
Both m and n are integers starting at zero, and define a possible transverse mode commonly referred to as a
TEmn mode. The first subscript denotes the number of half-cycle variations of the fields in the x-direction,
and the second subscript denotes the number of half-cycle variations of the fields in the y-direction.
Of practical importance is the lowest order mode, known as the dominant mode. For TM modes in a
rectangular waveguide, neither m nor n can be zero due to the sine dependency of both the E- and H-fields;
therefore, the dominant mode will be the TM11 mode.
For TE modes, either m or n can be zero, but both cannot be zero otherwise the E- and H-fields become zero
as can be seen from Eqs. 9 to 12. Therefore, the lowest TE mode is the TE10 mode for the case b < a shown in
Fig. 1. It should be noted that if a < b, then the dominant mode would be the TE01 mode.
As deduced from the two-wire transmission line model in Fig. 2, a rectangular waveguide has a highpass
frequency response determined by its dimensions. When the propagation constant is real, this corresponds
to a propagating wave. When the propagation constant is imaginary, this corresponds to an exponentially
decaying wave. Based on this, the cutoff frequency for a particular mode is defined when the propagation
constant in Eq. 6 or 13 is 0, which means that the expression of Eq. 15 must hold true.
Solving this expression for frequency yields:

3/8
8/11/2016
Note that the expression for the cutoff frequency is the same for TE or TM modes.
If2 (m/a)2 + (n/b)2 , then the propagation constant is imaginary which translates to exponentially
decaying fields away from the source of excitation.
For an example, the derivations will be used to calculate the dominant mode cutoff frequency for a
rectangular waveguide with dimensions, a = 2.286 cm and b = 1.016 cm. Since the dominant mode is the
TE10 mode, m = 1 and n = 0. The value of the permittivity, , in free space is 4 107 H/m while the value of
in free space is (1/36) 109 F/m. The value of a is 0.02286 m and the value of b is 0.00106 m.
Substituting all of these values into Eq. 16 yields:
Fc mm = 1/(2{(4 107)9)>}0.5) 2 + (0/0.01016)2 >0.5
which is:
Fc mm = 6.562 GHz
In the simulated S21 response of the waveguide structure, signals below the cutoff frequency are attenuated,
whereas signals at and above the cutoff frequency propagate with relatively low loss (Fig. 3). If a rectangular
waveguide is closed on its two open sides by a conducting wall, a rectangular cavity is formed as shown in
Fig. 4. Applying the new boundary conditions, the expressions for the E- and H-fields within the cavity for
TM waves from Eqs. 17 to 21 hold:
Similar expressions for the E- and H-fields for the TE modes are shown in Eqs. 22 to 26:
4/8
8/11/2016
The resonant frequencies can be calculated in a similar fashion to the cutoff frequency for a rectangular
waveguide, with the result shown in Eq. 27.
Parameters m, n, and p denote the number of half-wave cycles in the x, y, and z directions, respectively.
Using this fact, the location of the E- (or H- ) field maximums can be determined within the rectangular
cavity.
Page Title
The lowest resonant frequency for a TM wave is the TM110 mode and for a TE wave is the TE101 mode. This
can be seen by substituting the mode values, m, n, and p into Eqs. 17 through 26. For example, for the TM
case, if either m or n is zero the expressions for the E- and H-fields collapse to zero.
For a cavity with dimensions shown in Fig. 4, the E-field and H-field hotspots for the TM110 mode can be
located by applying the appropriate expressions. As a second example, using Eqs. 17 to 21, for m = n = 1 and
p = 0, there are three nonzero field components as shown in Eq. 28.
Only one maximum exists for this function and it occurs if (a/2,b/2,z), which is shown in Eq. 29:
5/8
8/11/2016
The maximum occurs at (a/2,0,z) and (a/2,b,z) (as in Eq. 30):
and the maximum occurs at (0,b/2,z) and (a,b/2,z).

Since a > b, the maximums calculated by Hx are actually the true maximums and are located at (a/2,0,z) and
(a/2,b,z).
By using the definition of modes, one can easily determine the maximum locations of the E- and H-fields
within
a cavity. For the TM110 mode, there exists one half-wave cycle in the x-axis, and one half-wave cycle in the yaxis, and no variation in the z-axis of the fields (Fig. 5). Note that the maximum occurs when x = a/2 and y =
b/2 intersects, which occurs in the center of the cavity.
The location of an E-field maximum is the location of a H-field minimum and vice-versa. Using this fact, the
corresponding locations for the maximum H-field can be found.
To account for the PCB effects, the rectangular cavity can be modeled as a rectangular waveguide with a
dielectric slab perpendicular to the E-field with two ends closed in by conducting walls (Fig. 4). An
approximate solution to the resonant frequency using this method is given below in Eq. 31 (see ref. 2)
where:
h = the thickness of the printed-circuit board;
d = the height of the shield plus the thickness of the printed circuit board; and
r = the dielectric constant of the PCB.
As a third example, consider a PCB with shield dimension of 1.675 X 2.375 X 0.25 in., board thickness of 20
mils, and relative dielectric constant of 4.5 ( r = 4.5). The equations can be used to find the five lowest
resonant frequencies and the locations of the maximum electric fields within the shield. To perform the
calculations, the following parameters are known: h = 20 mils and d = 270 mils. Using Eq. 31, the TM110,
TM120,
TM310, TM210, and TM220 modes correspond to the five lowest resonant frequencies within the shield. The
6/8
8/11/2016
lowest
TE mode is the TE101 mode with a corresponding resonant frequency of over 21 GHz, which is higher than
any of the TM modes listed above. The table lists the five lowest frequencies, as well as the corresponding
locations of the maximum electric fields.
As a check of these calculations, the shield and PCB were simulated using the High-Frequency Structure
Simulator (HFSS) from Ansoft Corp. (www.ansoft.com). The corresponding resonant frequencies are also
provided in the table for comparison. Plots of both the E- and H-fields within the structure are also
simulated with HFSS and shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.
For the TM110 mode, it is expected that there will be a one-half-wave variation in both the x- and ydimensions and no variation in the z-direction. This results in a maximum E-field hot spot directly in the
center of the cavity (Fig. 6B). Note that where an E-field maximum occurs, there is a corresponding Hfield
minimum (Fig. 6A).
For a TM210 mode, it is expected that there would be two one-half-wave cycles in the x-direction, one onehalf cycle in the y-direction, and no variation in the z-direction, which is shown in Fig. 7A (the H-field
variation) and in Fig. 7B (the E-field variation)
For a TM120 mode, it is expected that there would be a single one-half-cycle variation in the x-direction and
two one half-cycle variations in the y-direction, and no variation in the z-direction which is shown in Fig. 7A
(the H-field variation) and in Fig. 7B (the E-field variation).
For a TM310 mode, it is expected that there would be three one-half-cycle variations in the x-direction and
one one-half-cycle variation in the y-direction, and no variation in the z-direction which is shown in Fig. 7A
For a TM220 mode, it is expected that there would be two one-half-cycle variations in the x-direction and
two one-half-cycle variations in the y-direction, and no variation in the z-direction which is shown in Fig. 7A
Note that these results correspond to what is predicted in the table based on the definition of modes. It
should also be noted that Eq. 28 is valid as long as there aren't large or high-profile devices attached to the
PCB. Large obstacles complicate this simple computation. To account for obstacles, a full-featured threedimensional (3D) electromagnetic (EM) solver is recommended for more complex modeling.
To excite a resonant mode, a probe with a signal at or near the resonant frequency inserted at the location of
maximum electric fields will set up an E-field of considerable intensity. Similarly, a magnetic loop, inserted
where the maximum H-fields are located, will set up a strong H-field of considerable intensity. Multiple
probes (or loops) located in areas of maximum E-field (or H-field) intensity, can excite higher-order
resonant modes.
Knowledge of the location of the maximum E- and H-fields and the corresponding resonant frequency
enables a designer to avoid placement and routing of circuits that could efficiently excite these resonant
modes. Note that placement and routing of circuits does not get rid of resonant modes, but can reduce the
effects, which may just be the difference between a working versus a non-working design.
As an example, two filters were placed in the shield described earlier in example 1. Filter A was located in the
7/8
8/11/2016
center of the can as shown in Fig. 8. The TM110, TM210, and TM310 modes all have Efield hot spots along this
path. So, it is expect that there should be field excitations at 4.1, 7.2, and 8.3 GHz. A simulation of the
frequency response using Ansoft's HFSS is shown in Fig. 9.
See the August 2007 issue for Part 2 of this article.
Source URL: http://mwrf.com/components/predict-resonances-shielded-pcbs
8/8

Predict Resonances of Shielded PCBs

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Predict Resonances of Shielded PCBs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

8/11/2016

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Solving this expression for frequency yields:

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

The maximum occurs at (a/2,0,z) and (a/2,b,z) (as in Eq. 30):

and the maximum occurs at (0,b/2,z) and (a,b/2,z).

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

Predict Resonances Of Shielded PCBs

You might also like