[ELEC_ENG_5620]

W-element Examples
using Hyperlynx and
HSPICE

Contents
1. Introductions
2. Extracting transmission line W-element from
HyperLinx
3. Simulation using the W-element at HSPICE

Time-domain simulation (Transient)

Frequency-domain simulation (AC)

Objective

This document gives an example to

illustrate how to use HSPICE W-element to
model a stripline trace and differential
traces.

Whats W-element?

The W-element is a versatile transmission line model that

you can apply to efficiently and accurately simulate
transmission lines, ranging from a simple lossless line to
complex frequency-dependent lossy-coupled lines.

This specification is what we

usually use.

Example of W-element syntax

(HSPICE)
Example: For N signal conductor, W-element transmission line in RLGC model
form is like the following.
W_test1 in1 in2 inN iR out1 out2 outN oR RLGCMODEL=name N=val
L=val
W_test1
L
out1

in2

out2

in3

out3

in1

inN
ref

iR

outN
ref

RLGC model

oR

Extracting transmission line

W-element from HyperLinx
: Coupled Strip Line

Example Geometry

A lossy 0.254 meter stripline is used as an

example.
CROSS SECTION
STACKUP
254um 254um 254um

r=4.5;
tan=0.02;

All the metals are copper.

Step 1

Open up Hyperlynx.

click this.

Step 2 - a

Define geometry in Hyperlynx.

2.Right click on it.

1.Select a cell
3.left click this.

Step 2 - b

Define stack-up in Hyperlynx.

1.left click here.

2.Delete unwanted layers and define

trace dimensions. Then define
material property under Dielectric
tab.

Step 2-c

Edit the first trace.

Make sure trace

width is as you
want to.

Step 2-d

Add another trace

3. Coupled line should be
look like:
1. After adding
another line,
click this

4. Remember to
change 2nd line
geometry and tracetrace separation.

2. Follow this to add the 2nd line.

Step 3

Do field simulation and check numerical

results

See your results

here.

Step 4 - a

Export RLGC parameters from Hyperlynx

2. Click Select.

3. Select TDR
as source

1.left click here

to add source.
4. Click Output.

Step 4 - b

Export RLGC parameters from Hyperlynx

2. Save netlist

1.Click this.

Step 4 - c

Check the model by open rlgc.sp using

textpad

This is the model

of your
transmission line.

Tips on using Hyperlynx

Make sure lossy simulation is enabled

before simulation.

Simulation using the

w-element at HSPICE
: Transient Simulation

Step 1

Generate HSPICE Code and

save as xxx.sp
Option setting

.TITLE Transient Simulation Example

.option post=2
**** Transmission line models ***********************
WCond_000 in01 in02 0 out01 out02 0 RLGCmodel=Cond_000 N=2 L=0.076200
.MODEL Cond_000 W MODELTYPE=RLGC N=2
* Lo (H/m)
+ Lo =
+ 3.52271e-007
+ 4.28221e-008 3.52271e-007
* Co (F/m)
+ Co =
+ 1.44265e-010
+ -1.75368e-011 1.44265e-010

R2 in2 in02 50
R3 out1 0 100
R4 out2 0 100
V1 in1 0 PULSE 0v 1v 0ps 20ps 20ps 10ns 20ns
V2 in2 0 PULSE 0v -1v 0ps 20ps 20ps 10ns 20ns

W-element
statement

.PRINT TRAN v(in01,in02) v(in1,in2)

v(out01,out02)
.tran 10p 70.00n
.END

* Ro (Ohm/m)
+ Ro =
+ 3.95882
+ 0 3.95882
* Go (S/m)
+ Go =
+0
+0 0

50 resistances at source
100 resistances at
* setup terminations
output
R1 in1 in01 50

W-element RLGC model

(extracted from HyperLinx)

Transient simulator
-Time step:10ps
-Ending time:70ns.

* Rs (Ohm/m-sqrt(Hz))
+ Rs =
+ 0.00093818
+ 2.09855e-005 0.000938181
* Gd (S/m-Hz)
+ Gd =
+ 1.81288e-011
+ -2.20375e-012 1.81288e-011
**** End Transmission line models *******************

Differential Trapezoidal voltage

sources: 0 to 1v and 0 to -1v transition,
tr/tf: 20ps, pulse width:10ns, period:

Step 2

Run HSPICE simulation

1. Open HSPICE

2. Select the .sp file in

step1

3. Click
Simulate

Step 3
View TD simulation results by SPICE
1. Open
SPICE Explorer
explorer

2. Locate simulation
directory and click .tr0 file

Source voltage

TDR

TDT

Simulation using the

w-element at HSPICE
: AC Simulation

Step 1

Generate HSPICE Code and

save as xxx.sp
Differential Ports definition

Option setting
.TITLE AC Simulation Example
.option post=2
**** Transmission line models ***********************
WCond_000 in01 in02 0 out01 out02 0 RLGCmodel=Cond_000 N=2 L=0.076200

Set AC sweep from 1MHz

to 10GHz with 1000 points

.MODEL Cond_000 W MODELTYPE=RLGC N=2

* Lo (H/m)
+ Lo =
+ 3.52271e-007
+ 4.28221e-008 3.52271e-007
* Co (F/m)
+ Co =
+ 1.44265e-010
+ -1.75368e-011 1.44265e-010

W-element
statement

* Ro (Ohm/m)
+ Ro =
+ 3.95882
+ 0 3.95882
* Go (S/m)
+ Go =
+0
+0 0

* setup ports
P_1 in01 in02
P_2 out01 out02

0 port=1 ac=1 Z0=50

0 port=2 Z0=50

* setup freq sweep

.AC lin 1000 1e6 10e9
.LIN filename=TwinStrip_Spara
format=touchstone dataformat=RI
* ********* output
.PROBE AC SDD11(db) SDD21(db)
.PRINT AC SDD11(db) SDD21(db)

W-element RLGC model

(extracted from HyperLinx)

* Rs (Ohm/m-sqrt(Hz))
+ Rs =
+ 0.00093818
+ 2.09855e-005 0.000938181
* Gd (S/m-Hz)
+ Gd =
+ 1.81288e-011
+ -2.20375e-012 1.81288e-011
**** End Transmission line models *******************

.END

Plot differential sparameter

It will generate a touchstone output

Step 2

Run HSPICE simulation

1. Open HSPICE

2. Select the .sp file in

step5

3. Click
Simulate

Step 3

View simulation results

1. Open SPICE Explorer

2. Locate simulation
directory and click .ac0 file

SDD11

SDD21