RLCG parasitics extraction in SIwave

SIwave is a powerful platform for designing, verifying, debugging, and optimizing PCBs. It provides specialized solvers for signal integrity (SI), power integrity (PI), and electromagnetic emissions/radiation (EMI). SIwave can also extract RLCG parasitics for any section of a PCB, package, or die.
Note: RLCG extraction is valid only for structures shorter than λ/16. Longer structures must be split into smaller segments or solved using S-parameters instead.

Importing the Design

Begin by importing your ECAD data. SIwave supports a wide range of formats including EDB, IPC-2581, and ODB++.

RLCG Extraction Using the PI Wizard

After importing the model:

1. Launch the PI Wizard by clicking the orange icon.

2. Select Configure PI Analysis.

3. Choose the structure of interest and define ports, similar to a typical PI (SYZ) setup.

4. Configure, validate, and solve the setup.

5. Right-click the solution and select RLCG.

Click Auto Assign to automatically classify ports as sources and sinks.

Select the source net and press Compute RLCG Matrices.
The results panel displays the R, L, C, and G values from source to sink, including the ground-return path.

Multiple structures can be evaluated within the same workflow.

Using the PSI SYZ solver provides noticeably more accurate parasitic extraction.

RLCG Extraction Using the RLCG Solver

Alternatively, you can use the RLCG solver under the Simulation menu.

Before launching it, ensure that all pins belonging to each net are properly grouped:

• Go to Tools → Create/Manage Pin Groups.

In this method, SIwave computes the RLCG of a net assuming the return path is at infinity, so you must explicitly include the GND net.

1. Choose Individual Source/Sink Setup, then click Source/Sink Assignment.

2. You can sort by net by clicking the Net column header.

3. For each net, assign one sink and at least one source.

4. Add the GND net and assign a source and sink in the same physical locations as the power plane.

5. Sort by component name to make this process easier.

   Next:

   • Select Other Solver Settings, set the return path to GND, and choose 100 MHz as the calculation frequency.

   • Click OK, then run the simulation.

   • Right-click the solution and open the RLCG Table, then select Data Type="loop".

When comparing the results: the PSI solver provides more accurate S-parameter (SYZ) results. The RLCG solver provides the most accurate parasitic extraction for structures shorter than λ/16.