SIwave provides many options to characterize a PCB board and derive the S-parameters for power integrity (PI) or signal integrity SI purposes.
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Standard SYZ Solver – Uses a hybrid approach combining 2.5D Method of Moments (MoM), 2D FEM, and 3D MoM. It also relies on analytical models for traces, vias, split planes, and fringing fields. This greatly accelerates the simulation, especially for large PCB designs.
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Standard SYZ Solver with HFSS regions – Similar to the Standard, but certain sections are solved using HFSS FEM solver.
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PSI SYZ Solver – Uses a full 3D FEM engine with prism elements. It is more accurate—particularly for complex geometries, high-frequency content, and micro-scale features (such as IC-level structures)—but also significantly slower.
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3D Layout – Using 3D Layout inside SIwave means to use the HFSS solver everywhere in the PCB, giving the user a more accurate results for the S-parameters. This solver still use the Phi-mesh inside SIwave. The solution takes way longer than the standard solve or even the PSI solver.
SIwave supports importing ECAD data from many formats, including EDB, IPC-2581, ODB++, and others. After loading the ECAD file, review the geometry to ensure that all traces and components are present.
Ports can be added in several ways:
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Manually
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Using the PI Wizard
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By generating ports on components: Tools → Generate Circuit Element on Components
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By generating ports on nets: Tools → Generate Port on Selected Nets
To simulate RF lines and their return paths in 3D Layout, select the desired nets and define a Region Extent.
Alternatively, specify an Auto Extent Distance and click Automatically Draw Region Extent.
Once the ports and simulation region are prepared, launch the 3D Layout solver. You can:
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Use automatic simulation settings, or
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Manually control the adaptive frequency and define the frequency band of interest.
Before running the solution, confirm that every component has a valid model over the intended frequency range. Then start the simulation and review the generated plots and data. The PSI results closely match those from the 3D Layout solver. In terms of runtime, the 3D Layout solver took about 60 minutes, the PSI solver around 25 minutes, and the standard SYZ solver completed in roughly 1 minute.
