Ports and sources in Feko

Esti Hansmann_20805
Esti Hansmann_20805
Altair Employee
edited May 2023 in Altair HyperWorks

This article gives more information regarding the concept of ports and sources in CADFEKO.

What is a port in CADFEKO

To cause current to flow in a model, you need to excite or illuminate a model. A port is a mathematical representation of where energy can enter (source) or leave a model (sink). Define a port where you want to add a source to excite the model and also add discrete loads.

Types of ports and their associated sources in CADFEKO

The following ports and their sources are available in CADFEKO:

  • wire port   (voltage source)
  • edge port   (voltage source)
  • microstrip port   (voltage source)
  • waveguide port   (waveguide source)
  • FEM line port   (current source)
  • FEM modal port   (FEM modal source)

Construct a model as close to the physical model as possible by including the connector and use a waveguide port to excite the model. If a connector is replaced with a simplified feed representation (usually computationally cheaper) such as a wire port or edge port, the results could be affected. The degree to which results could be affected is unpredictable. If a more accurate result is required than an approximation, de-embedding and calibration will be required.

image Note: Select a port type based on the model construction and solution method.

 

Coupling between sources

Voltage sources added to wires, edges or FEM line ports will contribute to the radiation and couple to one another. Waveguide and FEM modal  sources will include a finite number of higher order modes in the mode expansion. It will not directly couple to each other or other types of sources.

Geometry and mesh ports

When a port is added to geometry, the port is listed (icon in green) in the model tree (Construction tab) under Ports.

Similarly, when a port is added to an imported or unlinked mesh, the port is listed (icon in blue) in the model tree.

When the simulation mesh is unlinked from either its geometry or model mesh, a mesh instance of each port in the model is created and listed in the model tree.

 

image

 

Example of (1) a geometry part that was meshed and its geometry port instance (port icon in green) and (2) a mesh part that has a simulation mesh with a mesh port instance (port icon in blue).

image Note:

  • The image icon indicates the geometry instance of the port.
  • The image icon indicates the mesh instance of the port.

 

View the following for more information:

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