[SOLVED] Dielectic Resonator Antenna Simulation with ADS

Hello Everybody!!

I'm new in this forum, and i hope we'll have fun all together .
More seriously, here is my question: i'm simulating an A-Shaped Resonator Dielectric Antenna with ADS, and it seems to me that i have done all things well , but the simulation reports this error with the pin feeding:

"Pin P1 is not on a STRIP or SLOT layer and will be ignored."

And then it fails. Though i've defined the ground plane in the substrate as slot plane, and also as strip plane, i keep having the same problem . Please help me, i've tried all options that i had , but i still blocked at this point since a week !

Thank you very much for taking the time to read me!!

The message means what the text says: for some reason, your pin is on a layer that is not included in the EM model. It might be some trivial mistake. Check the pin's layer again. Check that you have assigned the correct substrate in the emSetup.

Hello! thank you for answering,

My pin is on a layer defined as "cond2" and which is the microstrip feed line, and in the substrate i've mapped a conductor via the substrate and defined it as "cond2", so it should match, right?

I've also tried to connect the pin to the ground plane defined as "cond" and as "strip plane" or "slot plane" or "cover", but i still have the same problem.

You're right it might be some trivial mistake, and that's why it's difficult for me to see it

Do you have any proposition? or can i send you the simulation files so that you can see what i'm talking about?
Thank you again!

Keegita said:

My pin is on a layer defined as "cond2" and which is the microstrip feed line, and in the substrate i've mapped a conductor via the substrate and defined it as "cond2", so it should match, right?

Click to expand...

No. The pin can't be on a via layer. It must be on the conductor layer, and touch a metal conductor drawn there.

volker@muehlhaus said:

No. The pin can't be on a via layer. It must be on the conductor layer, and touch a metal conductor drawn there.

Click to expand...

Yes but the fact is that i'm designing a resonator dielectric antenna, so the top of the antenna is made of a dielectric (A-shaped in this case), and it's feed with a microstrip conductor (that i've defined in the substrate as a conductor mapped via the substrate laye)r. And i've connected the pin to the microstrip line (which is a via layer).

You say that the pin can't be on a via layer, so where else can i put it, directely to the dielectric on the top?

In the substrate, should i define the microstrip line of the layout as a conductor mapped through the substrate? If no, how can define the microstrip line in the substrate?

Keegita said:

Yes but the fact is that i'm designing a resonator dielectric antenna, so the top of the antenna is made of a dielectric (A-shaped in this case)

Click to expand...

You can't model finite dielectrics ("dielectric vias") with Momentum. Do you use the ADS FEM solver?

Keegita said:

it's feed with a microstrip conductor (that i've defined in the substrate as a conductor mapped via the substrate laye)r. And i've connected the pin to the microstrip line (which is a via layer).

Click to expand...

That sounds wrong, but maybe you used the wrong words to describe it. The microstrip line must be on a conductor (not via) layer, and the pin must be on the same layer, connecting to the line.

(Think of the pin as the plus terminal of the port. The minus terminal of the port will be created automatically at the nearest infinite ground.)

ADS Momentum does never permit to tie a Pin to a Dielectric.As a matter of fact ,it's technically wrong.
Furthermore, ADS Momentum is not a right tool for these kind of problems, HFSS or CST are good toys for your project.

BigBoss said:

Furthermore, ADS Momentum is not a right tool for these kind of problems, HFSS or CST are good toys for your project.

Click to expand...

Momentum can't do this. However, the simulation can be done with ADS using the 3D FEM solver (separate feature, license required). No need for HFSS or CST.

But in any case, the described port configuration doesn't make sense,

Hello!!
I've tried to install HFSS => too much drama... so i stay on ADS.
Finally i've changed my design and it works!! yes!
Solution: i've defined both the dielectric and the microstrip line at the top of the substrate and i've connected the pin to the microstrip line, while previously i was trying to map the microstrip line through the substrat, which is wrong.
Now i've no more errors at the simulation.
Thank you!!

Now i'm trying to improve the return loss graph (s11) by adjusting the caracteristics of the antenna, do you have any ideas on how to improve s11?

Thank you again!