Hybrid FDTD-MPIE method for the simulation of locally inhomogeneous multilayer LTCC structure

A new hybrid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and mixed potential integral equation (MPIE) method is proposed for the modeling of multilayer planar circuits with locally inhomogeneous objects. By using equivalence principle, the original problem can be decomposed into two kinds of regions. The FDTD method is employed to model the locally inhomogeneous objects and construct an interaction matrix to be used in the subsequent model coupling procedure. The MPIE method with less singular kernels is applied to model the layered structure with possible perfect electric conductors. The FDTD model and the MPIE model are coupled together by enforcing the continuity of the tangential electric and magnetic fields on the equivalent surface using a Galerkin testing procedure. Numerical results are presented to validate the proposed hybrid FDTD-MPIE method.