Efficient finite-difference method with analytical port model for the analysis of power-plane applications

The RF analysis of the power bus has become an integral design step in the development of high-speed printed-circuit boards. In highly integrated applications adjacent layers required for the distribution of the power supply represent resonant cavities. High-speed switching signals coupling into such cavities through vias may lead to signal integrity (SI) issues and radiated emission (EMI) problems. The finite-difference (FDM) method provides a simple numerical simulation approach for such planar structures. To avoid the high discretization effort due to the required high resolution around the ports, a novel formulation employing an analytical port model is presented. The comparison with reference results and measurements shows a very good agreement together with a high computational speed up.