October 15, 2013 -- The interface between the FEKO 3D electromagnetic simulator and the Optenni Lab matching circuit optimization software has been extended with a new layer of automated workflow, making them even easier to use together in the simulation, design and matching of antennas. The new automation macro removes the manual steps that were previously necessary to move results between the two programs.

Calling the automation macro in CADFEKO will set up and simulate the required configuration for the antenna, calculating the S-parameter response and sending it to Optenni Lab in Touchstone format. When working with multiport structures like MIMO antennas, the macro has additional options for how ports should be terminated. Once the Touchstone file is loaded in Optenni Lab the matching circuit topologies and component values are optimised to meet the user specifications. The matching circuit response is then sent back to FEKO and automatically added to the antenna excitation as a general non-radiating network.

Availability

The automated workflow macro makes use of scripting and communication features which are available in the latest versions of FEKO Suite 6.3 and Optenni Lab version 2.1, which were released in mid-October 2013.

About FEKO and EM Software & Systems‐S.A. (Pty) Ltd.

FEKO is a comprehensive computational electromagnetics code (CEM code) used widely in the telecommunications, automobile, space and defence industry. FEKO offers several solution techniques (MoM, MLFMM, PO, GO (Ray Launching), UTD and FEM) under a single licence. Hybridisation of these techniques enables the efficient analysis of a very broad spectrum of EM problems e.g. 3D antenna design, antenna placement on electrically large structures, microstrip antennas, microstrip circuits, EMC, biomedical and scattering. With the MLFMM, and the true hybridisation of the solvers, FEKO is considered the global market leader for antenna placement analysis. FEKO has a well‐established global distribution and technical support network with subsidiary companies in North America, Europe and China and representatives in various other countries. EMSS was started in 1994 as an engineering company consulting in general electromagnetic problems.

Further information is available at www.feko.info

About Optenni Ltd

Optenni Ltd develops and markets the easy‐to‐use Optenni Lab matching circuit generation and antenna analysis software. Optenni Lab features e.g. fast fully automatic matching circuit generation and optimisation, simultaneous multiport matching and antenna bandwidth estimation routines. Optenni Lab includes many unique innovative features such as bandwidth potential and electromagnetic isolation calculations that are not found in any other software. Optenni Lab speeds up the antenna design process and helps to design antennas with optimal total performance.

Further information is available at www.optenni.com