5

This chapter shows various ways of creating matching networks

by sweeping values and using optimization.

Lab 5: Matching & Optimization

Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

OBJECTIVES
• Create an input match to the RF and an output match to the IF

• Tune and Optimize to achieve matching goals

Mixer Design Note: From the Smith Chart S-11 results in the last
lab, it appears that a series inductor can be added to the input as a
first step in moving toward the center of the Smith chart for the RF
match at 900 MHz. However, this does not take into consideration
the other L and C components. But as a first step, it is reasonable to
add the series inductor and see the effects of tuning as ideal
components are replaced with real values.

PROCEDURE
1. Create a new schematic design for the input match.

a. Use the s_params design (last lab) and save it as: s_match.

b. Insert an inductor L in series to the input, as shown. Your circuit

should look like the one here where the Sweep Plan and Z-ports are
removed and set the S-parameter controller to sweep 15 MHz to 2.7 GHz
– this will simulate most of the frequencies that will result when the LO is
added.

5-2
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

c. Check the sub-circuit to be sure there is no capacitor across the base-

collector (from the last lab).

d. Simulate and display S-11 in a new data display window. Position the
dds window next to the schematic so you can see both at the same time.
The default dataset should be the same name as the schematic:
s_match. The results of the swept analysis should look like the plot
here where a marker is added to show the value of S-11 at 900 MHz:

Use the keyboard

arrow keys and the
mouse to position the
marker.

2. Start tuning the inductor

a. Select the inductor and start the tuning mode.

b. After the tuning dialog and status appear, open and position a
new data display window near the tune control so you can see
them both – move the schematic aside if necessary. Notice that the
default dataset name s_match will appear (same as the schematic).
Insert a Smith chart with S11 data and put a marker at 900 MHz. Notice
that the S-11 trace is now changed with the real values of C and L.

c. Now, set the tune control to slider mode and move the slider back and
forth between the ends. Notice that the value of S-11 changes very little
because the range of inductance is too narrow.

5-3
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

d. Increase the tuning range: click the Details button and the more
detailed tune control appears. Increase the range from 0 to 30 by typing
over the existing value. Based on the imaginary part of the impedance (-
j3.1), the conjugate value of inductance of 30 nH is close enough. Also,
set the resolution Step Size to step to something small such as 0.1 or
0.01 and increase Trace History to 20.

e. You should now be able to carefully move

the slider and click the step buttons until
you reach the impedance of j0.000 as
shown by the marker on the last trace.
You can use this technique for
determining the sensitivity of any
component.

f. Click the Update button on the tune

control and the value of L will appear on
the component:

g. Save the data display as s_match.

5-4
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

3. Build a new input matching network (new configuration)

CIRCUIT DESIGN NOTE: At this point, the addition of the series inductor is only a
first approximation. The remaining ideal components ( DC feeds and blocks) must be
replaced by realistic values and this may require a completely different topology other
than just adding a series inductance. Also, a shunt capacitor needs to be added to the
input to remove the IF signal that may appear there. Therefore, instead of continuing
to add components in an attempt to create a match, you will use the following
configuration that will solve all the matching problems for the input. This will speed
up the lab exercise.

a. On the input, remove the series inductor you just tuned. It will be
replaced by a network which will achieve the desired RF match and also
provide the filtering.

b. Change the DC_Blocker to a real capacitor by highlighting the

component name (see drawing - DC_Block) and typing in the new
component name C and pressing Enter on the keyboard. The DC Block
will automatically become a lumped capacitor:

Highlight the name, type in

the new name, and press
Enter. omponent by typing

c. Continue modifying the

input topology: Insert
C=470 pF to shunt the IF
(470 pF is a short to 45
MHz). Also, change the
DC_Feed1 to L=16 nH to
allow the dc to flow but it
will block (choke) the RF.
Lastly, be sure the Z-ports
have been removed.

d. Simulate the new input

network with a new dataset
name: s_match_in.

5-5
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

e. Plot the results and you should see a response like the one shown here
where marker 1 is at the RF and marker 2 is the IF (almost an open).
However, the response can be more finely tuned (next steps) so that the
trace crosses directly through the 50 ohm point.

Tuning the blocking cap to

widen the sweep and cross
the 50 ohm point (shown
by dotted line) will be done
in the next step to get a
better match..

f. Select the blocking capacitor and start

tune mode. Adjust the value of
capacitance until the trace cuts though the
center of the Smith chart. The next step will
be done to adjust the inductor so that 900
MHz is directly in the center.

g. Tune the inductor by adding it: click Details. When the dialog

Tuning produces trace cutting

through desired impedance. Next
step: tune L to decrease input
inductance and maker should be at
desired point.
In the Details dialog
(Component button), add the
inductor to the tuner by
5-6 clicking on the parameter.
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

appears, select the Component Button and add the inductor by

clicking on the parameter value (not the component) L=16 nH.

h. Adjust the inductance and you should get an almost perfect match at 900
MHz. In addition, the matching network is very efficient because it uses
a minimum of components to block the dc, choke the RF, and shunt the
unwanted IF frequency to ground. Click the Update button and the
values will be updated on the schematic.

Design Note – L and C values: The tuned values of L and C will vary
depending upon how finely you tune. However, C should be just about 1 pF
and L should be between 15 and 16 nH for the following steps.

4. Examine the S-22 data

a. In the data display, insert a plot of S-22 from the last tuning simulation.
You should see that S-22 is close to an open circuit over the frequency
range.

b. Zoom into the trace area and double click on the trace. When the
Trace Options dialog appears, thicken the trace and try using the other
settings if you have time. You may need to do this whenever the trace is

5-7
Trace Options used to
thicken trace.
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

difficult to see or when it is in a very narrow range. Build the output

circuit.

Output Match Design Note: For the next part of the lab exercise, you will use the
optimizer to achieve the output match with a given topology.

5. Build the IF output matching network

Build the output to look like the one shown here. The DC feed is a 100 nH inductor in
parallel with R_gain resistor (10K) which controls conversion gain. The capacitor
(RF_shunt = 1 pF) will help short higher frequencies. Looking into the transistor from
the 50 ohm load are two other capacitors for blocking (470 pF is a short to the IF) and
C_match for matching.

6. Simulate and plot the S-22 results

Simulate (dataset name= s_match_out) and

then note your results. The trace should be
similar to the one shown here. S-22 at 45 MHz
(shown by marker 3) is not matched to the
characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. While
you could use the tuner to try and achieve a
match, the optimizer can also achieve the
same goals.

Optimization NOTE: The following steps

show how to set up an optimization in three steps:
1) Enabling the components to be optimized, 2)
Defining the Goals, and 3) setting up the
Optimization control.

7. Enable the components to be optimized

a. Edit (double click) the DC_Feed2 inductor and click the

Optimization/Statistics Setup button.

5-8
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

b. In the dialog, enable the dc feed inductor component for optimization,

type, and range as shown. For this step, you will use Continuous
optimization with min/max values: 10 to 800 nH. Click OK as needed.

The enabled component will

show the nominal value and opt
range. Use the F5 key to move
the schematic component text so
you can see it.

5-9
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

c. Enable the C_match capacitor for continuous min/max optimization

also over the range of 10 to 30 pF. Edit the component, using the
dialog box to do this - after a component is enabled for optimization, the
annotation will appear. Or, you can edit it directly on the screen by
typing in the opt function and range as shown here.

Components can be
enabled for optimization
by on-screen editing
using the opt function
and the range in curly
braces.

8. Define optimization goals

a. Insert the first optimization goal from the Optim/Stat/Yield palette. Goals
are required (named) in the optimization component. Set up the goal as
shown using the steps here:

NOTES: You can

also edit the goal
by double clicking
on it.

The 900 MHz

range is required
by the simulator.

b. Enter the Expr, which is return loss: “dB S(2,2))”

c. Type in the SimInstanceName - the name of the S-parameter simulation

controller: “SP1”.

d. Type in the Expr min/max range: –3 dB to 0 dB of return loss

e. Type in the Range Variable: use the global variable “freq” and set the
range which will be at one frequency: 900 MHz.

5-10
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

f. Insert a measurement equation

to be used in the second goal.
Measurement equations are found in
all simulation palettes. This goal will
be available in the dataset. Type in
the equation as shown where IF_S22
(or some name of your choice) will
be the expression for achieving
the IF return loss goal:

g. Insert the second optimization

goal for the IF and type in the
expression name as shown here.
Enter the max goal value of –20.
There is no need to set min or
you can set it to –1000).

Review of Opt Goals: Goals must refer to the simulation controller name:
“SP1” (similar to a parameter sweep). The expression usually refers to the
measurement (data in array form). By specifying a min and max range for the
expression, you are specifying what goal you want to achieve. Here, the goal is
to have an IF match of at least -20 dB (no min is required) and an RF match
between 0 and -3 db. In simple terms, you want a good match at 45 MHz at the
output and a bad match on the output at 900 MHz.

5-11
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

9. Set up the Optimization control

The optimization component controls the simulation by receiving data and testing the
data until the goals are reached or the maximum number of iterations has expired.

a. Select Optim/Stat/Yield in the schematic window palette and insert the

Nominal Optimization controller (Optim).

These are default settings for the Random

optimization method. For example, L2 means
least squares.

MaxIters is the maximum number of

iterations (trials) that you can specify.

SetBestValues=yes – this is the default and

means you can update the schematic.

GoalNames are required (next step in lab).

b. Edit (double click) the Optimizer

control cmponent and add the
two goals (OptGoal) by clicking
their names. If you do not select
specific goals, the default is to
run all the goals.

c. Be sure to select and use

Random optimization (most
common).

d. Use 150 iterations. For Random

optimization, one iteration is a
successful simulation and may or
may not get closer to the goal.

5-12
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

e. In the Parameters tab, check the box Parameters Tab

for Solutions to dataset. This will put
the S parameters in the dataset. Also,
always be sure the Set best values…
box is checked (yes on display). This
allows the optimized component
values to be updated on the
schematic.

Parameters Tab Note: The Data to save selections can create large datasets
that you may not need. To avoid this, do not check any boxes and, if you
achieve the goal (EF=0), update the component values, deactivate the
optimizer and do a regular simulation. However, for this lab, you will use the
Solutions to dataset.

f. In the Display tab, set only the things you want to be displayed – this is
a good practice for keeping organized schematics and simulations.

10. Optimize

a. Use a new dataset name (such as s_opt) and Simulate (F7) with the
simulation set 15 MHz to 2 GHz with 5 MHz steps to land on RF and IF.

b. Watch the Status Window for the results of the optimization. Use the
scroll bar if necessary to read it. If the optimization is successful, you
should see a message that the EF (error function) = 0. If not, check
your work, or try another type such as Gradient, or adjust the ranges.

EF = 0 and the values

of L and C are given.

c. If the EF is 0, go to the schematic and click Simulate > Update

Optimization Values. The optimized values of L and C will appear as
exact values but you can round them off. Here, C is about 22 pF and L
is about 560 nH (your answer may vary slightly).

5-13
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

11. Plot the S22 data.

It will be similar to the plot shown here where all the

successful iterations are traced. Notice that one of the
traces is near the center of the Smith Chart (marker).
That trace represents the last optimization iteration
where the goals were met.

12. List the meas eqn data

a. Insert a list of your equation: IF_S22 that

was used in the goal. The equation will be
in the same dataset as the S-parameters
(s_opt). You should see the value of the
equation at 45 MHz which represents the
optimized goal.

Your measurement equation:

IF_S22 = dB (S(2,2)), from the
schematic is shown for the 45
MHz IF as reaching –20 dB of
return loss using the optimized
values of L and C.

b. Deactivate the Optimizer and edit the

component values on screen by highlighting
and deleting the unwanted values and typing
in the values of L and C as: L = 560 nH
and C = 22 pF.

c. Simulate and your plot of S-22 will now

have only one trace similar to the one
shown here. Also, edit the plot and use the
Plot Options to title the plot.

5-14
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

At this point the mixer has good input and output matching networks. Of course, you
could refine the output match with the tuner but it is not necessary.

NOTE on the opt and noopt function: Refer to the schematic where the optimized
component value had annotation such as: C=7.95462189+001 pF opt{ range]. If you
type noopt instead of opt, that component (noopt) will not be optimized. This is easier
than editing the component in the dialog box.

EXTRA EXERCISES:

1. Optimize again using gradient method instead of random or try to optimize to

better goals: S-22 = -25 or better dB at IF. To do this, try using another
optimization type such as genetic.

2. Try using a DAC component to create

a frequency sensitive inductor. As the
plot here shows, the real and
imaginary values change with
frequency. These curves are
described by a file which is read by
the DAC. To do this, you need to
write a file for the data and build the
schematic required schematic. Step
by step instructions follow on the
next page…

DAC instructions:

5-15
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

a. Open a new schematic saved it as DAC_Z. Refer to the previous circuit and insert
the components in their default state:

• S-parameter controller, Termination and ground, Z1P from the equation based
linear palette, and a DAC from the Data items palette.

b. Write an mdf file using the ADS main window

Options > Text Editor (use only Note pad not
Word pad which has formatting - this is a
must). Write the file shown here and save it in
the DATA directory as: testdac.mdf. If
necessary, you may need to use the windows
file explorer to change the name if it is saved
as a .txt file. Also, be careful of the syntax in
the file - the first column contains 3 frequency
points, the second and third columns contains
the real and imaginary parts of the reactive
component.

c. On schematic, edit the S-parameter controller. In Parameters tab, set to compute

Z parameters not S. In the Display tab, check the the Sweep Var and start, stop,
set and set them as shown to sweep the global variable “freq” from 10 to 30 GHz
in 1 GHz steps. You will get interpolated data for all the steps.

d. On schematic, set the Z1P value of Z[1,1]= file{DAC1,”my_x”}. The value of Z11
is the variable “my_x” in the DAC1 file. Of course, the file is testdac.mdf.

e. On schematic, edit the DAC as shown here. IVar1 is the independent variable and
iVal1 is the swept variable. As “freq” is swept, “my_freq” will be indexed and the
DAC will return complex values of “my_x” interpolated over the frequency range.

Edited for the general mdf file.

Default DAC

5-16
 Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

f. Check the circuit and simulate. Then plot two traces, real and imag, of Z(1,1) as
shown where X changes with frequency. Now, the Zport can be used wherever a
frequency sensitive component is required. For multiple components, simply
create different files and access them as required.

5-17
Lab 5: Matching and Optimization

THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK

5-18