MWI-READ.TXT Revision January 27, 2004 Welcome to MWI! Operation of this menu-driven program is intended to be simple and one should be able to operate all features simply by experimentation. If you have problems or comments for improvement I will appreciate hearing from you. MWI is a work in progress, however slow. G. Robert Traut, Lurie Research & Development Center Rogers Corp., P.O.Box 157, Rogers CT 06263-0157 U.S.A. Fully retired since February 15, 2002 but still interested and connected 860/779-5545, fax 860/779-5748, home 860/774-9038 Email: bob.traut@rogers-corp.com or traut1@rcn.com New Web Site Name: http://www.rogerscorporation.com CONTENTS STARTING MWI OPERATING NOTES INSTALLATION FEATURE SUBSTRATE NAME FEATURES MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES HISTORY - CHANGES SUGGESTED, MADE AND PLANNED STARTING MWI There are three ways to start an MWI session: 1) The MWI.EXE program is started under the MS-DOS prompt by entering MWI on the command line. 2) The program is started by double left pick of the file name listed in Windows Explorer in a folder of your choice. Windows recognizes it as a MS-DOS program and sets up a MS-DOS window. 3) Double left pick an icon for MWI on the Desktop Display. With Windows 95 and up, an icon for MWI can easily be placed on the Desktop Display. Use Windows Explorer to show MWI.EXE in a folder of your choice. Right pick MWI.EXE and select Create Shortcut. The shortcut will appear in the file list of that folder. Set Windows Explorer for less than full screen window (restore down) and adjust so the desktop is visible, right pick and drag the shortcut into the desktop area, select MOVE rather than copy. The icon in the desktop can be modified in various ways with right pick, selecting Properties. OPERATING NOTES: The screen display (menu) shows items including values of numeric parameters. User-changeable items have a highlighted character that the user may act upon by pressing the key for the highlighted character or by pressing the ENTER key if the item appears with reversed highlighting. Reversed highlighting may be moved from one item to another with the arrow keys or with CTRL key combined with S, X, D or E key strokes. MWI can produce DOS output files that may be imported into a document file under WORD or WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS. However, be aware that special monitor screen characters such as Greek alpha, delta, mu, and symbols for degree and squared will need editing. Output files are automatically date-named with an numeric extension (.001 to .999) that assures they will not replace any existing files on your default directory. INSTALLATION FEATURE Once you have stored MWI.EXE on a drive and directory (folder) in your computer system, you may use its self-installation feature to identify the program name and its directory path or to adjust the color or shading selections for the menu displays. There are two ways to operate this feature in Windows versions later than version 3.x: 1) Use the Windows Start/Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt to get a MS-DOS window. Use command line entries to set the default drive and directory to where MWI.EXE is located. For example this path could be "d:\mydocu~1\prg\exe". Command line entries are case-insensitive. At this point entering the command line "mwi" will simply start the program. Entering "mwi install" also starts the program but gives the user a self-installation menu for changing installed features before the MAIN MENU appears. MWI always checks its command line to see if "install" is present before proceeding. 2) Use any of several methods to start the MWI program. In the MAIN MENU, key O for the Other Menu, then key I for the self-installation menu. Follow the instructions in the installation menu. Changes you make may be stored into the MWI.EXE file so they will be there the next time MWI is started. This can only happen if the file name and path are correct. SUBSTRATE NAME FEATURES Three features are available under the MAIN MENU "Name of substrate" item: 1 - A Sub-Menu lists substrate names with three properties columns (Er, tan d, W/m/K) to be preset upon name selection. An added right column lists available thicknesses of the highlighted name. Selecting a name affects MAIN MENU items: "Permittivity", "Loss" and "RMS". These can still be altered in the MAIN MENU. 2 - With substrate name selected, you may move the highlight on the right column to select an available "Dielectric thickness" to appear in the MAIN MENU. The MAIN MENU still allows other thicknesses. 3 - After thickness selection a new sub-menu tabulates available clad copper foils by weight, type, thickness and surface roughness. Foil selection affects "Foil cladding thickness" and "RMS roughness" in the MAIN MENU. Both can still be set to any value in the MAIN MENU. MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES Added MAIN MENU Key Options V and M handle tabulating menu changes: V - to add a column of menu parameter values to a table being constructed in memory. This option only appears if the current parameters differ from what was previous added or if the next column to add is the first. M - to move the constructed table from memory to the prenamed DOS output file. This option only appears when 1 or more columns of parameters are in the table. When the table is moved to the file it is cleared from memory and a new one started. Other conditions that cause the table memory move to occur automatically include: * - When another column would increase the characters per line above 175. * - When the next column would involve changing Type of design or Units. * - When X to exit MWI is keyed. The Other feature menu now includes 7 keystroke options. O - to toggle between screen or a DOS output file for outputs from R, C or L. R - for text giving references for formulas used in MWI. C - for tabulation of stepwise parameter increments suitable for curve plotting. What's available is limited for now. 99May26 version includes parameter values for alpha0 and for microstrip Er,effective. L - for linear thermal expansion data and optional interpolations for several of Rogers substrate materials based on data sheet information. I - to install the MWI program without using INSTALL parameter on the command line. This is useful when MWI is called through a Windows shortcut. D - selects default MENU parameters next MWI start among options: Keep values of this start, Reset "factory values", Keep current values at exit settings. M - return to MAIN MENU. HISTORY - CHANGES SUGGESTED, MADE AND PLANNED: I plan to add more capabilities and features to MWI as time is available and suggestions are received. Thanks to Michael Garrett for his request to specify odd and even mode impedances for couplers. These menu options were added in version 97Jun18. Thanks to Gabriel Paubert who reported a delta L error when Units are changed, fixed in version 97Jun28. Thanks to David C. Cook, Hughes, Tucson, AZ, for finding an error in the stripline edgewise coupler feature. We had been using the modulus m instead of k as the argument for the complete elliptic integral of the first kind, fixed in version 97Dec08. Thanks to Chen Wu, McMaster University and Armondo Elia, NRL, for questions on thermal data in the menu. We added items A and B for displaying text about this. Thanks to Soong Hak Lee, LTI, Korea, for comment to improve clarity of menu item for dielectric thickness, fixed in a 98Aug version. Thanks to Art Aguayo for the idea of showing available substrate thicknesses and copper weight and type for the Rogers product line. See SUBSTRATE NAME FEATURES added in 1998. Thanks to Neil Whiting for suggesting preserving MENU parameters in MWI.EXE for the next run. 1998 Sep versions had this implemented. Thanks to David Wrigley, Manchester, England,and later Erasmus Kresin for noting problems in the units displayed when MWI is started with mm units. This and other units problems are fixed in version 99Jan23. Thanks to William Moser, Penn State University, for reporting a menu parameter display glitch immediately after Other menu, Curve data routine is run, fixed in version 1999May26. Thanks to several who requested Z0,differential and Z0,common mode. We found a reference to their simple relationship to Z0,odd and Z0,even and added that to our reference list as well as displaying it in coupled line menus. Also fixed a cause for crashing with Z0, odd or even entries by blocking invalid parameter entries. Changes are in version 2000Mar24. Version 2000Oct04 changed stripline menu line "assume ground plane spacing" to "space between ground planes" for clarity. Value is twice dielectric thickness plus conductor thickness. Version 2000Dec02, per Greg Bull suggestion, added dB/inch or dB/m alpha units. Version 2000Dec06 added digital formulas for stripline Z0 and Z0,diff for edgewise coupled stripline, thnaks to Greg Valvo. They deviate significantly with some parameter combinations. Added parenthetical symbols in menu lines for dimensions. Stripline menu Z0 added warning if W/CT<9. Thanks to Rene Le Gall who noted that for edgewise coupled lines, foil thickness affects digital Z0 though not displayed. In version 2002Mar27, this was fixed. We also improved legibility of references for digital Z0 and some other display features. Thanks to Rohit Mittal version 2002Apr03 for coupled lines adds 1 and 2 to specify Z0,comm and Z0,diff, and in Ref. comments about digital formulas. We also commented on conductor loss error at low frequency. Thanks to Shawn Arnold for noting that the 2002Mar27 version downloadable from the website locked up when the Install routine was used. Version 2002Jul18 fixes that. Alteration of library routines used by the routine caused the problem. Thanks to Barry Gallagher, version 2002Jul18 adds to the text, under A for RF temperature rise, the starting length in the iterative calculation from RT3.3.2. Thanks to Dexin Sun, version 2002Jul29 has modified lines A and B for better clarity in display of values for temperature rise. Thanks to Kevin Oberkramer, we learned of problems with the broadside coupler menu. Changing permittivity caused a crash or reported failure in an iterative search, fixed by . Entering changes in Z0,comm or Z0,diff failed to modify the dimensional parameters, a simple oversight when this feature was added to version 2002Apr03. Version 2002Dec02 has resolved these, but the broadside iterative search method needs further work. Thanks to Mike LaCroix, In version 2003Feb07 I added a comment after digital K0 values to key O,R for comments in the References text. Digital values are only for comparison. Thanks to John Dobrick, loss factor values for RO3006, RO3010 were updated. The 2003Apr02 version corrects a problem with Name and Number of substrates in the table produced by keying V in the main menu. The Default menu parameter feature in the Other menu does not seem to be working correctly. This 2003Dec23 version (never released) corrects screen display color of text for stripline or microstrip on items A or B in Main menu and for References in Other menu. These texts are now only written once to a given output file name. Thanks to Mike Gruchalla the 2004Jan27 version corrects the dB/(unit length) for alpha0 in the Other menu - Curve data output. The units dB/inch or dB/meter now are consistent in the Main menu and Curve data output. Also this 2004Jan27 version uses a simplified alternating iterative search method for coupled line models which resists hang-ups and crashes and saves over 4000 byte of compiled code. The edgewise stripline coupler model uses an analytical method that computes the Zodd, Zeven values and related parameters (Zo and dB, Zdiff and Zcommon) based on given values for dielectric thickness (DT), permittivity (DK), line width (W) and spacing (S). Changing any of DT, DK, W or S affects both Zodd and Zeven in a single computation. When the user specifies a change in either Zodd or Zeven, MWI alternates between iterative searches with W to get best Zeven, and with S to get best Zodd results. The broadside stripline coupler model uses a synthetic method that uses given Zodd, Zeven, DT and DK values to determine required W and S values. Changing any of DT, DK, Zodd or Zeven affects both W and Sc in a single computation. When the user specifies a change in either W or S, MWI alternates between iterative searches with Zeven to get best W, and with Zodd to get best Sc values. Pending additions include models for: 1) Coupled microstrip [Manfred Kirschning and Rolf H. Jansen, "Accurate Wide-Range Design Equations for the Frequency Dependent Characteristic of Parallel Coupled Microstrip Lines, IEEE Trans. MTT, vol. MTT-32, no. 1, pp83-90, January 1984, reprint in Planar Transmission Line Structures, ed. T. Itoh, IEEE Press, 1987.], 2) Offset coupled stripline [J.P. Shelton,Jr.,"Impedances of Offset Parallel-Coupled Strip Transmission Lines",IEEE Trans MTT-S,Vol MTT-14], 3) Coplanar waveguide, 4) Added options for Other menu - Curve data output. The simplified iterative search of 2004Jan27 version will make 1) and 2) easier to implement. Bob Traut Disclaimer on start page of MWI 2004Jan27: This computer program is provided FREE OF CHARGE by the author and by Rogers Corporation, Advanced Circuit Materials Division, 100 S. Roosevelt Avenue, Chandler AZ 85226-3415. It was originally written, and is periodically enhanced with added features by the author, G. Robert Traut, Lurie R&D Center, Fully retired since February 15, 2002, but still interested and connected, Rogers Corp., P.O.Box 157, Rogers CT 06263-0157 U.S.A., internet: bob.traut@rogerscorporation.com. This software is intended to assist you in designing with Rogers microwave laminates. Care has been taken to produce computations derived from published formulae that are believed to be accurate and useful. This program does not create any warranties, express or implied. You should assure yourself that your designs are proper, and that the selection of material is appropriate for your application. The RO3000 and RO4000 product series are trademarks for Rogers Corporation for its high frequency circuit materials. RT/duroid and TMM are registered trademarks for Rogers Corporation for its microwave laminates and temperature stable microwave laminates respectively. Updates of this program and more information on Rogers' microwave and RF circuit materials may be downloaded from Rogers' home page using the address http://www.rogerscorporation.com/mwu/mwiform.htm. Bob Traut