with Optimetrics

Getting Started with Optimetrics:

Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction
Using HFSS and Optimetrics

February 2009
 The information contained in this document is subject to change with-
out notice. Ansoft makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this
material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of mer-
chantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Ansoft shall not be
liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of
this material.

© 2009 Ansoft LLC. All rights reserved.

Ansoft LLC
225 West Station Square Drive
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
USA
Phone: 412-261-3200
Fax: 412-471-9427

HFSS and Optimetrics are registered trademarks or trademarks of

Ansoft LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

New editions of this manual will incorporate all material updated

since the previous edition. The manual printing date, which indicates
the manual’s current edition, changes when a new edition is printed.
Minor corrections and updates that are incorporated at reprint do not
cause the date to change.
Update packages may be issued between editions and contain addi-
tional and/or replacement pages to be merged into the manual by the
user. Pages that are rearranged due to changes on a previous page are
not considered to be revised.

Edition Da te S o f tw ar e Ve r s i o n
1 May 2003 Optimetrics 3.0
HFSS 9.0
 Getting Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction

2 June 2005 Optimetrics 4.0

HFSS 10
3 June 2007 Optimetrics 5.0
HFSS 11
4 February 2009 Optimetrics 6.0
HFSS 12

iii
Getting Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction

Conventions Used in this Guide

Please take a moment to review how instructions and other
useful information are presented in this guide.

• Procedures are presented as numbered lists. A single bul-

let indicates that the procedure has only one step.
• Bold type is used for the following:
- Keyboard entries that should be typed in their entirety
exactly as shown. For example, “copy file1” means to
type the word copy, to type a space, and then to type
file1.
- On-screen prompts and messages, names of options and
text boxes, and menu commands. Menu commands are
often separated by carats. For example, click HFSS>Exci-
tations>Assign>Wave Port.
- Labeled keys on the computer keyboard. For example,
“Press Enter” means to press the key labeled Enter.
• Italic type is used for the following:
- Emphasis.
- The titles of publications.
- Keyboard entries when a name or a variable must be
typed in place of the words in italics. For example, “copy
file name” means to type the word copy, to type a
space, and then to type a file name.
• The plus sign (+) is used between keyboard keys to indi-
cate that you should press the keys at the same time. For
example, “Press Shift+F1” means to press the Shift key
and the F1 key at the same time.
• Toolbar buttons serve as shortcuts for executing com-
mands. Toolbar buttons are displayed after the command
they execute. For example,

“On the Draw menu, click Line ” means that you can
click the Draw Line toolbar button to execute the Line
command.

iv
 Getting Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction

Getting Help
Ansoft Technical Support
To contact Ansoft technical support staff in your geographical
area, please log on to the Ansoft corporate website, http://
www.ansoft.com, click the Contact button, and then click
Support. You will find phone numbers and e-mail addresses
for the technical support staff. Your Ansoft account manager
may also be contacted in order to obtain this information.
All Ansoft software files are ASCII text and can be sent conve-
niently by e-mail. When reporting difficulties, it is extremely
helpful to include specific information about what steps were
taken or what stages the simulation reached. This allows
more rapid and effective debugging.

Context-Sensitive Help
To access online help from the HFSS user interface, do one of
the following:
• To open a help topic about a specific HFSS menu com-
mand, press Shift+F1, and then click the command or
toolbar icon.
• To open a help topic about a specific HFSS dialog box,
open the dialog box, and then press F1.

v
Getting Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction

vi
 Table of Contents

1. Introduction
Using Optimetrics with HFSS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
About the Nominal Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Using Optimetrics to Improve the T-Junction
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Expected Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

2. Set up the Optimetrics Design

Save the Tee Project Under a New Name . . . . 2-2
Delete the Frequency Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
3. Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis
Add a Parametric Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Add a Variable Sweep Definition . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Save Fields and Mesh for Every Solved
Design Variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Specify the Solution Quantities to Evaluate . . 3-5
Solve the Parametric Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
4. Review the Parametric Results
Plot of S-Parameter Results vs. Offset Position 4-2
Plot of Power Distribution vs. Offset Position . . 4-4

Contents-1
Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junc-

Animate the Field Overlay Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6

5. Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis
Select the Variable to be Optimized . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Add an Optimization Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Add a Cost Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Modify the Variable’s Starting Value . . . . . . . . 5-6
Modify the Variable’s Minimum and Maximum
Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Solve the Parametric Setup Before the
Optimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Update the Variable Value After Optimization 5-7
Clear the Save Fields and Mesh Option . . . . . 5-7
Solve the Optimization Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
6. Review the Optimization Results
View the Cost vs. Solved Iteration . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Re-analyze the Design at the Septum’s Optimal
Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Update the Field Overlay Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Close the Project and Exit HFSS . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Contents-2
 1 Introduction

This Getting Started guide is written for Optimetrics

beginners as well as experienced users who are using Opti-
metrics version 4for the first time.
You must have completed Getting Started with HFSS: A
Waveguide T-Junction before you begin this guide. The
parametric and optimization setups you create are based
on the design setup, analyses, and post processing com-
pleted in the Getting Started with HFSS guide.
By following the steps in this guide, you will learn how to
perform the following tasks:
Create a basic parametric setup.
Solve a parametric analysis.
Create a 2D x-y plot of S-parameter results.
Create a 2D x-y plot of power distribution results.
Create a geometry animation.
Specify a variable to be optimized.
Create an optimization setup, which includes defining
a cost function and setting the range of variable val-
Estimated time to ues for an optimization.
complete this guide: Solve an optimization analysis.
45 minutes.
During an optimization analysis, view a plot of cost
values versus solved iterations.
Run an HFSS simulation using the optimal variable
value.
Update an existing field overlay plot with new results.

Introduction 1-1
Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Using Optimetrics with HFSS

Optimetrics enables you to determine the best design varia-
tion among a design’s possible variations. You create the orig-
inal model, the nominal design, and then define the design
parameters that vary. These can be nearly any design parame-
See the online help
ter assigned a numeric value in HFSS. For example, you can
about the specific
parameter you want to parameterize the model geometry, material properties, or
vary to determine if it boundary conditions. You can then perform the following
can be assigned a types of analyses on your nominal design:
variable.
Parametric You define one or more variable sweep
definitions, each specifying a series of
variable values within a range, and HFSS
solves the design at each variation.
Optimization You identify the cost function and the
optimization goal. Optimetrics changes the
design parameter values to meet that goal.
Sensitivity Optimetrics explores the vicinity of the
design point to determine the sensitivity of
the design to small changes in variables.
Tuning Variable values are changed interactively and
the performance of the design is monitored.
Statistical Optimetrics determines the distribution of a
design's performance, which is caused by a
statistical distribution of variable values.
In this Getting Started guide, you will perform a parametric
analysis and an optimization analysis.

1-2 Introduction
 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

About the Nominal Design

In Getting Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction, you
created a T-shaped waveguide with an inductive septum.1 A
signal at a frequency of 10 GHz entered the waveguide at Port
1 (see below) and exited at Port 2 and Port 3.

Septum
Port 2

Port 3

Port 1

The waveguide’s transmission and reflection of the signal

depended on the position of the septum. You assigned a vari-
able to the septum’s position, named offset, and solved the
design at two values of offset. When the septum was located
centrally opposite to Port 1 (offset was 0 inches), the septum
divided the signal and directed it evenly towards the output
ports, Port 2 and Port 3. When the septum was moved 0.2
inches closer to Port 2 (offset was 0.2 inches), the transmis-
sion through Port 2 decreased and the transmission through
Port 3 increased.

[1] “Parametrics and Optimization Using Ansoft HFSS,” Microwave Journal, Product Reviews, No-
vember 1999.

Introduction 1-3
Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Using Optimetrics to Improve the T-

Junction Design
In this Getting Started guide, you will use Ansoft’s Optimet-
rics software to find an optimal position for the septum. For
this guide, the optimal position will be defined as the one
The cost function can be that results in the power distribution at Port 3 being twice the
based on any solution power distribution at Port 2. In Optimetrics, this desired
quantity that HFSS can
compute, such as field
result is called the cost function. Optimetrics will search for
values, S-parameters, and solve different design variations until the minimum cost is
and eigenmode data. achieved.
Prior to performing the optimization, you will set up and solve
a parametric analysis. The parametric setup will define a
range of values for the variable offset. During the parametric
analysis, Optimetrics will solve the design at each variation.
You will compare the results to determine how each design
variation affects the S-parameters and power distribution
within the structure. These results will help to determine a
reasonable range of offset values to specify for the optimiza-
tion analysis. The results will also help Optimetrics determine
an acceptable starting point for the optimization analysis.

Expected Results
The HFSS analysis you ran in Getting Started with HFSS: A
Waveguide T-Junction showed that when the septum is
located centrally opposite to Port 1, it directs the signal
evenly towards the output ports, Port 2 and Port 3. The para-
metric analysis is expected to show that as the septum moves
closer toward Port 2, the transmission and power distribution
will initially decrease at Port 2 and increase at Port 3. As the
septum continues to move closer toward Port 2, the signal
should begin to bounce off of the T-junction wall opposite
Port1, more of the signal will be reflected, and the perfor-
mance of the structure will degrade.
To determine if the parametric results are as expected, you
will compare HFSS’s S-parameter calculations at each septum
position on a 2D x-y plot. You will create a second x-y plot
that compares the power distribution at each port as the sep-
tum changes position. You will also create an animated field

1-4 Introduction
 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

plot on the model geometry, which will indicate if the field

pattern changes as expected with the septum’s position.
This parametric analysis post processing will provide useful
information for setting up the optimization analysis that fol-
lows. For example, it should reveal the septum position that
will most likely result in the power distribution at Port 3 being
twice that at Port 2. It will also narrow the range of variable
values you will set for the optimization.
The optimization analysis is expected to find an optimal sep-
tum position between 0 and 0.2 inches. You will re-analyze
the design at the optimal position, and then update the field
overlay plot you created in the earlier HFSS Getting Started
guide. The E-field values should indicate that the fields are
twice as great moving toward Port 3 as they are moving
toward Port 2.

Introduction 1-5
Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

1-6 Introduction
 2 Set up the Optimetrics
Design

In this chapter you will complete the following tasks:

Open the project Tee.hfss and save it with a
different name.
Delete the frequency sweep setup.

Estimated time to
complete this chapter:
2 minutes.

Set up the Optimetrics Design 2-1

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Save the Tee Project Under a New Name

Open the project Tee.hfss and save it with a new name.

1 Click File>Open .
2 Use the file browser to locate the project Tee.hfss, and
then click the project name.
3 Click Open.
The design appears in the 3D Modeler window and the
design information and material definitions are listed in
the project tree.
Save your project fre- 4 Click File>Save As.
quently: Click Save on
the File menu 5 Use the file browser to locate the directory in which you
want to save the project.
.
6 Type OptimTee in the File name text box, and then click
Save.
The project is saved in the directory you selected by the
file name OptimTee.hfss.

Delete the Frequency Sweep

When you solve the parametric and optimization analyses
later in this guide, you will solve at the solution frequency
you specified in the Solution Setup dialog box, 10 GHz. Solv-
ing across a range of frequencies for each design variation is
not necessary, so delete the frequency sweep setup. It is
listed in the project tree under Analysis> Setup1.
• Click Sweep1 in the project
tree, and then

press Delete .

Now you are ready to set up the parametric analysis.

2-2 Set up the Optimetrics Design

 3 Set up and Solve the
Parametric Analysis

In this chapter you will complete the following tasks:

Add a parametric setup to the project.
Add a variable sweep definition to the parametric
setup.
Solve the parametric analysis.

Estimated time to
complete this chapter,
not including solution
time:
30 minutes.

Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis 3-1

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Add a Parametric Setup

A parametric setup specifies all of the design variations that
Optimetrics will drive HFSS to solve. A parametric setup is
made up of one or more variable sweep definitions, each
specifying a set of variable values within a range that you
want HFSS to solve when you run the parametric setup.
First, add the parametric setup to the project:
• Right-click Optimetrics in the project tree, and then click

Add>Parametric on the shortcut menu.

The Setup Sweep Analysis dialog box appears.

Next, add a variable sweep definition to the parametric

setup.

3-2 Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Add a Variable Sweep Definition

1 Under the Sweep Definitions tab, click Add.
The Add/Edit Sweep dialog box appears.
offset is listed in the
Variable pull-down list
by default. This is the
variable for which you
are defining the sweep
definition.
A Linear Step sweep 2 Select Linear step as the sweep type.
type enables you to 3 In the Start box, type 0, and then select in.
specify a linear range
of values with a 4 In the Stop box, type 1, and then select in.
constant step size.
5 In the Step box, type 0.1, and then select in.
The step size determines the number of design variations
between the start and stop values. HFSS will solve the
model at each step in the specified range, including the
start and stop values.
6 Click Add.
With this change, the dialog box shows the offet variable
linear step:

7 Click OK.
You return to the Setup Sweep Analysis dialog box.

Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis 3-3

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The sweep definition is listed in the top half of the win-

dow.

View the design

variations that will be
solved in table format
under the Table tab.
This enables you to
visualize the design
variations that will be
solved and manually
adjust sweep points if
necessary.

Save Fields and Mesh for Every Solved Design

Variation
By default, HFSS does not save field solution data for every
solved design variation in a parametric setup. You will need
those field solutions for post processing, so do the following:
• Under the Options tab, select Save Fields And Mesh.

3-4 Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Specify the Solution Quantities to Evaluate

Now you will identify three solution quantities that will be of
interest during post processing. HFSS will extract the solution
quantities from the solution and make them available during
post processing. You will create three output variables that
represent the mathematical expressions for the power distri-
bution quantities at Port 1, Port 2, and Port 3.
1 Under the Calculations tab of the Setup Sweep Analysis
dialog, click Setup Calculations.
This displays the Add/Edit Calculation dialog. The dialog
contains distinct panes to set the Context, the Calculation
Expression Component, and the Calculation Range.
2 In the Context pane, select the Report Type as Modal
Solution Data and the select the Solution as Last Adaptive
from the setup.
At the lower left of the Add/Edit Calculation dialog is the
Output Variables button.
3 Click Output Variables.
The Output Variables dialog box appears.
4 Define the first output variable representing the quantity
you want to evaluate:
a.In the Name text box, type Power11.
b.In the Category list, click S Parameter.
c.In the Quantity list, click S(Port1, Port1).
d.In the Function list, click mag.
e.Click Insert Into Expression.
f.At the end of the expression, in the Expression text box,
type *, and then click Insert Into Expression again.
The expression should appear as follows:

g.Click Add.
The new output variable Power11 and the expression it repre-

Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis 3-5

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

sents are added to the output variables list at the top of the
dialog box.
5 Follow step 3 to define a second output variable named
Power21, but this time, click S(Port2, Port1) in the Quan-
tity list.
The expression should appear as follows:
mag(S(Port2,Port1))*mag(S(Port2,Port1)).
6 Follow step 3 to add a third output variable named
Power31, but this time, click S(Port3, Port1) in the Quan-
tity list.
The expression should appear as follows:
mag(S(Port3,Port1))*mag(S(Port3,Port1)).
7 Click Done to close the Output Variables dialog.
The dialog closes. If you select Output Variables in the
Quantity list, the three output variables are displayed in
the Calculation Expression Component pane.
By default, the calculation range is set to the single fre-
quency 10 GHz, the adaptive frequency that was defined
in the solution setup. The solution quantity will be
extracted from the solution at this frequency value.
8 Click to select Power 11, and then click Add Calculation.
Repeat for Power21 and Power 31 in the Quantity list,
and then click Done to close the dialog.
This adds these calculations to the list of solutions and cal-

3-6 Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

culations in the Setup Sweep Analysis dialog:

9 Click OK.
To automatically
The new parametric setup is
expand the project tree listed in the project tree under
when an item is added Optimetrics. It is named
to the project: Click
Tools>Options> Gen- ParametricSetup1 by default.
eral Options.
Under Project Options,
select Expand Project
Tree on Insert.

Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis 3-7

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Solve the Parametric Analysis

Now you will run the parametric analysis, which will generate
results for the T-junction when the septum is located at each
position specified in the variable sweep definition.
• Right-click ParametricSetup1 in the project tree, and
then click Analyze on the shortcut menu.
HFSS computes the 3D field solution for every design variation
specified in the parametric setup’s variable sweep definition,
except those it already solved during the nominal project’s
analyses. For example, you may notice in the Progress win-
dow that HFSS does not solve for the values of 0 inches and
0.2 inches because those solutions are already available. The
next figure shows the Progress window during parametric
analysis

If the Progress window is not visible, click Progress Window

on the View menu.
The solution process is expected to take approximately 20 -
30 minutes. When the solution is complete, a confirmation
message appears in the Message Manager.

3-8 Set up and Solve the Parametric Analysis

 4 Review the Parametric
Results

In this chapter you will complete the following tasks:

Create a 2D x-y plot of S-parameters at each solved
offset position.
Create a 2D x-y plot of the power distribution at
each solved offset position.
Animate the field overlay plot at each solved offset
position.

Estimated time to
complete this chapter:
15 minutes.

Review the Parametric Results 4-1

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Plot of S-Parameter Results vs. Offset

Position
Now you will create a 2D x-y (rectangular) plot that compares
the S-parameter results at each port for each solved septum
position.
1 Right-click Results in the project tree, and then click Cre-
ate Modal Solution Data Report>Rectangular Plot.
The Report dialog box appears.
2 In the Context pane, leave the Solution as Setup 1: Last
Adaptive, and leave radio button under the Families tab
selecting Sweeps.
3 With Traces Tab selected, In the X field, click on Freq to
view the pull-down, and then click offset.
By default, the variable is Freq, which HFSS recognizes as
the frequency at which the solution was generated. For
the x-axis, you want to sweep all the values of offset that
were solved during the analysis. So change the variable to
offset.
4 In the Y Component pane, specify the information to plot
along the y-axis:
a.In the Category list, click S parameter.
b.In the Quantity list, press Ctrl and click S(Port1, Port1),
S(Port1, Port2), and S(Port1, Port3).
c.In the Function list, click mag.
The Value field lists the selected quantities, delimited by
semi-colons.
5 Click New Report.
The magnitude of the S-parameters is plotted against each
offset value on an x-y graph, as shown on the next page.A
plot of the traces is displayed and the Project tree shows
the new plot and its traces listed under Rectangular Plots.
6 Click Done to close the Report dialog.

4-2 Review the Parametric Results

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The red line shows the S-parameter values at Port 1, the magenta line shows
the S-parameter values at Port 2, and the blue line shows the S-parameter
values at Port 3 for each value of offset.

As expected, as the septum moves closer to Port 2, the

transmission initially decreases at Port 2 and increases at
Port 3 . As the septum is moved more than 0.3 inches
toward Port 2, it becomes less effective at steering the
signal toward Port 3. Reflection increases at the input
port, Port 1 , as the signal bounces back against the T-
junction wall opposite the port. Therefore, you will set
the maximum value for the optimization to be 0.3 inches.
More information about setting the maximum value fol-
lows in the next chapter.

Review the Parametric Results 4-3

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Plot of Power Distribution vs. Offset

Position
Now you will create a 2D x-y (rectangular) plot that compares
the power distribution results at each port for each solved
septum position.
1 Right-click Results in the project tree, and then click Cre-
ate Modal Solution Data Report>Rectangular Plot.
The Report dialog box appears.
2 In the Y Component pane, specify the information to plot
along the y-axis:
a.In the Category list, click Output Variables.
b.In the Quantity list, press Shift and click Power11,
Power21, and Power31.
c.In the Function list, click <none>.
The Value field lists the selected quantities, delimited by
semi-colons.
3 In the X field, click on the Freq, and then click offset in
the pull-down list that appears.
By default, the variable is Freq, which HFSS recognizes as
the frequency at which the solution was generated. For
the x-axis, you want to sweep all the values of offset that
were solved during the analysis. So change the variable to
offset.
4 Leave the Solution as Setup 1: Last Adaptive, and leave
radio button under Families selecting Sweeps.
5 Click New Report.
The power distribution at each port is plotted against each
offset value on an x-y graph, as shown on the next page.
The plot is listed under Results in the project tree.
6 Click Done to close the Report dialog.

4-4 Review the Parametric Results

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

For each value of offset, the red line shows the power distribution values at
Port 1, the magenta line shows the power distribution values at Port 2, and
the blue line showsthe power distribution values at Port 3.

The plot above shows the distribution of 1 watt of power

at the 3 ports as the septum’s position moves closer to
Port 2.
The goal for the optimization analysis is to find the septum
position that results in the power distribution at Port 3
being twice as much as at Port 2. Notice that when offset
is 0.1 inches, the value of Power21 is approximately 0.32
and Power31 is approximately 0.65, or about twice as
much. Therefore, you will set the starting value for the
optimization to be 0.1 inches.
The next chapter includes more details about setting the
starting value.

Review the Parametric Results 4-5

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Animate the Field Overlay Plot

Re-animate the field overlay plot you created in Getting
Started with HFSS: A Waveguide T-Junction. This time, you
will plot the E-field at each solved value of offset to see how
the fields are affected by the septum’s position.
1 In the project tree, double-click
the field overlay plot Mag_E1 to
bring this view window to the
front.
2 Right-click Mag_E1 in the project tree, and then click Ani-
mate on the shortcut menu.
The Select Animation dialog box appears.
3 Click New.
The Setup Animation dialog box appears.
4 Under the Swept Variable tab, click offset in the Swept
variable list.
By default, all values of offset are selected to be included
in the animation.
5 Click OK.
The animation begins in the view window. It will display
the field plot at each solved value between 0 and 1.0
inches, resulting in a total of 11 frames in the animation.

4-6 Review the Parametric Results

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The plot shows that when offset is between 0 and 0.3

inches, more of the electromagnetic wave moves toward
Port 3. When offset is greater than 0.3 inches, the fields
begin to bounce back towards Port 1; the septum becomes
less effective at steering the wave towards Port 2 and Port
3. Therefore, you will request that Optimetrics only con-
sider offset values between 0 and 0.3 inches during the
optimization.
Port 2

Port 1

Port 3

Frame 3
Offset = 0.2 inches

Frame 5,
Offset = 0.4 inches

Frame 8
Offset = 0.7 inches

The animated Mag_E1 plot of the E-field as the septum moves closer to
Port 2.

6 In the Animation dialog box, click the stop button ,

and then click Close.

Now you are ready to set up the optimization analysis.

Review the Parametric Results 4-7

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

4-8 Review the Parametric Results

 5 Set up and Solve the
Optimization Analysis

In this chapter you will complete the following tasks:

Set up the variable offset for an optimization
analysis.
Add an optimization setup to the project.
Add a cost function to the optimization setup.
Solve the optimization analysis.

Estimated time to
complete this chapter,
not including solution
time:
15 minutes.

Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis 5-1

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Select the Variable to be Optimized

Before a variable can be solved during an optimization analy-
sis, you must set the include parameter for that purpose. For
design variables, this setting is in the Design Properties dia-
Alternatively, right- log box.
clicking TeeModel in
the project tree, and 1 Click
then click Design HFSS>Design
Properties on the
shortcut menu. Properties.
The Proper-
ties dialog
box appears.
Note that the value of 2 Under the
offset is set to 0.2 Local
inches. This is the vari-
able’s current value Variables
set in the nominal proj- tab, select
ect.
Optimization.
3 For the variable offset, select Include, and then click OK.

Add an Optimization Setup

An optimization setup includes a cost function definition,
which specifies one or more goals for an optimization analy-
Since the numerical
noise is not be signifi- sis, and guidelines for minimizing the cost function.
cant during the solu- 1 Right-click Optimetrics in the project tree, and then click
tion process, the Quasi
Newton optimizer is
appropriate for this Add>Optimization on the shortcut menu.
analysis.
The Setup Optimization dialog box appears.
If Optimetrics solves
the maximum number 2 Under the Goals tab, click Quasi Newton in the Optimizer
of iterations, the opti- pull-down list.
mization analysis
stops. Otherwise it 3 Accept the default of 1000 as the Max. No. of Iterations
continues to perform
iterations (solve
design variations) until
the acceptable cost is
reached or it cannot
proceed as a result of
other optimization
setup constraints.

5-2 Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

value.

Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis 5-3

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Add a Cost Function

You will now add a cost function to the optimization setup.
The goal for the optimization is for the power at Port 3 to be
twice the power at Port 2. You will set up the cost function so
that the power at Port 3 - 2*(the power at Port 2) = 0 at the
optimal point. You will use the output variables defined ear-
lier to represent this expression. You will specify that a cost
function value less than 0.001 is acceptable.
1 Under the Goals tab, click Setup Calculations.
A new row is added to the Cost Function table.
By default, the cost function will be extracted from the
last adaptive solution generated for the solution setup.
Alternatively, you
2 Specify the solution quantity on which to base the cost
could add a new out- function goal: In the Calculation text box, type Power31-
put variable that repre- 2*Power21, and then press Enter.
sents the expression
Power 31 - 2*Power21 By default, the calculation range of this quantity is set to
and enter that output 10 GHz, the adaptive frequency defined in the solution
variable name in the
Calculation text box. setup. The solution quantity will be extracted from the
solution at this frequency value.
3 Leave the Condition set to = (equal to).
The Goal value is the 4 In the Goal text box, type 0, and then press Enter.
value of the solution
quantity that you want 5 Leave the Weight value set to [1].
to be achieved during
the optimization analy-
6 In the Acceptable Cost text box, type 0.001. If the cost
sis. function value is equal to or below this value, the optimi-
The Weight value is
zation analysis will stop.
useful when you have 7 Leave the Noise value set to 0.0001.
multiple goals for a
cost function and you
want to assign higher
or lower priority to
them.

5-4 Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The dialog box now looks like the following:

Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis 5-5

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Modify the Variable’s Starting Value

A variable’s starting value is the first value that is solved dur-
ing the optimization analysis. Optimetrics automatically sets
the starting value to the variable’s current value, which is set
to 0.2 inches. You will set the starting value to 0.1 inches,
which is appropriate because the parametric analysis HFSS
performed earlier revealed that the power distribution at Port
3 was approximately twice as much as the power distribution
at Port 2 when the value of the offset variable was 0.1 inches.
1 Click the Variables tab.
Offset is the only variable listed because it is the only
independent variable selected for optimization.
2 In the Starting Value
text box, type 0.1,
and then press Enter.
The Override option
is now selected. This
indicates that the
value you entered will
be used for this optimization analysis; it overrides the
variable’s current value.

Modify the Variable’s Minimum and Maximum

Values
Optimetrics automatically sets the minimum value it consid-
ers for a variable being optimized equal to approximately
one-half the variable’s starting value. You will set the mini-
mum value for this optimization to 0 so that it is less than the
starting value and defines an acceptable range in which to
search for the optimum value.
1 In the Min text box, type 0.
2 The maximum value should already be set to 0.3. If it is
not, type 0.3 in the Max text box. This value is appropri-
ate because the parametric analysis showed that offset
values greater than 0.3 were ineffective.

5-6 Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The dialog box now looks like the following:

Solve the Parametric Setup Before the

Optimization
By solving a parametric setup before it performs an optimiza-
tion, Optimetrics can determine the best starting point for
The variable’s starting the optimization. In this case, ParametricSetup1 has already
value you set in the been solved. Optimization uses the results to determine the
previous section is
ignored if a more
first variable value, or starting value, in the optimization
appropriate starting analysis.
value is found in the 1 Click the General tab.
parametric analysis
results. 2 Click ParametricSetup1 in the Parametric Analysis pull-
down list.
3 Select Solve the parametric sweep before optimization.
Update the Variable Value After Optimization
Make sure HFSS will update the T-junction’s geometry after
the optimization to reflect the optimal value of offset that is
found.
1 Under the General tab, make sure that the Update design
parameter values after optimization option is selected.
2 The optimization setup is now complete. Click OK to close
the Setup Optimization dialog box.

Clear the Save Fields and Mesh Option

Go to the Options tab and clear the Save Fields And Mesh
option. You do not need the field solutions for the design vari-
ables that optimization solves as it tries to reach the accept-
able cost.

Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis 5-7

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Solve the Optimization Analysis

Now you will run the optimization analysis.
• In the project tree under Optimetrics, right-click
OptimizationSetup1, and then click Analyze on the short-
cut menu.
The solution process is expected to take approximately 2 - 4
minutes. While the solution is running, proceed to the next
chapter to follow the progress of Optimetrics as it searches
for minimum cost value.

5-8 Set up and Solve the Optimization Analysis

 6 Review the
Optimization Results

In this chapter you will complete the following tasks:

View the cost value versus completed iteration in x-y
plot and data table formats.
Re-run the analysis at the septum’s optimal position.
Review the E-field results at the septum’s optimal
position.
Close the project and exit HFSS software.

Estimated time to
complete this chapter,
not including solution
time:
15 minutes.

Review the Optimization Results 6-1

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

View the Cost vs. Solved Iteration

As the solution progresses, view the cost values versus com-
pleted iterations in rectangular (x-y) plot format. The plot
indicates how close Optimetrics is to reaching the goal value
of 0.
1 Right-click OptimizationSetup1 in the project tree, and
then click View Analysis Result on the shortcut menu.
The Post Analysis Display dialog box appears.
2 Under the Result tab, select Plot.
A plot of the cost value at each iteration appears.

HFSS has modified

the T-junction geome- Cost vs. iteration plot.
try so that the value of
offset is 0.09 inches, For the first 11 iterations, Optimetrics referred to the
the optimal value. You
can select a different results from the parametric analysis: Optimetrics
value of offset in the extracted the cost values from the 11 design variations
table, and then click
Apply to modify the T-
solved during the parametric analysis.
junction geometry to The optimization stops when it reaches a cost value within
that offset value.
the acceptable cost, which was set to 0.001.
When done, click
Revert to return tto the 3 Select Table.
optimal value.
6-2 Review the Optimization Results
 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

The cost value at each solved design variation is listed in

table format. The optimal variable value, which is the
value of offset at the minimum cost value, should be near
0.09 inches.
4 Click Close.

Review the Optimization Results 6-3

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Re-analyze the Design at the Septum’s

Optimal Value
A field solution is unavailable at the optimal value; therefore
the field overlay plot Mag_E1 is considered invalid in its cur-
rent state. To update the plot, solve the design with HFSS at
the optimal variable value.
• Right-click Setup1 in the project tree under Analysis, and
then click Analyze on the shortcut menu.
The analysis is expected to take approximately 1 minute.

Update the Field Overlay Plot

• Double-click the field overlay plot Mag_E1 to view the
updated plot in the view window.
The E-field values indicate that the fields are approximately
twice as great moving towards Port 3 as they are moving
towards Port 2.

The Mag_E1 plot of the E-field when the septum is located at the optimal
position.

6-4 Review the Optimization Results

 Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

Close the Project and Exit HFSS

Congratulations! You have successfully completed this Opti-
metrics 4.0 Getting Started guide! You may close the Optim-
Tee project and exit the HFSS software.

1 Save the project .

2 Click File>Close.
3 Click File>Exit.

Review the Optimization Results 6-5

Getting Started with Optimetrics: Optimizing a Waveguide T-Junction

6-6 Review the Optimization Results

 Index

generating for optimal value 6-4

A saving for parametric analysis 3-4
frequency sweep, deleting 2-2
acceptable cost
actual value reached 6-2
setting 5-4 G
analysis types, Optimetrics 1-2
goal value 5-4
goal weight 5-4
C
closing the project 6-5 H
context-sensitive help i-iv
help
conventions used in guide i-iii
Ansoft technical support i-iv
copyright notice i-ii
context-sensitive i-iv
cost function
on dialog boxes i-iv
definition of 1-4
on menu commands i-iv
solution quantity for 5-4
HFSS
cost value vs. iteration plot 6-2
exiting 6-5
using with Optimetrics 1-2
D
design variations, parametric 3-3 L
Linear Step sweep type 3-3
F
field overlay plot M
at optimal offset value 6-4
maximum number of iterations 5-2
fields
maximum variable value
Index-1
 determination of 4-3 saving field solutions 3-4
setting 5-6 solved design variations 3-8
minimum variable value, setting 5-6 solving 3-8
parametric setup
adding 3-2
N adding a sweep definition 3-3
nominal design design variations 3-3
definition of 1-2 solving 3-8
overview 1-3 solving before optimization 5-7
plot
cost value vs. iteration 6-2
O power distribution vs. offset values 4-4
offset variable S-parameters vs. offset values 4-2
including in optimization 5-2 power distribution
maximum value 5-6 expected results 1-4
minimum value 5-6 plotting vs. offset values 4-4
plotting vs. power distribution 4-4 results for parametric analysis 4-5
plotting vs. S-parameters 4-2 Progress window 3-8
selecting for optimization 5-2 project
starting value 5-6 closing 6-5
updating value after optimization 5-7 opening 2-2
values solved during parametric analy- saving 2-2
sis 3-3
opening the project 2-2 R
optimal value
found during optimization 6-3 rectangular plot
generating field solution for 6-4 of cost value vs. iteration 6-2
Optimetrics of power distribution 4-4
overview 1-2 of S-parameters 4-2
types of analyses 1-2 results
optimization analysis actual parametric 4-3
expected results 1-5 expected 1-4
plotting progress 6-2 expected optimization 1-5
optimization setup expected parametric 1-4
adding 5-2
optimizers 5-2
S
saving the project 2-2
P solution quantity, of cost function 5-4
parametric analysis S-parameter plot 4-2
expected results 1-4 starting variable value
results used during optimization 6-2 chosen by Optimetrics 5-7

Index-2
 determination of 4-5
setting 5-6
stopping criteria
acceptable cost 5-4
max. iterations 5-2
sweep definition
adding 3-3
definition of 3-2

T
table
of cost value vs. iteration 6-3
of parametric design variations 3-4
T-junction, overview of function 1-3
trademark notice i-ii

V
variable
including in optimization 5-2
maximum value 5-6
minimum value 5-6
selecting for optimization 5-2
starting value 5-6
updating value after optimization 5-7
variable sweep definition 3-2

W
weight of goal 5-4

Index-3
Index-4