RF PCB
Libraries:
RF Blockset /
Circuit Envelope /
PCB
Description
The RF PCB block enables you to create, visualize, and analyze the characteristics of the
components used on a printed circuit board (PCB) in RF Blockset™ circuit envelope simulation environment. You can create components like
transmission lines, splitters, couplers, baluns, and many more from the PCB Components Catalog (RF PCB Toolbox) except the
viaSingleEnded object.
Note
To use this block, you need a RF PCB Toolbox™ license.
Examples
This example compares the coupler created using the S-parameter Coupler block and the RF PCB block. There are several types of coupler configurations an RF system can use, including quadrature, split-ring, and rat-race. This example compares the rat-race couplers created using the S-parameter Coupler block and the RF PCB block.
Rat-Race Coupler Using S-Parameter Coupler Block
The Coupler block models a four-port rat-race coupler in a circuit envelope environment as an ideal S-parameter model. This device consists of four ports: an input port, a through port, an isolated port, and a coupling port. The rat-race coupler designed using the Coupler block has a loss and coupling of around 3 dB, with the isolation being infinite. Additionally, the phase differences between the ports are equal.
Simulate this model and observe the results at the output, coupling, and isolation ports. The isolation of this coupler is infinite, and the output and phase difference at the output and coupling ports are the same.
open_system("IdealRateRace.slx") sim("IdealRateRace.slx")
ans =
Simulink.SimulationOutput:
tout: [1x1 double]
SimulationMetadata: [1x1 Simulink.SimulationMetadata]
ErrorMessage: [0x0 char]
Rat-Race Coupler Using RF PCB Block
Use the RF PCB block to create a rat-race coupler from a couplerRatrace (RF PCB Toolbox)
cr = couplerRatrace; sparam = sparameters(cr,linspace(1e9,5e9,16));
The RF PCB block enables you to create, visualize, and analyze the characteristics of the components used on a PCB in RF Blockset™ circuit envelope simulation environment. You can create components like transmission lines, splitters, couplers, baluns, and many more from the PCB component catalog from RF PCB Toolbox.
Simulate this rat-race model designed using the RF PCB block and observe the results at the output, coupling, and isolation ports. The rat-race coupler object is solved using the Method of Moments (MoM) solver. This coupler also has four ports: an input port, a through port, an isolated port, and a coupling port. However, in this design, the loss and coupling can vary depending on the design, and the isolation is approximately 29 dB. The phase difference between the through port and the coupling port is 180 degrees.
open_system("RFPCBRateRace.slx") sim("RFPCBRateRace.slx")
ans =
Simulink.SimulationOutput:
tout: [1x1 double]
SimulationMetadata: [1x1 Simulink.SimulationMetadata]
ErrorMessage: [0x0 char]
The rat-race coupler designed using the Coupler block allows you to model an ideal frequency-independent coupler with S-parameters, whereas the rat-race coupler designed using the RF PCB block allows you to design a coupler by specifying its physical properties, such as width and length, and enables you to simulate using MoM.
Parameters
Version History
Introduced in R2025a
