powerDistributionNetwork

R2026b

Create power distribution network object

Since R2025a

Description

Create a powerDistributionNetwork object from a cadnet object, or a pcbComponent object.

This object is used for power integrity analysis of voltage and current of a specified cadnet in the PCB, or a specified pcbComponent.

Creation

Syntax

pdnobj(cnet)

pdbobj(pcbcomponent)

Description

pdnobj(cnet) creates a powerDistributionNetwork object from a cadnet object.

pdbobj(pcbcomponent) creates a powerDostributionNetwork object from a pcbComponent object.

Input Arguments

cnet — cadnet

object

powerDistributionNetwork specified as a cadnet object.

Example: pdnobj = powerDistributionNetwork(cadnetobj) creates a powerDistributionNetwork object.

Data Types: string

pcbcomponent — PCB component

object

powerDistributionNeetwork specified as a pcbComponent object.

Example: pdnobj = powerDistributionNetwork(pcbcomponent) creates a powerDistributionNetwork object.

Data Types: string | fi

Properties

Note

Use the setNetworkParameters to initialize and change the values of the following properties.

NetType — Cadnet object

object

Use the setNetworkParameters function to initialize and change the NetType property.

Source — Source component of the cadnet

scalar | array

Use the setNetworkParameters function to initialize and change the Source property.

Data Types: string

Load — Load component of the cadnet

array

Use the setNetworkParameters function to initialize and change the Load property.

Data Types: string

Sense — sense pin

array

Use the setNetworkParameters function to initialize and change the Sense property.

Data Types: string

PlatingThickness — Plating thickness

scalar

Use the setNetworkParameters function to initialize and change the PlatingThickness property, specified in inches.

Data Types: double

Note

Use the setDCParameters function to initialize and change the values of the following properties.

NominalVoltage — Nominal voltage

array

Nominal voltage level for each power supply component specified in volts. Use the setDCParameters function to initialize and change the NonminalVoltage property.

Data Types: double

LoadCurrent — Load current

array

Expected current drawn by each load in milliamperes. Use the setDCParameters function to initialize and change the LoadCurrent property.

Data Types: double

Note

Use the setDCRules function to initialize and change the values of the following properties.

MaxCurrentDensity — Maximum current density

scalar

Maximum allowable current density to prevent excessive heating and damage specified in mA/mil^2. Use the setDCRules function to initialize and change MaxCurrentDensity.

Data Types: double

MinVoltage — Minimum voltage

scalar

Minimum voltage to avoid performance issues or component malfunctions specified in volts. Use the setDCRules function to initialize and change MinVoltage.

Data Types: double

MaxVoltage — Maximum voltage

scalar

Maximum voltage, not to be exceeded, to prevent performance issues or component malfunctions specified in volts. Use the setDCRules function to initialize and change MaxVoltage.

Data Types: double

MaxViaCurrent — Maximum via current

scalar

Maximum allowable via current specified in milliamperes. Use the setDCRules function to initialize and change MaxViaCurrent.

Data Types: double

Object Functions

setNetworkParameters	Set network parameters
setDCParameters	Set DC parameters
setDCRules	DC Rules
voltage	Voltage plot
current	Current

Examples

Read Allegro PCB File and Extract Information

This example shows how to read an Allegro file and create a pcbFileRead object. After this the following operations will be executed:

• Create layer, cadnet, padstack, part, and component objects form the pcbFileRead object

• Create a powerDistributionNetwork object from the cadnet object

• Set the properties of the powerDistributionNetwork object for voltage and current density analysis

• Analyze and visualize the voltage and current density

Here is the circuit:

Here is the pcb layout:

Read file

Read a native format Allegro file and look at the properties of the pcb.

pfile = pcbFileRead('native_ExampleBoard_Allegro')

pfile = 
  pcbFileRead with properties:

           FileName: 'native_ExampleBoard_Allegro'
          NumLayers: 5
         MetalLayer: [1 3 5]
    DielectricLayer: [2 4]
        LayerHeight: [0.0184 0.0104 0.0092 0.0012 0]
         NumCadnets: 7
       NumPadStacks: 6
      NumComponents: 8
           NumParts: 5

cadnetList(pfile)

ans = 7×4 table
    CadnetIdx        CadnetName         NumPins    Length
    _________    ___________________    _______    ______

        1        {'Unconnected_Net'}       3           0 
        2        {'NET_OUTV'       }       2       0.615 
        3        {'NET_GND'        }       1        0.46 
        4        {'NET_IN22'       }       2       0.645 
        5        {'NET_IN11'       }       4       0.488 
        6        {'NET_INNEG'      }       2       0.515 
        7        {'NET_INPOS'      }       2       0.676 

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componentList(pfile)

ans = 8×3 table
    ComponentIdx    ComponentName    NumPins
    ____________    _____________    _______

         1            {'OUT_V'}         1   
         2            {'U1'   }         6   
         3            {'C3'   }         2   
         4            {'R1'   }         2   
         5            {'TP1'  }         1   
         6            {'R2'   }         2   
         7            {'IN_N' }         1   
         8            {'IN_P' }         1   

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partList(pfile)

ans = 5×2 table
    PartIdx       PartName    
    _______    _______________

       1       {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
       2       {'IC6ANT'     }
       3       {'CAPGEN080'  }
       4       {'RESGENH40'  }
       5       {'RESGEN080'  }

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padStackList(pfile)

ans = 6×2 table
    PadstackIdx        PadstackName    
    ___________    ____________________

         1         {'MHYCIRCLE009'    }
         2         {'MHYC012'         }
         3         {'MHYRECT46X59'    }
         4         {'MHYRECT80X60H40' }
         5         {'VIA'             }
         6         {'MHYRECT46X59_TOP'}

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stackUp(pfile)

ans = 5×8 table
    LayerNumber      LayerName         LayerType        Material     Thickness(inch)    EpsilonR    LossTangent    Conductivity(S/m)
    ___________    ______________    ______________    __________    _______________    ________    ___________    _________________

         1         {'TOP'       }    {'Signal'    }    {'COPPER'}        0.0012             1              0           5.96e+07     
         2         {'Dielectric'}    {'Dielectric'}    {'FR-4'  }         0.008           4.5          0.035                  0     
         3         {'LAYER2'    }    {'Plane'     }    {'COPPER'}        0.0012             1              0           5.96e+07     
         4         {'Dielectric'}    {'Dielectric'}    {'FR-4'  }         0.008           4.5          0.035                  0     
         5         {'BOTTOM'    }    {'Signal'    }    {'COPPER'}        0.0012             1              0           5.96e+07     

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Create layer object

Create and visualize a layer object.

layerobj = layer(pfile,1,Type= 'All')

layerobj = 
  layer with properties:

        pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
    LayerNumber: 1
           Type: "All"
    LayerHeight: 0.0184
    NumSurfaces: 1
        NumPins: 14
        NumVias: 4
      NumTraces: 21
     EntityList: [1×1 struct]

show(layerobj)

Create a cadnet object

Create cadnet object and look at its data.

cadobj = cadnet(pfile,'NET_IN11')

cadobj = 
  cadnet with properties:

        pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
     CadnetName: 'NET_IN11'
        NumPins: 4
    NumSurfaces: 2
        NumVias: 4
      NumTraces: 4
    TotalLength: 0.4880
        Voltage: 'NoDef'
     LayerRange: [1 3 5]
     EntityList: [1×1 struct]

figure
show(cadobj)

Create a padstack object

Create a padstack object and look at its data.

stackobj = padStack(pfile,'MHYC012')

stackobj = 
  padStack with properties:

              pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
         PadStackName: 'MHYC012'

   Stack Definition:
           StartLayer: 'TOP'
            StopLayer: 'TOP'
           LayerStack: "TOP"

   Pad, Antipad and Drill Geometry:
    LayerwiseGeometry: [1×4 table]

   Padstack Occurrence
          NumPadStack: 6
              PadType: 'Pin'
            PadCenter: [6×2 double]
           PinPadInfo: [6×8 table]

shapes(stackobj)

ans =

  dictionary (string ⟼ antenna.Polygon) with 1 entry:

    "TOP" ⟼ 1×1 antenna.Polygon

Create a part object

Create a part object and look at its data.

partobj = part(pfile,"IC6ANT")

partobj = 
  part with properties:

          pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
         PartName: 'IC6ANT'
    NumComponents: 1
    ComponentInfo: [1×7 table]

componentData(partobj)

ans = 
  component with properties:

             pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
       ComponentName: 'U1'
            PartName: 'IC6ANT'
       ComponentType: 'IC'
             NumPins: 6
               Value: ''
            Facement: 'TOP'
    ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]

Create component object

Create a component object and look at its pin data.

componentobj = component(pfile,'U1')

componentobj = 
  component with properties:

             pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
       ComponentName: 'U1'
            PartName: 'IC6ANT'
       ComponentType: 'IC'
             NumPins: 6
               Value: ''
            Facement: 'TOP'
    ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]

componentPinData(componentobj,1)

ans = 
  pinsData with properties:

             PinShape: 'Circle'
           PartNumber: 'IC6ANT'
            Component: 'U1'
            PinNumber: 'A3'
                Value: ''
             PadStack: 'MHYC012'
           CadnetName: 'NET_OUTV'
           StartLayer: 1
            StopLayer: 1

   Circular pin dimensions:
               Center: [0.1010 0.2690]
             Diameter: 0.0120
    DrillHoleDiameter: 0

Create a power distribution network object

Create a power distribution network object from a cadnet object. After this the following operations can be performed:

• Set up the Network Parameters, DC Parameters, and DC Rules properties of the power distribution network for power integrity analysis

• Analyze and visualize the voltage and current density of the power distribution network

Here is the cadnet for power integrity analysis.

pdnobj = powerDistributionNetwork(cadobj)

pdnobj = 
  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: {}
                 Load: {}
                Sense: {}
     PlatingThickness: []

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: []
          LoadCurrent: []

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set Network Parameters: setNetworkParameters
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Find the pins connected to the cadnet using the findComponents function.

ConnPins = findComponents(cadobj)

ConnPins = 4×5 table
    ComponentIndex    Refdes    PinList    ComponentType          Part      
    ______________    ______    _______    ______________    _______________

          1           "C3"       "1"       {'Capacitor' }    {'CAPGEN080'  }
          2           "R2"       "2"       {'Resistor'  }    {'RESGEN080'  }
          3           "TP1"      "1"       {'Test Point'}    {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
          4           "U1"       "A1"      {'IC'        }    {'IC6ANT'     }

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in = ConnPins.Refdes(2);
out = [ConnPins.Refdes(1),ConnPins.Refdes(4)];
SensePin = ConnPins.Refdes(3);

Set the network parameters.

setNetworkParameters(pdnobj,Source=in,Load=out,Sense=SensePin,PlatingThickness=0.0003);

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: []
          LoadCurrent: []

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Set the DC parameters.

setDCParameters(pdnobj,"LoadCurrent",[10e-3,10e-3],"NominalVoltage",2)

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: 2
          LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Set the DC rules.

setDCRules(pdnobj,MinVoltage=1,MaxVoltage=2.00002,MaxCurrentDensity=4,MaxViaCurrent=2.0)

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: 2
          LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: 4
           MinVoltage: 1
           MaxVoltage: 2.0000
        MaxViaCurrent: 2

Analyze voltage deviation.

voltage(pdnobj);

Analyze current density with direction enabled.

current(pdnobj,Direction="on")

Version History

Introduced in R2025a

R2026a: Maximum via current support

DCRules function supports a setting for the maximum via current property in a powerDistributionNetwork object.

R2026a: PCB Component support

powerDistributionNetwork supports a pcbCmponent as an input type.