Hardware Requirements

Only IBM compatible personal computers are currently supported. A 1000MHz or faster Pentium computer, a fast SVGA graphics adapter, a 17" (or larger) SVGA monitor (resolution: 1280 x 768 or better), a printer and a two-button mouse (Microsoft compatible) are recommended. A minimum of 32MB extended memory is recommended to run MultiMatch.

The software is supplied on a CD ROM disk. The latest installation programs and any updates available can also be downloaded from the Private Download Section of Ampsa's website.

The software is protected against unauthorized use with a Safenet Sentinel USB key^TM, the Mirage Licence Protector^TM, or with the Safenet SentinelLM^TM licensing management software.

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Operating System

A Windows^TM operating system (Windows 2000/XP/Vista^TM) is required to run the Multimatch Impedance-Matching Wizard. The Windows Vista^TM operating system is recommended.

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User Interface

The Multimatch Impedance-Matching Wizard is a Visual C++ 2005 Unicode MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class) Windows^TM application, with a user-friendly interface.

The Impedance-Matching Wizard can automatically transform the electrical description of a synthesized matching network into microstrip form, with automatic compensation for discontinuity effects. Via hole terminations can be added for shorted stubs and commands are provided to curve or meander lines. The artwork can be displayed and modified graphically, and an HPGL or a DXF file can be created for it.

If required, the microstrip circuit can be processed further with a general-purpose microwave simulator. The capability to interact closely with some microwave simulation packages is provided: The Impedance-Matching Wizard can import data from Touchstone^TM ".s1p" or ".s2p" files and can export the matching networks synthesized as Super Compact^TM or Touchstone^TM nodal analysis circuit files. Microwave Office^TM schematic scripts can also be created for the matching networks.

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The Multimatch Impedance-Matching Wizard

The Impedance-Matching Wizard is a Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Windows 2000/XP/Vista^TM  Visual C++ 2005 Unicode application (multiple document, multiple view). It provides for professional impedance matching up to artwork level at an affordable price.

The Impedance-Matching Wizard can be used to synthesize lumped-element, distributed or mixed lumped/distributed matching networks. Commensurate (equal line length) and non-commensurate networks can be synthesized. When non-commensurate networks are designed, the line widths are set by the user and the line lengths are used as variables. The line lengths are fixed and the width are used as variables when commensurate networks are synthesized. Connecting lines can be added in both cases to the input and the output ports to ensure that all the networks synthesized will effectively start and end with series elements. The option to terminate any short-circuited stubs used with single hole vias or by using  inductors (bond wires) is also provided in both cases.

When commensurate networks are synthesized, different lengths can be set for the main-line sections, the open-ended stubs and the short-circuited stubs. When mixed lumped/distributed networks (non-commensurate) are synthesized, pads can be specified for the lumped elements and parasitic inductance can be specified for the capacitors used. Options are also provided to replace any shunt capacitors required with overlay capacitors, or any open-ended stubs required with stepped transmission-line sections.

Matching problems must be specified in real-frequency format (that is, the impedance to be matched must be listed at a number of frequencies over the frequency range of interest with the transducer power gain required). The required data can also be imported from Touchstone^TM "*.s1p" or "*.s2p" files.

A wizard is provided for setting up the specifications for distributed | microstrip solutions.

Solutions to the matching problem defined are synthesized by doing synthesis-based systematic searches, followed by finer searches and then optimization of the best solutions found.  The systematic search can be done globally over the different topologies or can be restricted to lowpass or high-pass topologies, or topologies without any series capacitors or without any shunt inductors. The option to use topologies suitable for inter-stage biasing (four or more element are required in this case) is also provided. These constraints are only active during the search phase.

The final results can be displayed on the screen,  can be printed or can be copied to the clipboard. Any of the solutions provided can be exported as a MultiMatch circuit file, a Touchstone^TM netlist, a Super Compact^TM netlist, or in DXF (artwork) and HPGL format (artwork). Microwave Office^TM schematic scripts can also be created for the solutions synthesized.

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