Feko is a comprehensive electromagnetic solver with multiple solution methods that is used for electromagnetic field analyses
involving 3D objects of arbitrary shapes.
3D views are used to display and interact with the model. You can zoom, rotate and pan around a 3D model using the keyboard,
mouse or a combination of both. You can use a 3D mouse, specify a view or select specific parts of a model. Multiple 3D
views are supported.
Define field or current data using either far field data, near field data, spherical mode data or PCB current data. Use
the field/current definition when defining an equivalent source or a receiving antenna.
Define a medium with specific material properties, import a predefined medium from the media library or add a medium from
your model to the media library.
Defined media can be applied to the model in various ways. Some media settings are applied to regions, others on faces
and wires. The rules for defining media varies between the different solution methods.
Use a periodic boundary condition (PBC) to analyse infinite periodic structures. A typical application of PBC is to
analyse frequency selective surface (FSS) structures.
Create an arbitrary finite antenna array that consists of an array of contributing elements, either with direct feeds for
each element or via indirect coupling, and solve with the efficient domain Green's function method (DGFM).
Use the windscreen tools to define a curved reference surface constrained by a cloud of points, normals and optional U′V′ parameters. The constrained surface is then used as a reference to create a work surface where windscreen layers and curved
parameterised windscreen antenna elements can be created.
Many electromagnetic compatibility and interference problems involve cables that either radiate, are irradiated or cause
coupling into other cables, devices or antennas. Use the cable modelling tool and solver to analyse the coupling and radiation.
Cable harnesses are becoming increasingly complex with innovations in the automotive industry. Import a complex cable harness
from a .kbl file using the “harness description list” (KBL) specification.
Define a twisted pair consisting of two cores that are twisted together for the purposes of cancelling electromagnetic
interference. Each core can have an optional coating.
Define a cable bundle that may consist of multiple defined cables (for example, single conductors, coaxial cables,
ribbon cables, twisted pairs, other cable bundles and non-conducting elements) and that are embedded in a medium with
an optional shield.
Create a cable instance consisting of a single cable (for example, ribbon, cable bundle, coaxial cable) with its cable
connectors that is routed along a cable path.
Create a cable harness consisting of a collection of cable instances routed along a cable path with a solution method
specified for the outer conductor.
The cable schematic view allows you to add cable ports, complex loads, resistors, capacitors, inductors, external SPICE
circuits, general networks (defined using N-port Touchstone files) and probes to a specific cable harness as well as connecting
cables to one another.
For a frequency domain result, the electromagnetic fields and currents are calculated at a single frequency or frequency
range. When the finite difference time domain (FDTD) solver is used, the frequency must be specified to convert the native time domain results to the frequency domain.
The excitation of an antenna is normally specified as a complex voltage, but it may be useful to specify the total radiated
or source power instead. The result is then scaled to yield the desired source power level.
A port is a mathematical representation of where energy can enter (source) or leave a model (sink). Use a port
to add sources and discrete loads to a model.
Perform multiple solutions for a single model using multiple configurations. Multiple configurations remove the requirement
to create multiple models with different solution requests.
Use an infinite plane or half-space to model a ground plane efficiently. The number of triangles in the model is reduced
as the ground plane is not discretised into triangles.
A CADFEKO.cfm file can be imported into EDITFEKO to make use of more advanced features available in EDITFEKO and to directly edit the .pre file for more flexible solution configurations.
During the design process, the development of a model can introduce a range of issues that can lead to a non-simulation-ready
model. Use the validation toolset to verify that the model is simulation-ready or to search, detect and flag discrepancies.
The default solver used in Feko is the method of moments (MoM) - surface equivalence principle (SEP). A solver is specified per model, per face or per region, and depends on the solver in question.
CADFEKO has a collection of tools that allows you to quickly validate the model, for example, perform calculations using
a calculator, measure distances, measure angles and export images.
EDITFEKO is used to construct advanced models (both the geometry and solution requirements) using a high-level scripting language
which includes loops and conditional statements.
One of the key features in Feko is that it includes a broad set of unique and hybridised solution methods. Effective use of Feko features requires an understanding of the available methods.
Feko offers state-of-the-art optimisation engines based on generic algorithm (GA) and other methods, which can be used
to automatically optimise the design and determine the optimum solution.
Feko writes all the results to an ASCII output file .out as well as a binary output file .bof for usage by POSTFEKO. Use the .out file to obtain additional information about the solution.
CADFEKO and POSTFEKO have a powerful, fast, lightweight scripting language integrated into the application allowing you to create
models, get hold of simulation results and model configuration information as well as manipulation of data and automate
repetitive tasks.
Many electromagnetic compatibility and interference problems involve cables that either radiate, are irradiated or cause
coupling into other cables, devices or antennas. Use the cable modelling tool and solver to analyse the coupling and radiation.
Define a cable bundle that may consist of multiple defined cables (for example, single conductors, coaxial cables,
ribbon cables, twisted pairs, other cable bundles and non-conducting elements) and that are embedded in a medium with
an optional shield.
Define a cable bundle that may consist of multiple defined cables (for example,
single conductors, coaxial cables, ribbon cables, twisted pairs, other cable bundles and
non-conducting elements) and that are embedded in a medium with an optional
shield.
Note: The following shield types are supported for cable bundles:
Insulated, embedded in background medium
(sheath/jacket)
Not shielded, embedded in a dielectric
Not shielded, embedded in background medium
Shielded, dielectric filled
On the Cables tab, in the
Definitions group, click the Cable Bundle icon.
On the Bundle tab, bundle the cables using one of the
following methods:
To create a cable bundle where the exact orientation of the cable in the
bundle is unknown or not relevant, select the Auto
bundle check box.
Click the Rearrange button to place the
cables in a new random location inside the bundle.
To specify the location and orientation of the cables inside the cable
bundle, clear the Auto bundle check box.
Specify the Offset X, Offset
Y and Rotation of each cable
contained in the bundle.
From the Cabledrop-down list, specify the cables contained in the bundle using
one of the following methods:
To specify a predefined cable, select the cable you want to
add.
To specify a cable, not yet defined in the model, click the icon to define a cable type.
On the Insulation and Shielding tab, for shield types
1, 2 and 4, specify the
Insulation medium.
On the Insulation and shielding tab, from the
Insulation mediumdrop-down list, select one of the following:
To specify the insulation medium consisting of a predefined dielectric,
select the dielectric.
To specify the insulation medium consisting of dielectric, which is not
yet defined in the model, click the icon to define a dielectric or add a dielectric
from the media library.
For shield types 1, 2
and 4, specify the
Outer radius for the cable bundle.
On the Insulation and shielding tab, to specify the
Outer radius, select one of the following:
To allow CADFEKO to calculate the outer radius
of the cable bundle, select the Compute automatically
check box.
To manually specify the outer radius of the cable bundle in the
Outer radius field, clear the Compute
automatically check box.
For shield type 1, specify the Shield for the cable bundle.
Note: If a
braided shield is applied to the cable bundle the outer radius should be inside
the stretching limits defined for the braided shield.
On the Insulation and shielding tab, under
Shielding, from the Shielddrop-down list, select one of the following:
To add an outer cable shield consisting of a predefined shield, select a
cable shield.
To add an outer cable shield consisting of a shield, which is not yet
defined in the model, click the icon to define a new cable shield.
Under Insulation layer (coating), specify the
following:
To add a coating, select the Apply
coating check box.
From the Mediumdrop-down list, specify the coating medium.
In the Thickness field, specify the coating
thickness.
To remove the coating, clear the Apply coating
check box.
On the Advanced tab, under Twist,
from the Turn directiondrop-down list select one of the following:
To define a bundle with no twist, select No
twist.
To define a bundle turning right, leading away from you, select
Right handed.
To define a bundle turning left, leading away from you, select
Left handed.
On the Advanced tab, under Twist,
in the Pitch length field, enter the axial length
required to complete one revolution of a cable in the bundle around the diameter
of the bundle.
In the Label field, add a unique label for the cable
bundle.
Click Create to create the cable bundle and to
close the dialog.