Clarity 3D Solver - Recent Threads

Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Renu Vibha — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:06:50 GMT

Don't miss our next learning session, designed to bridge cutting-edge theory with real-world implementation. Moderated by a Cadence engineer, the discussion will provide practical guidance, proven techniques, and opportunities to engage directly with experts.

[emoticon:938879241df9449b88d5bd48b3c450dd] Wednesday, September 16, 2026
[emoticon:17d3afeb71044dfa9a98b76e25255612] 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM IST

Topic: Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond

[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Ask your questions
[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Learn from industry experts
[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Explore proven techniques
[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Gain practical takeaways you can apply right away

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Sumith — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:01:54 GMT

Thank you everyone for the great questions and engagement today. Feel free to post your questions and we will address them accordingly.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Sumith — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:52:43 GMT

Yes, this is actually a common situation in high-frequency EM simulations.

Consider a differential via structure that initially appears to perform very well up to 50 GHz. The S-parameters are smooth, insertion loss looks realistic, and there are no obvious signs of a problem. Based on the initial results, one might conclude that the design is acceptable.

However, after performing mesh refinement, a previously hidden resonance may shift by several GHz, leading to a different engineering conclusion. In this case, the critical electromagnetic behavior was concentrated around the via anti-pad region, where strong fringing fields existed.

The original mesh was too coarse in key areas such as:

1. Via barrels
2. Anti-pad edges
3. Plane transitions

As a result, the solver technically converged and produced a numerically stable solution, but the local field behavior was not sufficiently resolved. The simulation looked accurate because the S-parameters were smooth and physically reasonable, yet the solution had not fully converged with respect to the mesh.

This example highlights an important point: a simulation can appear correct and even meet convergence criteria, while still missing important physical effects due to insufficient local mesh resolution.

Therefore, confidence in a result requires both:

1. Numerical convergence of the solver, and
2. Physically accurate modeling and sufficient mesh resolution in regions where electromagnetic fields are concentrated.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

CF202606104231 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:44:34 GMT

Any example that you can share , practical one where convergence criteria failed and mat be simulation appeared accurately

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Sumith — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:32:13 GMT

1. Never trust the first run. Always perform at least one mesh refinement study.
2. Check current flow and return paths, not just S-parameters.
3. Use realistic material and roughness data.
4. Simulate beyond the target frequency (e.g., 110 GHz for a 50 GHz design).
5. Ask "Why do I see this behavior?" for every resonance, notch, or loss peak. If you cannot explain it, investigate further before signing off the design.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

CF202606104231 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:27:19 GMT

For someone new to simulation , any best practices that you can share? For results at 50Gbz

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Sumith — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:17:01 GMT

For getting started, great question.

I assume you are using a 3D FEM based solver for simulation. At 50 GHz and beyond, the most reliable indicator of accuracy is result convergence, not visual appearance. If the results remain essentially unchanged after mesh refinement, material verification, and frequency sweep refinement, the simulation is much more likely to represent the true physical behavior of the structure.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

CF202606104231 — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:12:22 GMT

If my simulation result looks okay, how do I know they accurately reflect behaviour at 50 GHz and beyond?

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Sumith — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:05:17 GMT

Welcome everyone and thank you for joining today’s Expert Session. Please feel free to post your questions any time—we’re here to help.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Renu Vibha — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:29:03 GMT

2 days to go!

Feel free to submit your questions now or join us LIVE on Wednesday September 16th.

RE: Join us on Wednesday, Sep 16th, 2026 for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything Session on "Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond" and discover how to achieve accurate, reliable results for next-generation high-speed designs.

Renu Vibha — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:36:58 GMT

Thank you for your active participation in our past sessions. We hope the discussions were helpful and that we were able to provide timely responses to your questions.

As part of our continued commitment to supporting you, our next session is scheduled for September 16, and we would be delighted to have you join us at 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM IST

Topic: Trusting Simulation Clarity at 50 GHz and Beyond

Exploring 3D Via Modeling and Simulation Using Sigrity X and Clarity 3D Solver

ShivaShankarM — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:43:17 GMT

As data rates continue to increase, vias become a critical part of the signal path and can significantly influence overall channel performance. Accurate 3D via modeling helps engineers better understand the impact of via discontinuities, parasitic effects, return paths, and routing constraints on signal integrity.

Cadence Sigrity Topology Workbench includes the Aurora Via Wizard, which enables users to create detailed 3D via structures, visualize the geometry, extract EM-accurate models using the Clarity 3D field solver, and use those models directly in system-level simulations.

Key capabilities include:

Defining custom stackups and cross-sections
Creating single-ended or differential via structures
Configuring padstacks, return paths, and keepout regions
Visualizing 3D via geometry
Extracting S-Parameter models using Clarity 3D
Integrating the extracted via models into Topology Workbench simulations
Analyzing waveform behavior and channel performance

The workflow begins by adding a Via block in Topology Workbench and launching the Aurora Via Wizard from the Via Properties panel.

A typical flow includes:

1. Define the Cross-Section.

Create the stackup and plane definitions required for accurate via modeling. Proper reference planes are essential for successful port definition and EM extraction.

2. Configure Padstacks and Via Structures.

Select padstacks, create single-ended or differential via structures, and define return vias, spacing, angles, and keepout regions.

3. Visualize the 3D Geometry.

Review the generated via structure in a 3D environment to verify the physical implementation before extraction.

4. Extract the Via Model.

Generate an EM-accurate S-Parameter model using the Clarity 3D field solver and automatically assign the model to the Via block in Topology Workbench.

5. Simulate and Analyze.

Connect the extracted via model to transmitter and receiver blocks, perform transient simulations, and evaluate waveform quality and signal integrity metrics.

By incorporating realistic via behavior into early design analysis, engineers can improve correlation between simulation and hardware performance while gaining deeper insight into channel discontinuities and interconnect effects.

To learn more about 3D via modeling and simulation workflows, explore the Aurora Via Wizard capabilities available in Sigrity Topology Workbench.

Click here for more details on 3D via modeling and simulation using Sigrity.

Have you used 3D via models in your high-speed designs? What challenges or best practices have you observed when modeling vias for SI analysis? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks & Regards,

Shiva Shankar M

How Accurate Are Your Connector S-Parameters?

Renu Vibha — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:02:19 GMT

Ever wondered how precise your connector modeling is in complex PCB environments? Are you capturing all parasitic effects?

Explore the possibilities here
Clarity 3D Workbench S-parameter Extraction for Connector on PCB

Setting Up and Simulating Rigid-Flex Designs in PowerSI from ODB++ Imports

ALLpdf — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:36:09 GMT

The most robust and recommended approach is ODB++ > Allegro > PowerSI Workflow.

Steps:

Import the ODB++ file into Allegro.

Verify and configure:
- Rigid‑Flex zones
- Stackups for rigid and flex regions

Save the design as an Allegro .brd file.
Import the .brd file into PowerSI for simulation.

This workflow (ODB++ > .brd > .spd) is considered more stable and reliable especially for complex Rigid‑Flex designs.

You're Invited: Unlocking the Power of AWR Clarity

Renu Vibha — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:49:20 GMT

We’re excited to invite you and your team to a Lunch and Learn session focused on Clarity and AWR RF Design, scheduled for August 07, 2025, at our Cadence Bangalore office.

This session will provide valuable insights into RF design and 3D FEM simulation, and we encourage your team to participate and benefit from the learning experience.

Date: 7th August 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (3 hours)
Venue: Cadence Office, Level 1, Building 4A, Ecoworld, Bellandur

Join me as we explore the intricacies of RF Simulations using Cadence AWR and Clarity tools, from the fundamentals to advanced concepts. Gain insights into the world of radio frequency simulations

To secure your spot, send an email to Vignesh at vignes@cadence.com.

Looking forward to your participation.

Thank you!

: Correlating 3D Solvers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Comparing EM Simulation Tools

jillashiva — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:52:39 GMT

When comparing Electromagnetic (EM) simulation tools, it's essential to ensure that the results are reliable and comparable. To achieve this, we need to follow a structured approach that minimizes variability in the simulation setup. In this guide, we outline the steps to correlate 3D solvers and provide guidelines for comparing results between EM simulation tools.

Step 1: Model Preparation

Geometry: Ensure that the geometry is identical between simulations, including airbox size. Export the model from other tools in .stp or .sat format.

Port Locations: Include port shapes in the exported model file to guide port placement in Clarity.

Step 2: Materials and Stackup

Material Assignment: Provide an image or material spreadsheet describing the material assignment.

Material Properties: Include dielectric properties and frequency-dependent models (e.g., Debye model, D-Sarker model).

Conductor Information: Specify conductor types (non-copper) and properties (e.g., surface roughness, etch-dependent modifications).

Step 3: Solution Setup and Results

Solution/Meshing Frequency: Provide the solution/meshing frequency used in the simulation.

Convergent Criteria: Specify the convergent criteria used to ensure accuracy.

Frequency Sweep: Provide the frequency sweep start and stop values.

Special Metal Modeling: Mention if any special metal modeling techniques were employed (e.g., solved inside the metal or skin depth).

Runtime and Hardware: Report runtime and computer hardware information (number of cores, RAM, etc.).

Simulation Profile: Provide a simulation profile from other tools to facilitate comparison.

Step 4: Result Comparison

S-Parameter Results: Obtain s-parameter results from other tools for comparison.

Best Practices:

* Keep the simulation setup as similar as possible between tools.

* Document all simulation settings and parameters.

* Verify that the simulation results are reliable and accurate.

By following these steps and guidelines, you'll be able to ensure a fair and accurate comparison of EM simulation tools, allowing you to make informed decisions and optimize your design.

You can also refer to the link here for more interesting information

Cheers,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Clarity 3D Layout Multiple Structure Simulation Workflow

jillashiva — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:27:27 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm excited to share a walkthrough on creating a multiple-structure simulation in Clarity 3D Layout with you.

This feature allows us to analyze the behavior of multiple blocks simultaneously, which is perfect for designing complex systems.

Step 1: Create three blocks and assign designs to these blocks

Create three new blocks in your Clarity 3D Layout project to get started. You can do this by clicking the "Block" button in the toolbar and selecting "New Block". Name these blocks "D2" , "PKG" and "D1".

Next, assign a design to each block. For example, you can create a simple rectangle for Blocks. Make sure to set the dimensions and properties of each design according to your needs.

Step 2: Establish a connection between the blocks

Now that we have our three blocks with assigned designs let's create a connection between them. In Clarity 3D Layout, we can use "ports" to connect blocks. Create a port on Block Pkg and another port on Block D1. Then, connect these ports to establish a link between the blocks.

Step 3: Run the simulation

With our blocks connected, we can now run the simulation. Go to the "Simulation" tab and select the "Run Simulation" button. Clarity 3D Layout will then simulate the behavior of both blocks simultaneously, considering their connection.

Step 4: View the simulation results

Once the simulation is complete, you can view the results in the "Results" tab. Here, you can analyze the behavior of each block individually and their interaction.

By following these simple steps, you can create a multiple-structure simulation in Clarity 3D Layout and gain valuable insights into the behavior of complex systems. Here is a Video detailing the process. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to ask in the comments below!

Best Regards,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Efficient Inductance Extraction with Clarity 3D Layout

SimTech — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:18:39 GMT

Efficient Inductance Extraction with Clarity 3D Layout

Are you struggling with inductance extraction for your complex IC package and PCB designs? Look no further! This post highlights the latest Clarity 3D Layout v2024.1 workflow for inductance extraction, providing a fast and accurate solution for inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction using the Quasi-Static Solver.

Introducing Clarity 3D Layout Inductance Extraction

The new Inductance Extraction workflow in Clarity 3D Layout provides Quasi-Static-Solver-based RLCG extraction without the need to predefine ports for the source/sink. This means you can create source/sink automatically based on selected components or manually based on nodes on traces/shapes.

Key Features and Benefits

Fast and accurate inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction
No need to predefine ports for the source/sink
Automatic source/sink creation based on selected components or manual creation based on nodes on traces/shapes
Supports complex 3D structures with adaptive FEM refinement technology
Reduces simulation time with parallelization technology

Results

After running the inductance extraction flow, you can view the inductance summary results by selecting the L Full Matrix option on the workflow pane. The results are displayed for a frequency of 1 KHz, and you can export the results to a .csv file. The resulting L matrix shows the self-inductance values on the diagonal and mutual inductance values on the non-diagonal terms.

You can also generate a SPICE model from the R/L/G/C results, which can be used by other tools.

Lastly, you can plot the R/L/C/G values against frequency using the R/L/C/G vs Freq option on the workflow pane.

The resulting plots showed the frequency-dependent behavior of the inductance, resistance, capacitance, and conductance values.

Conclusion

Clarity 3D Layout Inductance Extraction is a powerful tool for efficient and accurate inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction. With its Quasi-Static Solver and automatic source/sink creation, it streamlines the simulation process and reduces simulation time. Try it out today and experience the benefits of fast and accurate inductance extraction for your complex IC package and PCB designs!

Explore this Interesting Workflow

Inductance Extraction and SPICE RLCG Model Generation of IC Package by Using Quasi-Static Solver in Clarity 3D Layout

Verifying Design Integrity Before Simulation: Pre-Simulation Validation

jillashiva — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:59:15 GMT

Before running simulations, it's essential to ensure that your design as well as the overall simulation set up is accurate, complete, and consistent. Pre-simulation validation is a critical step in the design flow that helps you identify and fix potential issues early on, saving time and resources.

What is Pre-Simulation Validation?

Pre-simulation validation is a process that checks your design for errors, inconsistencies, and potential problems that could affect simulation results or even prevent simulation from running altogether. This step helps you verify that your design is correct, complete, and ready for simulation.

Why is Pre-Simulation Validation Important?

Performing pre-simulation validation helps you:

Catch errors early: Identify and fix design errors, such as Spice syntax errors, connectivity issues, or incorrect component values, before simulation.
Ensure design consistency: Verify that your design is consistent across all levels of hierarchy and that all components are properly connected.
Improve simulation efficiency: By fixing issues before simulation, you can reduce the risk of simulation failures or incorrect results, saving time and resources.
Enhance design reliability: Pre-simulation validation helps ensure that your design is reliable and functions as intended, reducing the risk of costly rework or redesign.

The reason is Pre-simulation Validation also check set up consistency, for example, In clarity 3D Workbench:

a) If the Solution frequency is less than Freq Max/2 the tool will display a warning
b) If the set up include Wave ports and you want to extract low frequency points, the tool will tell you that if is not possible while using Waveports and that interpolation will be used instead.
c) More examples: no port defined, no boundary conditions defined, etc

How to Perform Pre-Simulation Validation

To perform pre-simulation validation, you can the below option:

By performing pre-simulation validation, you can ensure that your design is accurate, complete, and ready for simulation, saving time and resources in the long run.

Best Regards,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Clarity: Streamline Your Antenna Designs with Clarity's Component Library

SimTech — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:56:12 GMT

Are you tired of starting from scratch when designing antennas? Look no further! Clarity 3D Workbench now includes a powerful Component Library that lets you use predefined 3D component templates or add existing ones to create 3D designs and simulation models. In this post, we will explore the benefits and features of the Component Library and how it can revolutionize your antenna-design workflow.

Antenna design is a complex and time-consuming process that requires significant expertise and resources. One of the major pain points is the lack of a library of pre-designed antennas that can be easily customized and simulated. This is where Clarity's Component Library comes in – a game-changing feature that simplifies the design process and saves you time.

The Component Library is a new feature in Clarity 3D Workbench that allows you to access and manage 3D components for your designs.

To access the Component Library in Clarity 3D Workbench, simply follow these steps:

Click on the "Tools" menu.
Select the "Component Library" option.

The Component Library offers several benefits, including:

Easy access and management of 3D components for your designs
Utilization of predefined component templates to streamline the design process
Customization and configuration of 3D components based on your simulation needs
Enhanced efficiency of creating 3D models and components

Component Library GUI:

We would love to hear about your current antenna-design workflow and how you think the Component Library can help. Share your experiences, tips, and questions in the comments below!

Happy Simulating!

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Optimality Intelligent System Explorer: The NextGen AI-Driven Design Optimization tool for Accurate 3D FEM Simulation

ShivaShankarM — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:14:50 GMT

For accurate 3D FEM simulations in PCB or IC package design, what is the best way to optimize design parameters and meet design goals? Our Cadence Optimality Intelligence Explorer tool is the solution, enabling efficient exploration and optimization of design parameters for optimal performance.

The Optimality Intelligence System Explorer uses artificial intelligence (AI)- driven multidisciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO) technology that enables you to optimize your design quickly and efficiently with no accuracy loss.

With the increasing complexity of electronic system design and greater performance requirements, Optimality Explorer breaks through the limitations of the conventional human-intensive optimization process by replacing a traditional interactive flow of design, test, and refine loop with generative AI-driven technology that results in the optimal system design solution expeditiously and without compromising accuracy.

The Optimality Intelligence System Explorer offers you the following benefits:

Design Insight: Enables design engineers to determine optimal electrical performance, keeping away from suboptimal local minima and maxima, while mapping massive variations for increased considerations and exploration of the complete design space
Greater Productivity: Empowers design engineers and teams to efficiently achieve optimized system-level designs and boosts productivity (on an average, 10 times faster) when compared to manual, exhaustive, brute-force parametric table studies
Intuitive UI: Lets designers quickly learn, use, and adopt Optimality Explorer from the Clarity and Sigrity X environments for fast invocation of MDAO
Extensible Solution: Allows designers to extend the machine-learning optimization solution across multi-physics technologies of Cadence with an integrated and comprehensive simulation solution.

You can leverage our Optimality Intelligence System Explorer to perform design optimization and thereby extract accurate models in Clarity 3D FEM simulation.

Click here for more details on Optimality in Clarity 3D FEM simulation.

How do you optimize your design parameters and fine tune them to meet your design goals? Share your thoughts, views and questions in the comment section below.

Happy Learning!

Clarity: Tip of the day – Streamline Your Clarity 3D Simulations with Queue

Sumith — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:06:41 GMT

Are you tired of simulating multiple Clarity 3D Layout or Clarity 3D Workbench files one by one, waiting for each simulation to be completed before starting the next? We have a solution for you!

Did you know that the Sigrity Installation directory contains a tool that can help you queue and simulate your test cases automatically?

Introducing the Clarity 3D Setup tool!

This tool lets you queue and simulate multiple test cases sequentially.

1. Navigate to C:\Cadence\Sigrity2024.0\tools\bin and launch exe.

2. In the Clarity 3D Setup GUI, configure your computer resources and add your test cases.

3. Click on the Simulate button and let the tool take care of the rest!

The Clarity 3D Setup tool will run your simulations one by one, freeing up your time.

How do you currently manage simulation queues? Are you using scripts or manual workflows?

Try Clarity3DSetup.exe today and share your experiences, tips, and questions in the comments below!

Happy simulating!

Showcase your expertise: Port Configurations in 3D FEM Simulation

ShivaShankarM — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:50:55 GMT

Which of the following port configurations (Waveport and Lumped port) do you believe will be the most effective in 3D FEM simulation?

Please answer with the letter of your choice, or feel free to include any reasons to support your answer. All opinions are welcome.

Clarity Workbench Far Field Plotting Template

mensh — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:54:52 GMT

Hello!

Is there anyway to save and load a template for far field plots? I know this is a thing for s-parameters but what about far field plots? Plots don't refresh after I run another simulation, so do I need to recreate the plots every time?

Thanks,

Ahmed

RE: Clarity Workbench Far Field Plotting Template

jillashiva — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:26:14 GMT

Hi there, ther are some *.r3d files generated in your working directory further you can look at the link here on how to load the field plots