Planar metals

This page of the Circuit Settings dialog box is opened when you select Circuit - Settings from the project editor main menu, then click on Materials in the left hand pane of the dialog box and select the "Planar metals" tab. This section allows you to define the characteristics of the planar metals for use in your circuit. A list of presently defined metals for your project appears in this dialog box. All geometry projects initially contain the metal type, Lossless, whose bulk conductivity is infinite ( INF). You may not edit this metal type.

Add Planar: Click on this button to open the Planar Metal Editor dialog box which allows you to define a new planar metal type or add an existing defined metal from a metal library to your project.

Duplicate: Click on this button if you wish to create a new planar metal type based on an existing metal type. When you click on Duplicate, the Metal Editor dialog box is opened and displays the parameters of the presently selected planar metal type.

Move Up: Click on this button to change the position of the presently selected planar metal type in the list. The planar metal type is moved up one position each time you select the button.

Move Down: Click on this button to change the position of the presently selected planar metal type in the list. The planar metal type is moved down one position each time you select the button.

NOTE: The Up and Down buttons are only enabled if it is possible to move the presently selected planar metal type in that direction in the list.

Edit: Click on this button to edit the selected metal in the metal list The Planar Metal Editor dialog box is opened displaying the present values of the metal.You may edit the name and properties of the metal in this dialog box.

Delete: Click on this button to remove the selected metal in the metal list from your project.

Library: Click on this button to open the Metal Library dialog box which allows you to manage your metal libraries for via and planar metal.

Default Metal for New Planar: Select the metal you wish to use for all new polygons in your circuit. This does not change the metal used for any existing polygons, but any metalization added to your circuit after this will use the selected metal. The default planar metal used for new projects is Lossless.

 For more details on defining loss for a metal, see Planar Metalization Loss in the Sonnet User's Guide.