Concerto v7 EM Tool Speeds Simulation and Optimization

By DE Editors

Vector Fields Ltd. (Aurora, IL &  Oxford UK) released a new version of its Concerto software tool for high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) design. Although Concerto’s developers already believe the package to offer the fastest-executing solver for this EM application area, the move to higher frequencies and more sophisticated antennas are leading to more complex designs.

Concerto v7 introduces numerous improvements to accelerate the speed of simulation and optimization. These advances include 64-bit PC processing support, better distributed processing of simulations, improved support for exploiting periodicity in designs, and a highly innovative optimization tool that intelligently applies multiple algorithms to resolve even the most complex of problems.

Concerto v7 provides a comprehensive 2D or 3D design-simulate-analyze-optimize toolchain for high-frequency electromagnetic applications. Component or system models can be created using a powerful, integrated geometric modeler, or imported from CAD programs. CAD formats supported include CATIA, ProENGINEER, IGES, SAT and STEP. When a design model is ready, users have a choice of methods to characterize performance.

Concerto’s applications span the high frequency spectrum and include antennas, waveguides,  cavities and resonators, filters, connectors, microwave heating, and radar systems and signatures.

Vector Fields’ new 64-bit version removes the memory constraint on model size, which is helpful for antenna designs, which have to account for the effect of external structures on performance, such as the human head and hand.

As an example of the new program’s speed, an accurate simulation of a horn antenna 10 wavelengths long, with an aperture of six wavelengths, takes less than five minutes on a modest single-processor laptop.

Also added in version 7 is a radical new automatic optimization tool for the MoM and FEM solvers that makes multi-variable, multi-goal optimization possible, even if the user specifies competing objectives.

Concerto v7 is available in a range of 2D and 3D versions, starting from around $4750. As well as high-end performance, Vector Fields offers a number of low-cost entry-level configurations.

For details, contact Vector Fields Ltd.

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.