stackUp

Create PCB stackup definition

Since R2021b

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Description

Use the stackUp object to create a printed circuit board (PCB) stackup definition to import Gerber files. A Gerber file is a set of manufacturing files used to describe a PCB. A Gerber file uses an ASCII vector format for 2-D binary images.

Creation

Syntax

s = stackUp

Description

s = stackUp creates a default PCB stackup object with five layers. Specify Gerber files as inputs to the second and fourth layers. Specify dielectric material objects as inputs to layers one, three, and five.

example

Properties

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This property is read-only.

Number of layers in the stackup, returned as a positive scalar.

First layer in the stackup definition object, specified as a dielectric object.

Example: s = stackUp; d = dielectric('RO4725JXR'); s.Layer1 = d;

Second layer in the stackup definition object, specified as a character vector or string. The file should be saved as a GTL, GBL, or GBR file.

Example: s = stackUp; s.Layer2 = 'antenna_design_file.gtl';

Note

The Gerber file must be imported to the MATLAB® workspace before setting this property.

Third layer in the stackup definition object, specified as a dielectric object.

Example: s = stackUp; d = dielectric('RO4725JXR'); s.Layer3 = d;

Fourth layer in the stackup definition object, specified as a character vector or string. The file should be saved as a GTL, GBL, or GBR file.

Example: s = stackUp; s.Layer4 = 'antenna_design_file.gbl';

Note

The Gerber file must be imported to the MATLAB workspace before setting this property.

Fifth layer in the stackup definition object, specified as a dielectric object.

Example: s = stackUp; d = dielectric('RO4725JXR'); s.Layer5 = d;

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create a PCB stack up definition object using default properties.

S = stackUp;

Set the thickness of the dielectric Air in layer 1 to 0.1 mm.

S.Layer1.Thickness = 0.1e-3;

Import a top layer Gerber file to layer 2.

S.Layer2 = 'interdigital_Capacitor.gtl';

Create a PCBReader object using the stackUp object, S.

p = PCBReader('StackUp',S);

To update the Gerber file, convert the PCBReader object to a pcbComponent object.

pcbcapacitor = pcbComponent(p);
pcbcapacitor.FeedDiameter = 0.001
pcbcapacitor = 
  pcbComponent with properties:

              Name: 'interdigital_Capacitor'
          Revision: 'v1.0'
        BoardShape: [1×1 antenna.Rectangle]
    BoardThickness: 0.0061
            Layers: {[1×1 dielectric]  [1×1 antenna.Polygon]  [1×1 dielectric]  [1×1 dielectric]}
        FeedFormat: 'FeedLocations'
     FeedLocations: [0 0 2]
      FeedDiameter: 1.0000e-03
      ViaLocations: []
       ViaDiameter: []
      FeedViaModel: 'square'
         Conductor: [1×1 metal]
              Tilt: 0
          TiltAxis: [0 0 1]
              Load: [1×1 lumpedElement]
        SolverType: 'MoM'
        IsShielded: 0

View the PCB component in the Gerber file.

show(pcbcapacitor)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title pcbComponent element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 6 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed, FR4.

Version History

Introduced in R2021b

See Also

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