Layout View

Home: Edit Layout

The layout view is used to derive a physical model from a circuit which contains a microstrip, a stripline, a CST MICROWAVE STUDIO Block or another CST STUDIO SUITE 3D block drawn in the schematic view. Both views allow editing the individual block's properties and are synchronized automatically. In case of a change in the schematic view while the layout view is open, a message is shown in the layout view: Project has been modified. Press 'Edit->Update Parametric Changes (F7)'

All blocks of the design which have a physical representation are then displayed on a substrate or as a 3D model. The substrate size can be either kept fixed or can be set to automatically snap to the geometry, using a microstrip or stripline reference block.

After opening the layout view all blocks are automatically snapped according to their connections. Connection lines are drawn in green color, if the corresponding blocks are not physically connected. In this case use the following operations to establish the connection between the adjacent blocks manually:

Transform

Transformations may be applied by selecting a block and then choosing Home: Tools Transform. With this operation, you may translate, scale, rotate or mirror a block.

Align

Use the align feature (Home: Tools Align) to position a selected block at a common interface with the current model.

Snap

A snapping command (Home: Tools Snap Selected Components) is available in order to automatically align all selected blocks.

History List

The History List stores all macro language commands for each creation step. You may edit the History List by just selecting the corresponding line and pressing the Edit button. Afterwards, you can modify the commands directly. Pressing the Update button in the History List will finally re-generate the modified model.

Edit Connector

Enters the "Edit Connector" mode  (Home: Edit Edit Connector) of the layout view. Here, a 3D model for a physical connection between two blocks can be created. This mode can only be activated if in the schematic view a connector between two blocks is selected.

Please note that the above commands do not change the position or the orientation of the block in the schematic view.

When double-clicking on a block the block is selected and its properties are shown in the parameter list. Most microstrip and stripline blocks have an obvious physical representation. For other active or passive circuit elements (e.g. resistors, capacitors, etc.) a package needs to be selected in the properties dialog box in order to fully describe their representation in the layout view.

The physical structure can be used for subsequent EM simulations by using Simulation Projects or as a so called Sub-Project Import. The corresponding 3D model will be automatically created whenever the design is saved. In addition the layout view is helpful if a design needs to be verified for producibility, e.g. to check whether the layout introduces unwanted short circuits or gaps which can not be seen in the schematic view.

See also

Schematic View, Block Overview