The goal of this paper is to describe a methodology for modeling and simulation of circuit-electromagnetic (EM) effects that fits into a current electronic design flow. Our methodology is based on using time-domain macromodels implemented in a hardware description language (HDL). Simulation of the entire coupled circuit-EM system can be carried out either entirely in HDL simulator or in SPICE-type circuit simulator (using model compiler for macromodel import). We also describe in detail a circuit-EM contact interface and a neutral mesh format necessary to allow for flexibility in choice of EM simulators. At each step of our methodology, we provide an overview of current problems and solutions with reference to existing publications.

As a demonstration example, we consider a simple coupled system (MEMS resonator connected to a lumped circuit) and show that simulations using VHDL-AMS macromodel match full-wave EM results but easily fit in the design flow and take significantly less time. Our methodology is straightforward and permits the use of various EM simulators and macromodel identification algorithms¹.