Causality checking and enhancement of 3D electromagnetic simulation data

A causality checker is developed and used to validate and improve S-parameter data computed with a commercial 3D electromagnetic simulator. Improved data quality as shown by the causality checker is demonstrated to fix a flawed SerDes link simulation and an impedance extraction based on a TDR simulation. It is demonstrated that simple examination of the S-parameters cannot differentiate between good and bad data as shown by the causality checker. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the causality checker can determine when frequency is under-sampled in the 3D electromagnetic extraction.