Automated PCB Parasitics Extraction from EDA Tools for Power Electronics Design Support

This paper illustrates the automated extraction of parasitic components on printed circuit boards (PCB) from common EDA tools. An algorithm reads the EDA files and feeds them to the open source software FastHenry2 and FasterCap. Those two programs are calculating the frequency-dependent resistances, self and mutual inductances of the PCB tracks as well as the capacitances between those. This information is displayed during the design process of the PCB and the effects of altering PCB tracks will be shown directly. The main aim of this algorithm is to give PCB designers support for an optimized layout for high and low voltage applications in especially high frequency switching domains. The accuracy of the calculated parasitics is verified by experimental results.