Qucs-RFlayout

A tool to produce layouts from Qucs RF schematic (microstrip only for now)

qucs-schematic.sch -> kicad-layout.kicad_pcb [OK]

                                        -> kicad-module.kicad_mod [OK]

                                        -> pcb-rnd-layout.lht [OK]

                                        -> openEMS-script.m [Beta]

                                        -> gmsh.geo [ASAP]

French documentation here

This software is a part of the Open-RFlab project and relies on the octave-openems-hll library, if you are interrested in contributing or involved in an other somewhat -> openems converter please take a look.

Screenshots

Qucs : schematic.sch

Qucs-RFlayout : preview

Pcbnew : layout.kicad_pcb

Pcbnew : module.kicad_mod

Pcb-rnd : layout.lht

OpenEMS : simulation.m

• Better example : A low pass filter designed, produced and measured by F4HDG. Thanks to him!

• Generated scripts outputs :

  • Touchstone file (.sxp)
  • S parameters (Smith chart and orthogonal)
  • Feed point impedance
  • Feed point VSWR
  • Phase response (wrapped and unwrapped)
  • Phase delay and group delay
  • Azimuth & elevation far field radiation pattern (polar and orthogonal, normalized and in dBi)
  • 3D far field radiation pattern for multiple frequencies (animated .gif)
  • Electric & magnetic fields, current and current density in time domain (visible with Paraview)

• Here is a tutorial.

Installation

Dependencies

• Qucs is needed (even if you want to convert QucsStudio files), be sure it is installed and accessible from your PATH variable.
• OpenEMS scripts dependencies :
  • OpenEMS (octave-openems package available on Debian 10 based distros, octave-openEMS on openSUSE)
  • ImageMagick (packages available on most distros)

Package installation

• For Debian based distributions, a repository is available :

DEBIAN=Debian_10    # Use the underlying Debian version of your Debian-based distro

echo "deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/thomaslepoix:/open-rflab/${DEBIAN}/ /" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/home:thomaslepoix:open-rflab.list
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:thomaslepoix:open-rflab/${DEBIAN}/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/home_thomaslepoix_open-rflab.gpg > /dev/null

sudo apt update
sudo apt install qucsrflayout

• For RPM based distributions and Windows, you can download packages here.

Installation from sources

• Debian way : Take a look on the debian branch.

• Classic way :

The build-time dependencies are the following on Debian, check equivalents on your own (reports are welcome) for non Debian-based distros :

qt5-default, libqt5opengl5-dev, texlive-xetex, fonts-lato

Qucs-RFlayout $

    cmake -S. -Bbuild -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
    cmake --build build
    sudo cmake --build build --target install

Usage

qucsrflayout -i qucs-schematic.sch -o output-directory -f .output-format

Limitations

• Microstrip only for now, coplanar waveguide ASAP.
• Any other component cannot be converted into a geometric shape of metal by this tool.
• Use one wire to connect only two components ports, use apropriate components to make tees or crosses.
• QucsStudio schematics are supported (2.x versions only) but it is closed source and there are some incompatibilities so please prefer using Qucs.

Work in progress... [email protected]