Tools => Add Component => Sonnet Project

You select Tools => Add Component => Sonnet Project in order to add a component to your geometry that is modeled with another Sonnet project. An assistant appears on your display which helps you set up your component. This dialog box is also opened when you select the command Modify => Component

Fields in which you may enter a variable instead of a constant value are identified with a drop down list, an example of which is pictured below. The list includes the entry <Add Variable> in addition to any existing parameters. Selecting <Add Variable> from the list opens the Add/Edit Variable dialog box to allow you to create the variable. If an existing variable is entered, then the entry <Edit Variable> appears in the list. Selecting this entry opens the Add/Edit Variable dialog box to allow you to edit the presently selected variable.

Note that directly typing in the name of a variable which is not yet defined, instead of selecting <Add Variable> from the drop list, also causes the Add/Edit Variable dialog box to appear when this dialog box is closed so that you can define the new variable.

For the Sonnet Project component type, the analysis engine, em, first performs an electromagnetic analysis on the geometry, and then uses circuit theory to connect the Component project's analysis results to the geometry. This allows you to subsequently change the Sonnet project used by your component without performing the electromagnetic analysis another time on your geometry. However, if the Component project does not contain analysis results, then an analysis is performed on the Component project before performing the circuit theory portion of the analysis. As long as no changes are made in the Component project, the analysis of that project is done only once and the results used in any subsequent analyses.

The Sonnet project component can be a netlist or geometry project.. There is no limit to the number of ports you may use for a project component.

Note: The Component Assistant appears when you open this dialog box to help you set up the inputs for your component.

Project File: Enter the desired Sonnet project file in this text entry box. You may edit the contents directly or click on the Browse button to open a window which allows you to select a Sonnet project (.son) on your computer. .

Parameters: Click on this button to open the Model Parameters dialog box which allows you to define the values of any parameters defined in the Sonnet Project. It is possible to link variables in your main project with variables in your Sonnet project.

For a detailed discussion of Components, please refer to the "Components" chapter in the Sonnet User's Guide.