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IMNLab is a true FREE software. Free to use/copy/distribute, and no registration is needed. Nevertheless, you have to agree the license terms before you install it.

IMNLab is designed to easy in-board impedance measurement and wideband impedance matching network (IMN) optimization. Impedance matching networks are widely used in microwave/RF circuits to either reduce the reflection or reduce the transmission loss. So far IMNLab only supports the design of lumped impedance matching networks. Supporting for distributed matching networks may be added in the future.TQP3M9007_input

There are mainly two scenarios where IMNLab can be used in:

  • In-board impedance measurement and Impedance Matching Network design. As shown in Figure 1, it is common to insert an Impedance Matching Network to maximize the power transfer between two modules. IMNLab helps the designer to measure the source/load impedance in an easy way. Also the measured source/load impedance is used to find the optimal Impedance Matching Network over the interested frequency band.

scenario_1

  • Input/Output front-connector returnloss optimization. This application scenario is shown in Figure 2. Many boards may have one (or several) front-connector(s) for connecting with other equipment through a coaxial cable. For example, a DVB-T signal generator feeds the modulated signal to a power amplifier to boost the level. IMNLab helps the designer to optimize the returnloss over the interested frequency band. The Impedance Matching Network does not need to be close to the front-connector. There may be some components (transmission line, filter, coupler, amplifier, etc) between Impedance Match Network and the front-connector.

scenario_2

IMNLab helps RF the engineers to find “good” impedance matching networks over a wide frequency band. The functionality is realized by three independent modules:

  • Impedance Measurement and Calibration. This module is to measure the impedance and collect the information for calibration. load_impedace_optimal
  • Optimization Core. This optimization engine is the core module of IMNLab. The high-order non-linear optimization engine searches for the “best” impedance matching network over the user-specified constraint region. configure_network
  • Analysis/Monte-Carlo Simulation. Based on the optimization results, the user may tune the component values manually, integrate component S-parameters and pursue statistical analysis.returnloss_window_analysis_2