EMPIRE XPU 8.20 Released

February, 2023

The brand new EMPIRE XPU 8.2.0 has been released. It contains many new helpful features.

New features

The outstanding features of the new version are:

  • Graphical user interface:
    • TDR analysis including Bessel filters for excitation and results
    • Conformal Toolbox
    • Circular polarized excitation of circular waveguides
    • Metal Sheet Stack property including new roughness model
    • New Library elements (RF Trace, Educational Brick, Conformal MSL, CPW, Viafence, SMDs with material properties for body and caps, Coax elements with adjustable priorities)
  • Simulation engine:
    • New Surface Roughness Model
    • Equivalent circuit model for metal sheet stack
    • Optimization for Alder Lake CPUs
    • Support of multiple field sources
    • Windows CMD Commands for Start / Stop Empire Server
  • 2D and 3D result plotting engine:
    • Transmission Factors for simultaneous simulation
    • Polarization angle for Ludwig 3 far field transformation
    • Improved marker storage avoiding frequency jumps
    • Support of farfield symmetry planes
    • RCS sweep angle support
    • Sweep support for MIMO ECC and DCF
    • Poynting vector calculation for field pathes
    • Slope and Q-factor display for Markers
    • Contour lines for Plot Format “Farfield (3D)”
  • New circuit simulation module and schematic editor:
    • Impedance plot type display
  • CAD exchange
    • Update Spatial Libraries 2022.1.0.1.41
    • OCC (open cascade) based BREP Export

EMPIRE XPU 8.1.0 Released

October, 2021

The brand new EMPIRE XPU 8.1.0 GUI has been built on future-proof Python3 and supports many new helpful features.

New features

The outstanding features of the new version are:

  • Graphical user interface:
    • Switch to future-proof Python 3
    • Debye dispersion plots and variable support
    • SMD Wizard including export
    • General rotation for library elements
    • LCS enhancements (Variables, transformations)
    • SCAD bool engine update
  • Simulation engine:
    • Kernel update to support new AMD processors
    • Accuracy improvements for conformal dielectrics
    • Multi PC solver (Hard disc reclaim switch, TCP communication, IP address support)
  • 2D and 3D result plotting engine:
    • Sweep tool in 2D plot
    • Extended axis format and labels
    • Improved curve sorting
    • Save / Store camera angle in 3D views
  • New circuit simulation module and schematic editor:
    • Near field superposition
  • CAD exchange
    • New field source (Rohde & Schwarz format)
    • Port array parameter import/export
    • Field plane ASCII export
    • Thermal monitor ASCII export
    • Selectable engine for improved 3D CAD export results
    • Open CASCADE based BREP export of rotation bodies
    • ODB++ folder structure and zip file import

EMPIRE XPU 8.00 Released

March, 2020

For many years now, EMPIRE XPU has been one of the leading 3D electromagnetic field simulator based on the powerful 3D Finite Difference Time Domain Method (FDTD). Due to its unique XPU technology the performance of EMPIRE is superior to other EM solvers. The brand new EMPIRE XPU 8.00 GUI has been built with the modern QT toolkit which supports many helpful features.

New features

The outstanding features of the new version are:

  • New modern easy-to-use graphical user interface:
    • Use of modern software design approaches
    • Much easier to use GUI including drag&drop, context menus or tooltips
    • Validated inputs everywhere
  • All new simulation control engine:
    • The new EMPIRE XPU solver shows a re-organized new simulation tab which gives a comprehensive status on all currently running simulation activities
    • Operation buttons, job trees, log and convergence windows have been introduced
    • Keep all your simulations, variable sweeps and optimizations under control
  • Efficient 2D and 3D result plotting engine:
    • Easy handling of optimizations with thousands of curves
    • Masks, powerful markers and filters
    • The all new 3D results engine is much more efficient, fast and offers many new beautiful display options
  • New circuit simulation module and schematic editor:
    • Create and analyse your RF circuit as a standalone schematic or dependent on the FDTD results
    • Matching circuits or feed networks can therefore be designed without the necessity to run extensive EM simulations
  • Exposure evaluation compliant to IEC and IEEE standards

EMPIRE XPU 7.70

New features

  • QTEM Ports: accurate and easy-to-use quasi-TEM ports based on eigenmodes
  • Virtual Model Inspection Module: Visualize model and fields on virtual reality glasses (add-on module for HTC Vive)
  • In-Plane averaging of near fields, e.g. power density averaging
  • MIMO DCF (Display Correlation Factor) as alternative for MIMO ECC
  • New optimizers based on evolutionary algorithms
  • U3D export for creating 3D-PDFs from Empire models
  • BREP STEP export using Spatial’s new Polyhedra plug-in available

EMPIRE XPU 7.60

New features

  • Circuit Simulation: near and far field superposition
  • Substructure: simplified conformal mapping based on LCS
  • Substructure: increased encryption security for read protected parts
  • MIMO antennas: envelope correlation coefficient
  • History in Boolean operations, keeping parameters
  • Support of processor groups (> 64 cores) on Windows
  • Multiple NUMA node support on Linux for Empire Servers

EMPIRE XPU 7.50

New features

  • 3D Design mode & enhanced 3D modeling kernel
  • Direct Import & Export of 3D CAD formats (IGES, Step, ACIS, Catia, Siemens NX,…)
  • EDA Import of ODB++ files
  • Cloud Computing using Amazon EC 2 from batch processing interface
  • Importer for EM simulation vendor projects

EMPIRE XPU 7.00

New features

  • Redesigned Graphical User Interface
  • Extended object library
  • Circuit simulation module
  • Redesigned 3D object kernel
  • Improved automatic meshing
  • Field source

EMPIRE XCcel 6.00

New features

  • Thermal solver including heat sources, RF losses, conductivity, convection, radiation
  • Poser for human body models
  • High speed simulation on Solid State Disks (SSD)
  • Additional Optimizer algorithms
  • Postprocessing on remote servers
  • Field monitors for volumes, planes, paths, probes
  • Arbitrary oriented (off-axis) lumped ports
  • Active impedance simulation

EMPIRE XCcel 5.50

New features

  • Cluster solver for Windows
  • High speed simulation of large problems on hard disk drive
  • Advanced Vector Extension (AVX) support
  • Reduced memory usage for preprocessing and simulation
  • New curve plotting engine with easy-to-use sorting, zooming and filtering features
  • 2D & 3D slice visualization of human body models for easy positioning of devices

EMPIRE XCcel 5.40

New features

  • RF Planar object library
  • 3D visualization: Boundaries, Viewport, 3D Motion, Textures
  • Simplified port creation menu
  • Improved layer control and editor
  • Parameter definition for geometric variations, and simulation parameters
  • Reduced memory and accelerations for preprocessing & simulation setup
  • Improved automatic meshing including mesh hints

EMPIRE XCcel 5.30

New features

  • Windows XP & Vista: GUI in 64 bit
  • Optimization: reduced memory usage
  • Post-processing on multiple cores
  • High-speed meshing algorithm for complex 3D solids
  • Multiple (user-defined) excitation functions
  • Script controlled simulation and optimization
  • Client / Server processing over IP

EMPIRE XCcel 5.20

New features

  • Object Library with 3D, 2D, wire and SMD objects
  • Perfect Geometry Approximation (PGA)
  • Internal wave guide ports with higher order modes
  • Fast plane wave excitations
  • Superposition of near and far fields
  • Calibrated ports with accurate reference plane shift for all port types
  • Port library supporting circular waveguides
  • Object snap on edges, corners and midpoints

EMPIRE XCcel 5.10

New features

  • New FLEXlm version 11 (USB dongle licensing)
  • LRC lumped components
  • Windows XP/Vista 64bit support
  • Far field rotation with arbitrary angles
  • STL data heal and simplify function
  • Automatic far field box generation
  • Enhanced templates for pulse shapes