66
5 Designing Meanders
Therefore, the method allows for an optional correction factor. The correction
factor enables the designer to account for the deviation of the fabrication process
that is at hand. More precisely, the designer is given the possibility to specify the
correction factor in the form of a constant or as a first-order function. Then, a
meander which should implement the desired resistance has to be fabricated with
the corrected resistance value in order to compensate the deviation. The corrected
resistance is calculated as follows when a first-order function is used:
CorrectedResistance = C 0 + C 1 · DesiredResistance.
(5.1)
Equation 5.1 represents a lump model of the influences originating from the
fabrication process. A correction factor for the fabrication process used in this work
is exemplarily described in Sect. 5.4.1.
5.2 Meander Designer
The method for automatically designing meanders is distributed as an online
tool called Meander Designer, which makes this method broadly accessible for
designers and allows them to generate meanders without requiring any local
installations. Users can access the Meander Designer through the link http://iic.jku.
at/eda/research/meander_designer/. In the following, the input and output masks are
described. Moreover, a brief overview of the internals is provided.
Figure 5.1 shows the input mask, which allows the designer to input the desired
meander specifications, the fabrication parameters, the inlet and outlet positions,
as well as the correction factor. By pressing the green button “Design,” the design
process is started. Therefore, the provided input parameters and Eq. 3.2 are used in
order to generate a meander with the specified resistance and constraints. Internally,
an A* search algorithm [59] is used and the meander is described as a closed
contour. This closed contour is specified as an SVG-path, i.e. a list of coordinates
which are connected by lines and curves.
Figure 5.2 shows the corresponding output mask. More precisely, Fig. 5.2a shows
an output log containing a documentation of the generated meander and additionally
contains two download buttons allowing to obtain the generated design as an SVG
file as well as a log file (which enables reproduction of the results). Additionally, the
output provides a preview of the generated meander directly in the browser, which
is shown in Fig. 5.2b. This preview allows a first assessment of the generated design.
Overall, the Meander Designer allows to automate the tedious task of manually
designing a meander. After generating a meander design, the obtained SVG file can
be imported into the design tool where it can easily be integrated and connected
to the rest of the design. By this, the generated designs are suited to seamlessly fit
into any design process regardless of which technological or fabrication process is
utilized.
5 Designing Meanders
Therefore, the method allows for an optional correction factor. The correction
factor enables the designer to account for the deviation of the fabrication process
that is at hand. More precisely, the designer is given the possibility to specify the
correction factor in the form of a constant or as a first-order function. Then, a
meander which should implement the desired resistance has to be fabricated with
the corrected resistance value in order to compensate the deviation. The corrected
resistance is calculated as follows when a first-order function is used:
CorrectedResistance = C 0 + C 1 · DesiredResistance.
(5.1)
Equation 5.1 represents a lump model of the influences originating from the
fabrication process. A correction factor for the fabrication process used in this work
is exemplarily described in Sect. 5.4.1.
5.2 Meander Designer
The method for automatically designing meanders is distributed as an online
tool called Meander Designer, which makes this method broadly accessible for
designers and allows them to generate meanders without requiring any local
installations. Users can access the Meander Designer through the link http://iic.jku.
at/eda/research/meander_designer/. In the following, the input and output masks are
described. Moreover, a brief overview of the internals is provided.
Figure 5.1 shows the input mask, which allows the designer to input the desired
meander specifications, the fabrication parameters, the inlet and outlet positions,
as well as the correction factor. By pressing the green button “Design,” the design
process is started. Therefore, the provided input parameters and Eq. 3.2 are used in
order to generate a meander with the specified resistance and constraints. Internally,
an A* search algorithm [59] is used and the meander is described as a closed
contour. This closed contour is specified as an SVG-path, i.e. a list of coordinates
which are connected by lines and curves.
Figure 5.2 shows the corresponding output mask. More precisely, Fig. 5.2a shows
an output log containing a documentation of the generated meander and additionally
contains two download buttons allowing to obtain the generated design as an SVG
file as well as a log file (which enables reproduction of the results). Additionally, the
output provides a preview of the generated meander directly in the browser, which
is shown in Fig. 5.2b. This preview allows a first assessment of the generated design.
Overall, the Meander Designer allows to automate the tedious task of manually
designing a meander. After generating a meander design, the obtained SVG file can
be imported into the design tool where it can easily be integrated and connected
to the rest of the design. By this, the generated designs are suited to seamlessly fit
into any design process regardless of which technological or fabrication process is
utilized.