Capacitor Simulation with COMSOL®

in 18 Minutes

Magnus Olsson
Technology Manager, Electromagnetics
COMSOL
 Agenda
• Introduction
• Overview of AC/DC Module
• Live Demonstration
• Next steps and further
resources

Analysis of a capacitive touch screen

COMSOL Multiphysics®
 Complete Simulation Environment
COMSOL Desktop®
Easy-to-use, the Desktop gives
insight and full control over the
modelling process

Model Builder
The model tree describes a
sequence of operations where
each node defines and provides
access to model settings:
• CAD/Geometry
• Materials
• Physics
• Mesh
• Solvers
• Results Graphics Window
Ultrafast graphic presentation, stunning visualization
The COMSOL® Product Suite
AC/DC Module Applications
 Live Demo – Trimmer Capacitor
• A trimmer capacitor has an adjustable capacitance.
• A widely used approach is to adjust the electrode
overlap by turning the “rotor” electrode.
• The simulation will tell us the angular response of the
capacitance.
• Extensions:
– Connecting the capacitor to a circuit and simulating the
discharging through a resistor. The capacitance of the trimmer capacitor is tuned by adjusting
the electrode overlap when turning the red “rotor” electrode
 Trimmer capacitor
A trimmer capacitor works by adjusting The angular response is close to linear.
the electrode overlap.
COMSOL Multiphysics®
Extend your EM models to include
Other physical effects

Fluid flow

Temperature rise

Structural deformations

Multiphysics
 Multiphysics examples
• Heating circuit: heat transfer, and mechanical stresses and deformations of a heating circuit device
• Heating of a Dielectric Block in a Waveguide
• Stress-Optical Effects on a Ridge Waveguide

http://www.comsol.com/showroom/gallery/465/
https://www.comsol.com/model/rf-heating-6078
http://www.comsol.com/showroom/gallery/190/
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