A free, open-source simulator and calculator for pi-network RF impedance transformers.
An off-line Pi network calculator which works as a free-running loop. Thus no tedius Calculate button needing to be re-clicked again and again. Change any value to get an instant result. Or hunt automatically to find a match.
Program began life as a simple simulator, with bells and whistles added later. Thus simulation is the main tab.
Set the source impedance here. Value will carry across all tabs.
Adjust component values for C1, L, and C2 at random to see what results. Thereby get a feel for how Pi networks function. Readouts show the load which any combination of settings transform to. Shown also are the losses avoided by such a match.
For solving against a specific load, go to the Design tab instead.
This simulator mimics real-world components. Specify the ranges of C1, L, and C2 here.
Find here also a setting named Divisions for changing the speed and accuracy of the Hunt button on the Design tab. Set higher for slower, more accurate hunting.
For any value of Virtual R (by definition, less than both source and load) a match will exist at some Q or other. Said match might fall outside one or more component ranges (either user-set or default), in which case an out-of-range message will display.
Adjust the control for Virtual R either by typing or clicking next to a digit, then using the up/down arrow keys. Observe how values then change for C1, L, C2, and Q.
As with other cacluators, some combinations of C1, L, and C2 produce nonsensical results. These instances will show as NaN (Not a Number). Explanatory message appears in the window. A trifling change of any value will restore a sane result.
Find that match which gives a hoped-for Q like so:
Hunt button.
Enter.
Hunt if wanting to abandon the search. Virtual R will ramp down in steps according to the Divisions setting from the Limits tab. NaN will be skipped over without any issue. Divisions entered into the Limits tab, then simply fine tune results manually with the up/down arrow keys on least digit of Virtual R.See a frequency sweep of the pi network's current settings. Click on a button to store them for comparison and/or exporting.
See the collection of stored values here. Export them to a file if you wish.
All that I myself did was to code existing formulae into LabVIEW. Here see the list of my sources. Also my standard EULA, given as a humorous poem.
You’ll need two things for it to run: my *.exe application itself, plus also the interpreter program on which it runs. Kind of like Java that way, except that the Java interpreter is probably pre-installed on your system. The LabVIEW run-time engine will not be.
ky8d.net/free where I give download instructions. ZIP archive software (like 7-Zip ) for extracting the *.exe file. Otherwise, Windows will issue dire warnings of an unrecognized app. Once extracted from out of its archive, however, Windows will know to pass it off to the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine instead.