Limitations of electromagnetic-based package analysis tools

In this paper we discuss the limitations of analysis tools used in characterizing electronic packages. The author has developed a variety of basic problems that stress codes either with regard to accuracy or to solution time, and these are used to demonstrate the strengths or weaknesses of the codes. The studies conducted in this paper provide valuable insight to the users, and help the user both to make optimal use of codes and to avoid pitfalls. Though the examples have been devised through the author's experiences using and developing moment-based codes, they are also suitable for testing other codes. We also discuss issues of practical interest to the package engineer, such as why the numerical grid should be the same when performing comparisons between related structures, and how some underlying assumptions in codes can give rise to non-physical results.