Selecting a Function for a Plot

The value of a quantity being plotted depends upon its mathematical function, which you select from the Trace tab Function list in the Report dialog box. The available, valid functions depend on the type of quantity (real or complex) that is being plotted. The function is applied to the quantity which is implicitly defined by all the swept and current variables. For example, "S(11)" is the value of the S-parameter for every swept combination of variables (e.g., "height", "frequency"). (A smaller set of functions appears for the Function list in the Output Variables dialog.)

These functions can also be applied to previously specified Quantities and Functions as Range Functions when using the Set Range Function dialog box.

Some of these functions can operate along an entire curve. These are: min, max, integ, avg, rms, pk2pk, cang_deg and cang_rad.

You can select from the following functions in the Trace tab Function list or type them directly into the Yor X field, if necessary.

abs	Absolute value of the simulation quantity which results in a number that is always positive.
acos	Arc cosine (the inverse function of a cosine).
acosh	Inverse hyperbolic arc cosine.
ang	Magnitude of an angle.
ang_deg	Angle (phase) of a complex number, cut at +/-180. Returns angular values in degree units, and not suitable for use in Optimetrics, which works in SI values and evaluates ang_deg expressions in radians. See ang_deg_val.
ang_deg_val	Angle (phase) of a complex number in unitless degree values, and suitable for use in Optimetrics, which works in SI values. Returns simple numbers.
ang_rad	Angle in radians.
arg	Argument of a complex number. It is the angle the complex number makes with the positive x axis. Same as ang_deg.
asin	Arc sine (the inverse function of sine).
asinh	Inverse hyperbolic sine.
atan	Arc tangent (the inverse function of a tan).
atanh	Inverse hyperbolic tan.
atan2	Two argument function. For non-0 x,y, the function returns the angle between the + x-axis and the given x,y coordinates.
avg	Returns the average of the values of the selected quantity. avg = (Area between the curve and the X-axis) / ( X length of the curve)
avgabs	Returns the mean of the absolute value of the selected quantity.
bandwidth	Returns the 3dB bandwidth of the selected simulation quantity. For bandwidth, the calculation is based on 3dB below the maximum peak.
cang_deg	Cumulative angle (phase) of the first parameter (a complex number) in degrees, along the second parameter (typically sweep variable). Returns a double precision value cut at +/-180. Returns angular values in degree units, and not suitable for use in Optimetrics, which works in SI values and evaluates cang_deg expressions in radians. See cang_deg_val.
cang_deg_val	Cumulative angle (phase) of the first parameter of the selected simulation quantity in unitless degree values and suitable for use in Optimetrics, which works in SI values. . Returns simple numbers.
cang_rad	Cumulative angle of the first parameter in radians along a second parameter (typically a sweep variable). Returns a double precision value.
cmplx(re, im)	A complex number, where re is the real part and im is the imaginary part.
conjg	Conjugate of the complex number.
cos	Cosine.
cosh	Hyperbolic cosine.
crestfactor	Returns the crest factor (peak/RMS) for the selected quantity.
cum_integ	The cumulative integral function returns a set of values that have the same length as the original set of points (the first element will always be zero). Element I of the set returned by cum_integ is the integral of elements 1 through I of the original data set.
cum_sum	The cumulative sum function returns a data set that has the same length as the original set of points. Element I of the set returned by cum_sum is the sum of elements 1 through I of the original data set.
dB(x)	20*log10(\|x\|) to base 10.
dBc	Decibels relative to the carrier. It is the power ratio of the signal to a carrier signal. Gives the relative signal strength.
dBm(x)	10*log10(\|x\|) +30.
dBm	(for electric field quanitities) is computed as: 20.0*log10(x) + 60.0
dBu	(for electric field quanitities) is computed as: 20.0*log10(x) + 120.0
dBW(x)	10*log10(\|x\|).
dB10	10*log(\|x\|) to base 10.
dB10normalize	10*log [normalize(mag(x))].
dB20	20*log(x) to base 10.
dB20normalize	20*log [normalize(mag(x))].
deadtime	Obtains the latest time when the qtyl is within a tolerance of zero.
delaytime	Obtains the time from zero to 50% of the target point.
degel	Conversion from degrees electrical to seconds with respect to Hz.
deriv	Derivative of a given parameter.
distortion	Returns the total distortion for the selected simulation quantity and an additional argument frequency, which is the frequency in Hz at which to calculate the fundamental RMS of the simulation quantity.
even	Returns 1 if integer part of the number is even; returns 0 otherwise.
exp	Exponential function (the natural anti-logarithm) of the simulation quantity.
fmod	nReturns the double precision remainder of x/y.
formfactor	Returns the form factor (RMS/Mean Absolute Value) for the selected quantity.
fundamentalmag	Returns the RMS value of the fundamental frequency for the selected quantity, and an additional argument, Frequency, which specifies the fundamental frequency.
gaincrossover	Returns the gain crossover frequency (where the gain is 0 dB) of the selected simulation quantity in Hz.
gainmargin	Returns the gain margin in dB at the phase crossover frequency of the selected simulation quantity. It also requires a reference simulation quantity to which the measured quantity is compared and the AC magnitude and phase angle of the reference quantity. These are entered as the arguments Reference Channel, Base Source Magnitude, and Base Source Angle.
iae	Returns the integral of the absolute deviation of the selected quantity from a target value that is entered via the additional argument.
if	if(cond_exp,true_exp, false_exp).
im	Imaginary part of the complex number.
int	Truncated integer function.
integ	Integral of the selected quantity. Uses trapezoidal area.
integabs	Absolute value of integral.
ise	Returns the integral of the squared deviation of the selected quantity from a target value that is entered via an additional argument.
itae	Returns the time-weighted squared deviation of the selected quantity from a target value that is entered via an additional argument.
itse	Returns the time-weighted squared deviation of the selected quantity from a target value that is entered via an additional argument. To use this function, you need to open the Add Trace Characteristics dialog and select the Error category.
j0	Bessel function of the first kind (0^th order).
j1	Bessel function of the first kind (1^st order).
jn	Bessel function of the first kind (nth order).
ln	Natural logarithm.
log	Natural logarithm (same as ln).
log10	Logarithm base 10.
lowercutoff	Returns the lower 3dB frequency of the selected simulation channel in Hertz.
lsidelobeX	The 'x' value for the left side lobe: the next highest value to the left of the max value.
lsidelobeY	The 'y' value for the left side lobe: the next highest value to the left of the max value.
mag	Magnitude of the complex number.
max	Returns maximum value of the simulation quantity.
max_swp	Returns maximum value of a sweep.
max2	Maximum value of the two simulation quantities. For example, max2(a,b) will plot maximum of a and b for a particular instance.
mean	Returns the average in the set of quantities selected. mean = sum( all y-value) / (number of y-values)
min	Returns the minimum value of the simulation quantity.
min_swp	Returns the minimum value of a sweep.
min2	Minimum value of the two simulation quantities. For example, min2(a,b) will plot minimum of a and b for a particular instance.
mod	Returns the double precision modulus (x - floor(x/y)*y). Not supported in solvers.
nint	Nearest integer.
none	Returns null value.
normalize	Divides each value within a trace by the maximum value of the trace. ex. normalize(mag(x)).
odd	Returns 1 if integer part of the number is odd; returns 0 otherwise.
overshoot	Calculates peak overshoot given a threshold value and number of evenly spaced points over entire time range.
peakgain	Returns the peak value of gain of the selected simulation quantity in dB.
peakgainfreq	Returns the frequency in Hz at which the peak gain of the selected simulation quantity occurs.
polar	Coverts the complex number in rectangular co-ordinates to polar co-ordinates.
per	Returns the period of a simulation quantity.
phasecrossover	Returns the phase crossover frequency, at which the phase is -180 degrees, in Hz for the selected simulation quantity.
phasemargin	Returns the phase angle in degrees at the gain crossover frequency of the selected simulation quantity.
pk2pk	Peak to peak. Difference between max and min of the first parameter over the second parameter. Returns the peak-to-peak value for the selected simulation quantity.
pkavg	Returns the ratio of the peak to peak-to-average for the selected quantity.
pmax	Maximum period of the selected simulation quantity.
pmin	Minimum period of the selected simulation quantity.
pow	Raises x to the power of y; pow(x,y).
prms	Period Root Mean Square.
pulsefall9010	Returns the pulse fall time of the selected quantity according to the 90%-10% estimate.
pulsefront1090	Returns the pulse front time of the selected quantity according to the 10%-90% estimate.
pulsefront3090	Returns the pulse front time of the selected quantity according to the 30%-90% estimate.
pulsemax	Returns the pulse maximum from the front and tail estimates for the selected quantity.
pulsemaxtime	Returns the time at which the maximum pulse value of the selected quantity is reached.
pulsemin	Returns the pulse minimum from the front and tail estimates for the selected quantity.
pulsemintime	Returns the time at which the minimum pulse value of the selected quantity is reached.
pulsetail50	Returns the pulse tail time of the selected quantity from the virtual peak to 50%.
pulsewidth5050	Returns the pulse width of the selected quantity as measured from the 50% points on the pulse front and pulse tail.
pwl	Piecewise Linear.
pwl_periodic	Piecewise Linear for periodic extrapolation on x.
pwlx	Piecewise Linear x with linear extrapolation on x.
pw_minus	Pulse width of the first negative pulse.
pw_minus_avg	Returns the average of the negative pulse width input stream.
pw_minus_max	Returns the maximum pulse width of the negative pulse of input stream.
pw_minus_min	Returns the minimum pulse width of the negative pulse of input stream.
pw_minus_rms	RMS of the negative pulse width input stream.
pw_plus	Pulse width of the first positive pulse.
pw_plus_avg	Average of the positive pulse width input stream.
pw_plus_max	Max. Pulse width of the positive pulse of input stream.
pw_plus_min	Min. Pulse width of the positive pulse of input stream.
pw_plus_rms	RMS of the positive pulse width input stream.
re	Real part of the complex number.
rect	Converts the complex number in polar to rectangular co-ordinates.
rem	Returns the fractional part of a decimal number such that rem(x) = x-int(x) Syntax: rem(x)
ripple	Returns the ripple factor (AC RMS/Mean) for the selected quantity.
risetime	Obtains the time taken to go from 10% to 90% of target point.
rms	Returnns the root mean square value of the selected quantity.
rmsAC	Returns the AC RMS for the selected quantity.
root	nth root function.
rSidelobeX	Returns the X value of right side-lobe occurrence.
rSidelobeY	Returns the Y value of right side-lobe occurrence.
settlingtime	Returns the latest time at which the value of the selected simulation quantity fell outside its tolerance band. The target value of the quantity and the +/- bandwidth of the tolerance band are the additional args.
sgn	Sign extraction.
sin	Sine.
sinh	Hyperbolic sine.
slidingmean	Returns the moving average value of the selected simulation quantity (specified by the first argument). The average is calculated over a period (specified by the second argument).
slidingrms	Returns the moving RMS value of the selected simulation quantity (specified by the first argument). The RMS value is calculated over a period (specified by the second argument).
sqr	Square of the selected simulation quantity.
sqrt	Square root of the selected simulation quantity.
stddev	Returns the standard deviation of given values.
sum	Returns the sum of the given values.
tan	Tangent.
tanh	Hyperbolic tangent.
undershoot	Calculates peak undershoot given a threshold value and number of evenly spaced points over entire time range.
uppercutoff	Returns the upper 3dB frequency of the selected simulation channel in Hz.
variance	Calculates the variance of the given values.
XAtYMax	Threshold crossing time: report first time (x value) at which an output quantity crosses YMax.
XAtYMin	Threshold crossing time: report first time (x value) at which an output quantity crosses a user definable threshold.
XAtYVal	Returns the X value at the first occurrence of Y value.
XWidthAtYVal	Returns the X width between the first 2 occurrence of Y value.
xdb10beamdwidth	Width between left and right occurrences of values 'x' db10 from max. Takes 'x' as argument (3.0 default). To use this function, you need to open the Add Trace Characteristics dialog and select the Radiation category.
xdb20beamwidth	Width between left and right occurrences of values 'x' db20 from max. Takes 'x' as argument (3.0 default). To use this function, you need to open the Add Trace Characteristics dialog and select the Radiation category.
YAtXMax	Returns the X value at maximum value of Y.
YAtXMin	Returns the Y value at minimum value of X.
YAtXVal	Returns the Y value at the first occurrence of X value.
y0	Bessel function of the second kind (0^th order).
y1	Bessel function of the second kind (1^st order).
yn	Bessel function of the second kind (nth order).

Related Topics:

Adding Characteristics to a Trace

Set Range Function