Semianalytical electromagnetic models of grounding via-holes and shorted resonators of different shapes are proposed and experimentally verified. Our models are based on the cavity approach previously used for circular-pad via-holes. For the first time, a model of a square-pad via-hole is developed. By a perturbation approach, an approximate model for slightly rectangular shorted patches is also derived. All our via-hole models are verified experimentally. The influence of the technologically caused eccentricity of the via-hole shape is also modeled and studied by measurements. Additional verification is done by full-wave simulations with Agilent Momentum (2002) and IE3D-10.1. Our models compute the modal resonant frequencies, fields, and equivalent-circuit components of the via-holes. They allow for the study of the frequency limitations of grounding via-holes for high-speed applications, as well as the modes of shorted resonators for printed antennas and filters. The developed models are fast and accurate.

An equivalent circuit model of a circular-pad grounding via is proposed based on cavity modal analysis. The modes of the via are derived analytically. Each mode is represented by an equivalent circuit taking into account ohmic losses, as well as losses due to spatial and surface wave radiation. It is shown that the degradation of grounding via characteristics at high frequencies is caused by the multimode effects and radiation. The accuracy of the proposed semi-analytical via model is comparable with that of full-wave analysis up to 75 GHz. It is fast and is easily incorporated in high-frequency circuit simulators.