RF circuit or rfbudget vs. rfckt Objects

This topic helps you to determine when to use RF circuit, rfbudget, and rfckt objects in your RF analysis workflow.

RF Toolbox™ provides two approaches to construct and analyze RF networks:

1. Networks built using elements based on the RF circuit and rfbudget objects.

2. Networks built with rfckt objects.

To understand when to use RF circuit, rfbudget, and rfckt objects, see this table.

Features	RF circuit or rfbudget	rfckt Objects
Construct networks with N-ports	Yes (RF circuit)	No
Import N-port S-parameters	Yes (RF circuit)	No
Matching network design	Yes (RF circuit)	Yes
Filter design	Yes	Yes
S-parameter analysis	Yes (N-port in RF circuit, two-port in rfbudget)	Yes (Two-port networks only)
Noise analysis	Yes (rfbudget)	Yes
Group delay analysis	Yes (RF circuit)	Yes
Nonlinearity analysis	Yes (rfbudget — Friis and Harmonic Balance methods)	Yes (Friis method)
AM-PM definitions of nonlinear amplifier	Yes (since R2023b)	Yes
Compatibility	Compatible with RF Blockset™ Circuit Envelope library blocks (You can import and export rfbudget objects to Circuit Envelope library).	Compatible with RF Blockset Equivalent Baseband library blocks.

You can use this table as a reference when designing and analyzing your RF systems. For more on how to design an RF system using these objects, see:

• RF System Design Using circuit or rfbudget Objects

• RF System Design Using rfckt Objects

The RF chain shown in both examples is identical and provides the same result on analysis.