HFSS15: Sequential Mixed Integer NonLinear Programming

The Sequential Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (SMINLP) optimizer is equivalent to the SNLP optimizer with only one difference. Many problems require variables take only discrete values. One example might be to optimize on the number of turns in a coil. To be able to optimize on number of turns or quarter turns, the optimizer must handle discrete optimization variables. The SMINLP optimizer can mix continuous variables among the integers, or can have only integers, and works if all variables are continuous. The setup resembles the setup for SNLP, except that you must flag the integer variables.supporting integer variables. You can set up internal variables based on the integer optimization variable.

For example, consider N to be an integer optimization variable. By definition it can only assume integer values. You can establish another variable, which further depends on this one: K = 2.345 * N, or K = sin(30 * N). This way K has a discrete value, but is not necessarily integer. Or, one can use N directly as a design parameter.