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Product
comparison Answer:
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Fit schematic Answer:
The "F6" key will fit the schematic to the schematic
window. Be aware that if there has been text placed outside the schematic
this could make the overall size of the schematic small in order to
accommodate the circuit and text. |
Window
size Answer:
Yes; in any of these applications under the "Options"
menu, select "save preferences" when you've decided on a
window size and position. This information is saved indefinitely until
you decide to "save preferences" another time. |
Subdrawings
of different configurations Answer:
When you create a subdrawing using the Make Subdrawing dialog,
the "Drawing configuration to use" is specified. If you
want to make two different subdrawings from two different configurations
of the same drawing, you will have to give them different names. Then,
you can place one of them on the main drawing, run a simulation, replace
it with the other one, and rerun the simulation. However, you cannot
directly change an existing subdrawing, to base it on a different
configuration of the drawing that was used to create it |
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Build
Op-amps Answer:
First, you can bring either a generic model, or specific model using
the Parts Browser (X key). Click on the "Edit Model" box.
From there, dialog comes to view that allows you to change any of
the internal parameters of the device and save the part as a modified
"clone" of the original. Of course, new active devices can
be imported from the web and an existing or new graphic symbol can
be attached to such parts. |
Finding
a part Answer:
Simply press the "Find" box in the parts browser. Then
type in the part number (or partial data) you're interested in, and
the parts browser will automatically find it if available. |
AC
Analysis on Behavioral Models Answer:
AC Analysis uses linearization. There is no way one can correctly
multiply or divide anything during AC simulation because of the derivatives
in SPICE. As far back as ICAPS Version 7.6 (i.e., using the divider
behavioral model) you would get something that would appear reasonable,
but only if the divider was placed at the end of the circuit, and
wasn't hooked to anything else. There would be no way the divider
model results could correctly propagate to anything else while the
simulator is running.
Instead of using a divider, then a test point at the end, you can
connect two test points, (i.e., called vtop and vbottom - call or
email Intusoft tech support for the "divider_problem.DWG file).
Now run an IsSpice4 simulation and bring up IntuScope. Go back to
the schematic, right mouse click on the Scope5 text block, and choose
send script. This should plot the correct results, since the post
processor is not being used. The math is consequently done on the
end result, NOT while the simulator is running. The script will work
for any circuit as long as you place two test points called vtop and
vbottom, modify the setylimits to reasonable values, and remove newplot
commands if you want both waveforms to appear together.
If all you desire is to get the ratio of two AC signals at the end
of the simulation, then just use the example script below. Of course
the result can't be used as an input to anything else since it is
only run after the simulation is completed.
Scope5
newplot phase_graph
phase = phaseextend(phase(VTOP)-phase(VBOTTOM))
plot phase
setylimits 0 50
newplot gain_graph
gain = mag(VTOP)/mag(VBOTTOM)
plot gain
setylimits 1 1.25 |
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Pause
simulation Answer:
There's quite a bit that can be done regarding this need. If the
simulation is run for the first time, simply depress the "Esc"
key on the keyboard to pause the simulation any time during the
first simulation run. This is not necessary during successive runs.
Press "Ctrl T" on the keyboard to rescale the progressive
thumbnail waveforms. Though you cannot initially resume the simulation
once the Esc key is pressed, you can: 1) restart the simulation
by pressing the "Start" box in the Simulation Control
dialog box. 2) Then you can select "Pause" and "Resume"
from inside the Simulation Control dialog box for any successive
runs. Of course once an initial simulation run is complete, successive
runs enable the "pause" and "resume" functions
automatically without having to press the Esc. Key.
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Record
electrical measurements Answer:
After a simulation is run, bring to view the "Simulation
Control" Dialog box (via icon, or "Actions" menu, then
select "ICAPS" or "Simulation Control"). Under
the "Measurements" tab, select whatever simulation you desire
beneath its assigned simulation configuration (e.g., Setup1, AC).
Next, select the "Add" box to the right. Press the "Next"
box for the next two dialog boxes that come to view. Finally, select
whatever measurements you desire across the design and press the "Finish"
box. Of course, many other things can be specified for recording measurements
from these dialogs, but this example will furnish the most basic capability.
Re-simulate the design by pressing "Simulate Selections"
back in the "Main" tab. Press the "Results" box
once the simulation is complete. On the far left of the dialog box
that comes to view, left-click the measurement type you originally
specified and corresponding data will come to view for all selected
design nodes and components. |
Component
stress Answer:
Yes. Follow the above procedure (Record electrical measurements.)
To modify a component's electrical limits, select the test group for
the type of analysis specified: e.g., TRAN…InitialValue. Select
the expansion "+" symbol and all the components and their
current or power measurement you selected will appear (ex: @Q3[p],
meaning power through transistor 3). Select the "Edit Tol"
box to the right and examine or change the limit values for desired
components. Following the above procedure (Record electrical measurements)
will produce an electrical violation report/readout for all components
you've selected, then select desired components for monitoring out
of spec limits. |
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Auto
waveform update from IsSpice4 to Scope Answer:
Once
a component expression (i.e., resistance value), or similarly a
component "stimulus" value box has been established, type
in the analysis parameters (i.e., Tran 10n 100n) below the "alter"
expression, and then type "sendscript update" below that.
If not an expression, then type the above two lines in the Simulation
Control window's script area toward the bottom. Then, when you vary
the expression amount (i.e., by pressing the arrow keys or assigning
a numeric value), the waveform will be automatically updated in
Scope. If a "stimulus" component value, then simply press
the "Do Script" box in the Simulation Control window.
| Example: |
Expression:
type below the alter statement Tran 10n 100n (or whatever the
simulation is) |
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Sendscript
update
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Component:
type the same two lines above in the Simulation Control window.
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Verification
Analyses Answer:
No, but there is a shortcut by simply selecting the "Edit
Part" box inside the Sweep dialog and it will automatically take
you to the Part Properties dialog to fill in the sweep variable names.
Also note that once there, toward the lower right side of the dialog
from the Tolerance/Sweep/Optimize tab, lies a "No Sweep"
check box. Check this if more than 2 parts are enabled for sweeping.
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Cursor
display Answer:
Cursors are not displayed in this case because they only operate
with respect to the default X-axis values. However, you can achieve
the requested objective by simulating a design, then, for example,
make a plot of Vout vs. Time. Then make a separate plot of two different
variables such as Icc vs. V(R1). On the fist plot of Vout vs. Time,
right click on the trace and select "Link Master Trace."
On the second plot, right click and select "Auto Label Cursor
0." The value of both Icc and V(R1) will numerically appear on
this graph, with respect to the corresponding time point from the
first graph. Now, anywhere you drag Cursor 0 on the Vout vs. Time
plot, the corresponding Icc and V(R1) values will automatically be
updated. |
Background
colors Answer:
All font colors can be changed by using the "Options"
menu, then "Fonts" to change any font color within IntuScope.
Axis and background colors can be changed by selecting the "Options"
menu, then "Grid Characteristics." |
Updating
Waveforms Answer:
There are three modes to automatically update previously viewed
waveforms. Select the "Actions" menu in IntuScope, then
"Update." You'll see three update modes from which you can
choose. "Update Current Document" overwrites the existing
waveforms displayed with new data. "Add Updated Traces"
add new previously viewed waveform data to the existing plot, thus
also preserving the old traces. "Add Updated Document" brings
over the new waveform data into an entirely new waveform graph, thus
preserving the previously viewed graph. Once you've selected a desired
update mode, then simply press the <Ctrl U> keys to automatically
invoke a new waveform update. Often, an engineer will make changes
to a schematic, re-simulate, then perform a <Ctrl U> to quickly
see how desired waveforms in the design have changed. |
Circular
mils to centimeters squared Answer:
Multiply circular mils by 5.067 x 10-6 |
Area
to linear measurement Answer:
Area
always varies in direct proportion to the square of the linear dimension.
Thus, if wire A is twice the diameter of wire B, then wire A has four
times the cross-sectional area (in circular mils) of B. If wire C
is 1/5 of the diameter of wire D, then C has 1/25 the cross-sectional
area, in circular mils, of D. |
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