New Saturable-Core Models:
Though the extra complexity of saturable-core models is unnecessary for many designs, others (i.e., peak current-limiting pulse width modulators) require such complexity, usually accompanied by design safeguards to limit stress through the magnetic device. The need for modeling saturable-cores in Magnetics Designer stems from a general lack of knowledge with designers in furnishing accurate modeling parameters for complex magnetic devices. Magnetics Designer enables easy prescription of core area, path length, turns and special parameters if needed, to create a variety of complex inductive devices, now with greater depth in accommodating non-linear effects.

A host of detailed generic models contained in a new magnetic core library enables the user to easily modify any number of parameters to produce a new device from the generic model. The new library encompasses a number of saturable soft-ferrite and powdered cores. Also, extra core materials have been added to the software. These include Epcos N49, N87, N92 and N97, plus Ferroxcube 3C30, 3C34, 3C81, 3C90, 3C91, 3C92, 3C93, 3C94, 3C96, 3F3, 3F35, 3F4, 3F45, 3F5 and 4F1.

Intusoft’s president, Larry Meares, stated that the additions to Magnetics Designer were instrumental in satisfying customer requests received through the company’s customer-marketing channel. Meares felt it vital to address this aspect of magnetic design by enhancing the time-tested synthesis tool by Q4 of 2005, a goal that was achieved.

More on Intusoft’s saturable cores and magnetics design can be found in the company’s industry newsletter (#77) at: www.intusoft.com/newsletters.htm . Important topics include tips for simulating magnetic design, and handling cores that have distributed gaps. Examples include MPP and Kool Mu powdered cores, which are accompanied by a special reluctance model used in Magnetics Designer. Other information in the quarterly newsletter includes use of the atan model for certain ferrite cores, and the sigmoid model for solid cores.

Leader in the Design of Inductive SPICE Models:
For years, Intusoft’s Magnetics Designer customer base has used the product for all types of layer wound (and sector/split bobbin) transformers and inductors. The software is dialog and wizard-driven, and accommodates easy entry for a wealth of electrical specifications, ultimately producing a winding sheet report and SPICE-compatible model with parasitics. Notable effects calculated with Magnetics Designer include AC resistance loses, temperature rise in the winding resistance, and core saturation in the inductive gap.

A database with thousands of cores, wide variety of materials and wire are included in Magnetics Designer. A user can add their own cores, wire, and material information using a supplied Excel© spreadsheet. Core vendors such as TDK, Magnetics, Philips, Thomson, Micrometals, Siemens, Kaschke, Ferrite International, VAC and Fair-Rite are represented. Formvar, square or double square magnet wire, Litz wire, PCB traces, and foil can also be selected, as well as specialized wire types like those used in planar magnetic design. The program predicts magnetizing and leakage inductance, inter-winding capacitance, peak flux density, DC winding resistance, high frequency AC resistance (including proximity effects and skin effect), copper loss (both AC and DC), core loss, weight, temperature rise, layer fill and window fill percentage. No other SPICE vendor has produced a magnetic synthesis product near this caliber, according to Intusoft’s marketing director, Tim Ghazaleh.

Platform support for Magnetics Designer, and all ICAP/4 design simulation products, includes Windows 98SE/ME/NT4/2000/XP.

Company:
Established in 1985, Intusoft designs, develops and markets award-winning EDA software to electronics industries worldwide. Its headquarters are in Gardena, California, including a worldwide network of resellers. Intusoft’s products target a breadth of applications across all industrial, technological, military and consumer industries, by providing leading tools for analog and mixed-signal design of boards and ICs, plus automated test synthesis. The ICAP/4 tool suite is scalable, starting at $249 US, with all levels incorporating Intusoft’s IsSpice4, 4th-generation SPICE technology.

Information on Intusoft and its products is provided at www.intusoft.com.