Generate a “Cheat Sheet” to simplify use of PSPICE Objective: Increase student s

Question

Generate a “Cheat Sheet” to simplify use of PSPICE

Objective: Increase student skills in using Software support

Software modelling tools greatly increase the Engineers efficiency, effectiveness and accuracy.   Computer models can provide a wealth of information on which to base decisions. However, most modeling programs require a commitment to fully learn. The purpose of this exercise is to generate a list of the most helpful hints that allow you to use SPICE quickly and easily.   

For this assignment, you will generate a list of your discoveries about using SPICE. You can include bugs that you have run into and solved, changes to the inputs or the displays that allow you to get answers faster, shortcuts, ways to save your data, or embed it into final reports, or any other ideas that made it easier to complete lab 1.  

For this exercise, discuss or upload in the forum:

Any shortcuts

Ways to make the display easier to read

Ways to get the data

Questions about how to get some data

Questions about error messages

Comparison of different simulation analyses and how similar was the data

Problems or solutions using a different version of SPICE.

An online teaching material that was especially helpful

Explanation / Answer

SPICE: In lab, the discrete electronic components are connected together to achieve a particular electronic application. This connectivity can be analyzed and thus the results of that application can be replicated by running a simulation. For any simulator, it needs the information about how the circuit components are connected. This information can be given to the simulator through SPICE.

1. Any shortcuts?

a. When you are working with PSPICE, to instantiate the circuit components, every time you have to go to the tool bar and you have to search for the components. The shortcut key to directly go to the library of components is "p".

b. Once you instantiate a component to the schematic window, you can rotate the component by using the key, "r". You can flip the component horizontally by using the key, "h" and similarly vertically by using the key, "v".

c. You can label a net by using a short-cut key, “n”.

2. Ways to make the display easier to read

The connected PSPICE schematic can be made easier to read by following the below guidelines,

a. Label the critical nets. For example, if you are taking output at a particular node, name that node as "Vout". By naming the different nets as "Vin", "Vout", "Vfeedback" etc, schematic becomes more readable. Also, while plotting the results, the wave forms become more readable after naming the nets.

b. Change the component names of the voltage or current sources according to the scenario. For example, if the small signal analysis is carried out, then name the source as "V-ac".

c. Use a voltage source of Zero volts with the net name connected as "gnd". Use this "gnd" label connectivity whenever you want to connect a component to a ground potential. This makes the schematic more understandable one.

3. Ways to get the data

PSPICE stores the result in the .dat format. This is a non-readable binary format. But, you can obtain the text format by using the probe setup options under analysis in the PSPICE tool. Look for Data collection option.

4. Questions about how to get some data

Below are the questions about getting some data with PSPICE.

a. How to get the netlist of the schematic connected in GUI?

b. Model files are the include files needed to simulate the components like mosfets, capacitors and others. Model files contain the behavioral information of components like Mosfets, Resistors, capacitors and other components. How to obtain the model files to simulate circuit components instantiated?

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