Introduction to NI MultiSIM

Lucio Pancheri
pancheri@disi.unitn.it

Electronics for Telecommunications 2012-13

Content
Basics of MultiSIM Schematic drawing Circuit analysis: DC sweep, AC sweep, Parametric, Transient Interactive mode and virtual instruments Exercises

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Basics of MultiSIM

Multisim
Multisim is the schematic capture and simulation application of National Instruments Circuit Design Suite, a suite of EDA (Electronics Design Automation) tools that assists you in carrying out the major steps in the circuit design flow. It is designed for schematic entry, simulation, and feeding to downstage steps, such as PCB layout.

http://www.ni.com/multisim/

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Basics of MultiSIM

Interface

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Basics of MultiSIM

Components Toolbar
Components are divided in categories, from where is possible to choose the component needed in the circuit and add it to the schematic.

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Components Toolbar
In the component database each component is identified by different types of information:
General information: component name, manufacturer, function, date the component was created and the author of the component. Symbol: pictorial representation of the component for schematic capture. Model: information used to represent the actual operation/behavior of the component during simulation Footprint: the package information that Multisim uses when exporting a schematic diagram containing this component to a PCB layout package

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Basics of MultiSIM

Simulations
Simulation is a mathematical way of emulating the behavior of a circuit. With simulation, you can determine much of a circuit's performance prior to physically constructing the circuit or using physical test instruments.

Multisim has two simulation modes: Analysis Simulation Mode Traditional step sequence: 1. Simulation setup 2. Simulation running 3. Result analysis using Multisim Grapher and Postprocessor

Interactive Simulation Mode Simulation is continuously running. Inputs and outputs are controlled interactively through virtual instruments

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Basics of MultiSIM

Analysis simulation mode

Analog to other simulation tools (SPICE based)

Analysis types: DC bias point DC sweep AC sweep Transient Fourier and many more

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Basics of MultiSIM

Analysis simulation mode (2)

Grapher view: display and measure simulation results Postprocessor: Perform calculations on simulation results

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Basics of MultiSIM

Interactive simulation mode

Continuously running simulation Interactive components can be used to change the circuit inputs during run-time Output is displayed by virtual instruments

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Basics of MultiSIM

Virtual instruments
Virtual instruments have two views: The instrument icon which appears when you select the instrument from the toolbar and place it on the workspace and attach to your circuit. The opened instrument, where you set the instruments controls and display options.

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Basics of MultiSIM

Instruments Toolbar
Multimeter Function Generator Wattmeter Oscilloscope Four Channel Oscilloscope Bode Plotter Frequency Counter Word Generator Logic Analyzer Logic Converter IV Analyzer Distortion Analyzer Spectrum Analyzer Network Analyzer Agilent Function Generator Agilent Simulated Multimeter Agilent Simulated Oscilloscope Tektronix Simulated Oscilloscope Measurement Probe LabVIEW Instruments

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Basics of MultiSIM

How to build a schematic

Open MultiSIM, then File New Design To place components on the schematic, click on Place Components.

On the Select Component Window click on Group to select the type of components needed for the circuit. Then select the component you want to use and the corresponding value. Once the choice is done, click OK to place the component on the schematic
Groups:
SOURCE: AC,DC current/voltage generators, ground, etc. BASIC: Resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc. Electronics for Telecommunications
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How to build a schematic

Components can be chosen and placed also by clicking on View Toolbar. A Toolbar with all the available group will appear at the top of the schematic window. Once the components is inserted, it can be moved (right-click and drag), rotated (CTRL+R) and flipped (ALT+X, ALT+Y). To connect the components click on PlaceWire, drag and place the wire. Components can also be connected by clicking the mouse over the terminal edge of one component and dragging to the edge of another component.
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Basics of MultiSIM

How to build a schematic

To change the properties of a component (e.g. the resistance and the tolerance of a resistor), double-click on the component For example, we can insert a 35.7 resistor, copy and paste the same resistor to build the circuit, and then change the value to 1 k. All circuits must be grounded before the circuit can be simulated. Click on Ground in the Toolbar to ground the circuit, or select Ground under the Source group

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Exercise 1

Exercise 1: inverting amplifier

Design the following circuit:
Group: Libraries: components

Analog: OPAMP: LMH6702MA Sources: Power sources VCC, VEE, GROUND, DC_POWER Basic: resistor: 50, 500, 1k Basic: capacitor: 100p

Ports (in, out) are placed through menu Place -> connectors -> onpage connector

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Exercise 1

DC operating point simulation

It consists in the calculation of the DC voltages in all nodes and the DC currents in all the branches. It is usually performed before other types of analysis (i.e. AC and transient) Operation sequence: Set up the simulation using Simulate Analysis DC Operating Point From the list of variables, select: I(VCC) and I(VEE): bias currents of the OPAMP V(out): output voltage P(R3): power dissipated by R3 Press Simulate button Check the output in the Grapher view
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Exercise 1

DC sweep simulation
It consists in the calculation of DC operating point as a function of a circuit variable, typically a voltage or a current. Operation sequence: Set up the simulation using Simulate Analysis DC Sweep Analysis In Analysis parameters tab, set Source V1 Start value: 0V Stop value: 0.5V Increment: 0.01V In Output tab, from the list of variables, select V(out) Press Simulate button Check the output in the Grapher view
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Exercise 1

DC sweep simulation (2)

The output trace can be viewed in the Grapher view Two cursors can be used to perform measurements on the curve

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Exercise 1

AC sweep simulation
Small signal circuit analysis. AC voltages and currents are calculated as a function of frequency. An AC source must be present. Replace DC voltage source V1 with an AC voltage source (Group: Sources, Family: signal voltage source, Component: AC_VOLTAGE) If necessary, change the label to V1 and AC analysis magnitude to 1V

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Exercise 1

AC sweep simulation (2)

Operation sequence: Set up the simulation using Simulate Analysis AC Analysis In Frequency parameters tab, set

In Output tab, from the list of variables, select V(out) Press Simulate button Check the output in the Grapher view

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Exercise 1

AC sweep simulation (3)

Magnitude and phase of V(out) are displayed in the Grapher view

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Exercise 1

Results post-processing
Postprocessor: performs different operations on simulation results. Example: View the results of the AC analysis in dB using the postprocessor Operation sequence: Start the postprocessor selecting Simulate Postprocessor In Expression tab, define the expression db(V(out)) In Graph tab add db(V(out)) to Expressions selected

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Exercise 1

Results post-processing (2)

Press Calculate button Use the cursors to calculate the -3 dB bandwidth of the amplifier

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Exercise 1

Parametric simulations
In parametric simulations, a simple simulation (e.g. AC sweep) is done several times with different values of a simulation parameter Example: perform AC sweep analysis for several values of resistance R1

Operation sequence:
Simulate Analysis Parameter sweep Define Analysis parameters tab as in the figure Press Edit analysis and set start frequency at 1MHz and stop frequency at 1GHz
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Exercise 1

Parametric simulations (2)

In Output tab, select V(out) Press Simulate

View the results and use the cursors to measure the amplifier gain for the different values of R1.

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Exercise 1

Transient analysis
Time-domain large-signal analysis. Node voltages and device currents are calculated as a function of time. A voltage or current source suitable for transient simulations must be present. Replace AC voltage source V1 with a pulsed voltage source (Group: Sources, Family: signal voltage source, Component: PULSE_VOLTAGE) If necessary, change the label to V1 Configure the source parameters:

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Exercise 1

Transient analysis (2)

Operation sequence:

Set up the simulation using Simulate Analysis Transient Analysis In Analysis parameters tab, set Start time = 0 End time = 200e-9 In Output tab, from the list of variables, select V(out) Press Simulate button Check the output in the Grapher view

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Exercise 1

Transient analysis (3)

View the results and use the cursors to measure the pulse rise and fall time (10% to 90% of DC values). If necessary, it is possible to zoom to expand the graph scale horizontally or vertically

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Exercise 2

Exercise 2: Interactive simulation mode

In the previous circuit, remove the input voltage generator. Place the following virtual instruments as shown in the figure: Measurement probe Function generator Oscilloscope

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Exercise 2

Interactive simulation mode (2)

Open the function generator panel by double clicking on its icon Set up the function generator parameters as shown in the figure Run the simulation using the toolbar button

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Exercise 2

Interactive simulation mode (3)

Open the oscilloscope panel by double clicking on its icon Set up the oscilloscope parameters as shown in the figure: Timebase: 10ns/div, Channel A: 500mV/div, Trigger: Normal

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Exercise 2

Interactive simulation mode (4)

With both the Function generator panel, oscilloscope and probe visible, vary the input waveform parameter (shape, frequency and amplitude) Check how the output waveform changes on the oscilloscope Check output peak-to-peak rms voltage on the probe display

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Exercise 3

Exercise 3: non-inverting amplifier

Draw the following circuit:

Non-inverting amplifier 2012-13

High-pass filter

Unity-gain voltage buffer

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Exercise 3

Tasks
Perform the following simulations: 1. DC operating point set V1 DC voltage = 100mV View power supply VCC and VEE current, out1 and out2 voltage 2. DC sweep Sweep the DC voltage V1 from 0 to 0.5V, with a step of 0.01V Plot out1 and out2 voltage as a function of V1 3. AC analysis Replace The DC input source with an AC source Sweep the frequency from 1MHz to 1GHz Plot out1 and out2 voltage as a function of frequency Plot the Bode plot using the postprocessor and find the low and high cut-off frequencies
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Exercise 3

Tasks (2)
4. Transient analysis Replace The DC input source with a pulsed voltage source with Initial value = 0, Pulse value = 100mV, Delay time = 10ns, Rise time = 1ns, Fall time = 1ns, Pulse width = 10ns, Period = 20ns Perform a transient simulation fro 0 to 200ns Plot V(out1) and V(out2) as a function of time Using the cursors in the Grapher view, measure the rise and fall time of the output pulses 5. Interactive simulation mode Remove the pulsed source Insert the following virtual instruments in the schematic: Function generator (on in) Measurement probe (on out2) Oscilloscope (Ch A on out1, Ch B on out2) Start interactive simulation and measure rise and fall pulse times using the oscilloscope cursors
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