EC302- COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN

INTRODUCTION TO CIRCUIT SIMULATION

What is

CIRCUIT SIMULATION?

process of IMITATING the behaviour of electronic components in a circuit.

This is done using a specific electronic circuit simulation package.

Why?

TO DETECT the PROBLEM of the circuit before building them. TO ENHANCES THE DESIGNS of the circuits.

Why?

TO VERIFY the OPERATION of the designed circuit. can be in voltage distribution, current flow, waveforms, frequency response curve, switching speed in digital circuits.
TO REDUCES the COST and TIME spent in project design.

Output

How?

using any electronic circuit simulation package or software such as;

i.
ii. iii. iv. v.

Pspice Protel Orcad Cadance Mentor Graphics

DESIGN AND SIMULATION PROCESS

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDELINES

DESIGN & SIMULATION PROCESS Flowchart

TYPES OF SIMULATION CIRCUITS, METHODS & ANALYSIS

Types Of Simulation Circuits

There are FOUR types of circuit:

1.

Analog Circuit

Circuit that consists of passive and/or active analog components. Circuit that consists of digital components such as logic gates and digital devices.

2.

Digital Circuit

Types Of Simulation Circuits

3.

Mixed-Signal Circuit

Circuit that combines analog and digital components.

4.

Integrated Circuit

The internal circuit of an IC, transistors and gets.

Simulation Methods

There are THREE methods of simulation:

1.

Circuit Level An analog circuit is simulated and results i.e. voltage drop, current flow, noise, impedance in the circuit are obtained. Logic Level A digital circuit is simulated and the logic level of the inputs and outputs are obtained. System Level to determine the characteristics of a system such as the design of a telecommunication network, losses due to the cabling and the quality of transmitted and recepted signals between two distant locations.

2.

3.

Simulation Methods
3.

System Level to determine the characteristics of a system i.e. the design of a telecommunication network. Characteristics such as losses due to the cabling and the quality of transmitted and recepted signals between two distant locations can be determined.

Simulation Analysis

There are FOUR types of analysis used in simulation process.

1.

DC Analysis DC

-- Analysis circuit that use as source.

2.

Transient Analysis -- Analysis how o/p varied with time.

Simulation Analysis
3.

AC Analysis circuit.

-- Analysis performance in small-signal AC source

4.

Fourier Analysis

-- Analysis frequency component of any voltage or current.

CONCLUSION

Simulation helps us to test our circuits before building it. However theory and calculations, will always guide us to predict the output of a circuits.