
SpiceAge for Windows Features
Analyses ~ Interactive
SpiceAge includes the analyses of:
- Frequency (AC)
- Transient (large signal)
- Non-linear Quiescent DC
- Fourier
These may be further refined by the effects of
component variations
- Monte Carlo
- Min & Max (Worst Case)
The end results may be evaluated as a family of
curves by having
- Swept components
- Swept tolerances
- Swept temperatures
Frequency (AC)
- Calculate in addition to voltage, current or
power: Gain, Reflection coefficient, Phase, Group delay, Noise, Impedance
- Real, imaginary or complex plane plotting
- Choose from several reference dB level options
including gain relative to another non-ground point in the circuit
- Temp, tolerance, & component sweeping
Transient (large signal)
- Any number of voltage and/or current signals may
used to stimulate the circuit
- Defined in Piece Wise Linear files or · Each
Programmable in any combination of: step, impulse, ramp, square triangular, sine,pulse
trains.or arbitrary waveform
- All waveform parameters are adjustable including
offset, slew rate, duty cycle
- Set initial conditions
- Control of start, stop and step times
- Step time and signal stimulus may be changed on
the fly during a calculation.
- Pause during transient calculation allows
inspection of the results and intervention if necessary, {resUme} to continue
- Scope mode allows transient calculations to be
extended beyond their original stop time
- Shows the traces in real-time (on autoscaling
axes) as the results are calculated
- X-Y plotting option
- Temperature, tolerance, and component sweeping
DC - Non-linear Quiescent
- Circuits may be started: cold or under quiescent
conditions
- Temp, tolerance, & component sweeping
Fourier
- Plotted discrete (lines to origin) or continuous
spectrum
- Hanning (raised cosine) window option
- Inverse Fourier transform
- Auto-dispersion (based on preceding transient
analysis or frequency
- Phase angle and various y-scale options on
autoscaling axes
- Real or Imaginary option
Monte Carlo
- All components with a tolerance contribute to a
family of curves (or quiescent voltage tabulations)
- Each component value is chosen at random within
the tolerance
- Tolerancing statistics
Min & Max (Worst Case)
- The values of all components are set to the
MINimum or MAXimum within their tolerances
- Negative tolerances may be used to create an
algebraically negative value change
Swept components
- Components may optionally take vs (start value)
and vf (finish value) pragmas between which a number of swept values produce a family of
curves
Swept tolerances
Swept temperatures
- Temperature may be swept to produce a family of
curves in a DC, AC or transient analysis
Sweeping functions for family of curves
generation
- linear
- logarithmic
- MIN, MAX
- Monte Carlo
~ Components ~
Primitives
- B, Battery (constant voltage source)
- A, Constant current source
- R, Resistor
- Cg, Conductor
- Sq, Square law conductor
- Diodes - Fast (area factor +offset temp.) and
Zener models
- Diodes (SPICE.mod implementation). Level 7
- C, Capacitor
- L, Inductor
- LINE, Transmission line (4 terminal) - Frequency
and time domain
- I, current generator
- V, voltage generator
- Z, Zener diode
- S, Voltage-controlled switch with offset and
delay (SPICE.mod implementation). Level 7
- VCVS: (voltage controlled voltage source)
- VCCS: (voltage controlled current source)
- CCVS: (current controlled voltage source)
- CCCS: (current controlled current source)
- E (SPICE VCVS). Level 7
- G (SPICE VCCS). Level 7
- H (SPICE CCVS). Level 7
- F (SPICE CCCS). Level 7
- Q, BJT (SPICE.mod implementation). Level 7
- J, JFET (SPICE.mod implementation). Level 7
- M, MOSFET (SPICE.mod implementation). Level 7
- K SPICE coupling coeffient. Level 7
- SPICE .models and subcircuits. Level 7
- Logic gate primitives (high speed). Level 11 and
above
- Digital bus generator. Level 11 and above
- S parameter and Y parameters defined networks
Component Variables/Functions
- Polynomials non-linearities (all components)-
outside of range limiting pragmas
- Frequency dependent PWL
- Temperature coefficients
- offset and linear. Level 3 and above
- 2nd order and exponential. Level 7 and above
- Independent & dependent source
- Delay, jitter
- Initial conditions
- Values voltage controllable
- Magnetic saturation and hystersis
Macro Models Library (open models)
Topology changable and value trimmable
- NPN/PNP BJT transistors
- FET field effect transistors
- OpAmps
- Thyristor
- Triac
- Diodes
- Bridge rectifier
- Transformers
- Logic gates
- 555 timer
- Zetex SPICE library
- Components with value modulated by a controlling
voltage ADMUL.lib, admittance VMUL.lib, voltage ZMUL.lib, impedence
- Phase lock- loop
- Voltage controlled oscillator
- Triode vacuum tube
- TTL Library (gates, latches counters). Level 11
and above
~ Output ~
Graphical Presentation
- 4 trace plots
- Smith charts
- Auto or user defined scaling · Fully adjustable
on each trace
- Automatic graph labels
- Choice of reference signals
- Pen-width control, thick trace option
- Offset and multiplier adjustments
- Displays parameters of
- voltage
- signal to noise
- current
- noise density
- power
- impedance
- gain
- phase
- noise
- group delay
- 'Scope' on-line mode to show results plotted in
Real time
- X-Y locus plotting (Lissajou figures, phasor
diagrams, etc.)
- Font scaling option (for screen dumps)
- Paste over plot comparisons
- User-definable and placeable labels
- Truetype fonts
- Digitizing cursor- Single point or differences
- Optional graph grid
- Tiling of multiple netlist windows and/or graph
windows
- Window dedicated to screen capture
- Direct graph printer dump, Windows drivers
- Logic circuit analyzer - 32 channels. Level 11
and above
Output Waveforms
- ASCII and .WAV file compatibility
- Output file is in the same syntax as user defined
input signals
- Output of one circuit may be chained as the input
of the next circuit
Results
- Tabular (unlimited) or graphic (4 traces)
- Real time
- Interruptable settings change
~ Additional Features ~
- Circuit size only limited by RAM memory
- Built-in ASCII file editor
- Full color palette
- SI abbreviated or exponential notation
- Comprehensive On-line help; tutorials / examples
- .INI file to personalize initialization
- 300+ page manual
- Convenient menu system
- User selected reference node
- Sparse matrices - saves memory, increases speed
- Concurrent analysis from within iconised windows
DDE (dynamic data exchange)
Interface with:
- SAWTEST example circuit / analyses files
(included)
- MODELMAKER component synthesis (option)
- Schematic capture companion products
- Third party CAE software
Circuit Size
- Calculation speed optimized for circuits up to
300 nodes
- Larger circuits (up to 1800 nodes) limited only
by available RAM
Node Notation
- Node numbers, real signal or real pin names
(alpha-numeric) may be used
Tel: +44 (0) 208 906 0155 - Email:
sales@those-engineers.co.uk