SIMetrix / SIMPLIS 8.20m Update

SIMetrix Technologies has released an update to SIMetrix/SIMPLIS 8.20. This product families provide professional circuit design and simulation tools for analog and power electronics engineers.

SIMetrix and SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Version 8.20 Change Log
The following lists the changes to SIMetrix and SIMetrix/SIMPLIS for the Version 8.2 release.

Changes for both the SIMetrix and SIMPLIS simulators
- New Waveform viewer
- Performance analysis and Histogram fixed-probe plots.
- Schematic component disable
- Transformer GUI improvements
- DVM Enhancements
. Monte Carlo Testplan
. Multi-Step Testplan
. Multi-Core Efficiency Testplan
- Curve shift interface
- Piece-Wise Linear curve fitting

Changes for the SIMetrix simulator
- Global PSpice and HSpice compatibility options

Changes for the SIMPLIS simulator
- Simulation Health Report
- Continuous/Discrete Time Filter Pole-Zero Entry Dialog



SIMetrix and SIMPLIS are separate simulators working within the SIMetrix development envionment that provides schematic entry, waveform capture and built-in scripting.

SIMetrix is a mixed-signal circuit simulator designed for ease and speed of use.

The core algorithms employed by the SIMetrix analog simulator are based on the SPICE program developed by the CAD/IC group at the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California at Berkeley. The digital event driven simulator is derived from XSPICE developed by the Computer Science and Information Technology Laboratory, Georgia Tech. Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Although originally derived from these programs only a tiny fraction of the overall application code can be traced to them. Nearly all of the simulator code is either new or has been rewritten in order to provide new analysis features and to resolve convergence problems.

SIMPLIS is a circuit simulator designed for rapid modelling of switching power systems. An acronym for "SIMulation for Piecewise LInear System", it is supplied with our SIMetrix/SIMPLIS product range.

SIMPLIS is a component level simulator like SPICE but is typically 10 to 50 times faster when simulating switching circuits. It achieves its speed by modelling devices using a series of straight-line segments rather than solving non-linear equations as SPICE does. By modelling devices in this way, SIMPLIS can characterise a complete system as a cyclical sequence of linear circuit topologies. This is an accurate representation of a typical switching power system where the semiconductor devices function as switches. However, a linear system can be solved very much more rapidly than the non-linear systems that SPICE handles. The end result is accurate, but extremely fast simulations, allowing the modelling of complex topologies that would not be viable with SPICE.

SIMPLIS has three analysis modes: Transient, Periodic Operating Point and AC. Transient analysis is similar to the SPICE equivalent but is typically 10-50 times faster. Periodic Operating Point is a unique analysis mode that finds the steady-state operating waveforms of switching systems. AC analysis finds the frequency response of a switching system without needing to use averaged models. This is especially useful for what-if studies on new circuit topologies or control schemes where the small-signal averaged model has not yet been derived.

Because non-linear devices are defined using a sequence of straight line segments, models for such devices are quite different from SPICE models. There are of course many SPICE models available and so in order to retain compatibility with these, SIMetrix/SIMPLIS has the ability to convert models for some types of device into SIMPLIS format. This conversion is performed when the device is placed on the schematic. Devices currently supported are MOSFETs, BJTs and diodes. In the case of MOSFETs and Zener diodes, the conversion is achieved by performing a sequence of simulations using the SIMetrix-SPICE simulator. This method is independent of the method of implementation of the device.

This tutorial shows how to automatically load parts values from a text file using a built in feature of SIMetrix/SIMPLIS and also buy writing a custom script file for added flexibility.


About SIMetrix Technologies Ltd. We are an independent company dedicated to providing cost-effective, class-leading analog design tools to the professional engineering community. Our company was borne out of frustration. As professional electronics engineers, we couldn't find a circuit simulator on the market that would give us the features we wanted at a price we could afford… so we wrote our own. That was in 1992.

In 2001 we established a partnership with SIMPLIS Technologies, which created the SIMetrix/SIMPLIS product for analysis of power circuits. We now operate seamless sales channels offering each other's complementary products, although we remain as separate companies.

Product: SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Elite
Version: 8.20m with DVM and Verilog for SIMPLIS Update *
Supported Architectures: 32bit /64bit
Website Home Page : www.simetrix.co.uk
Language: english
System Requirements: PC **
Supported Operating Systems: **
Software Prerequisites: SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Elite 8.20 and above
Size: 294.7 mb

* These patch files apply service updates only and cannot be used to apply feature upgrades. You cannot, for example, upgrade from 8.1 to 8.2 using an update patch. You must download the full install program to upgrade your installation.