Chapter 5: CIRCUIT LAYOUT SIMULATION TOOL

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
➢ Identify to layout circuit
➢ Layout circuitry using simulation tool
➢ Interpret the use of simulation tool
➢ Practice, solve, exercise problems on circuit simulation.

INTRODUCTION:
Before getting started, it is important to note that one should distinguish between
time domain and frequency domain simulations. First, each type of simulation will tell
different pieces of information about the behavior of circuits. However, this does not
mean that time domain simulations are exclusively used in circuit analysis for high
speed PCB design, nor does this mean that frequency domain simulations only tell
something about analog PCB design. Each type of simulation has its place in each
domain. Various PCB design simulation tools are designed to operate in specific
domains, but they can be used to analyze circuits in either domain. In other words, using
a frequency domain simulation for a digital circuit tells something about the frequency
components that make up a digital signal, while time domain simulations can tell you
how the signal changes over time.

Linear vs. Nonlinear Circuits

A linear circuit is composed of purely linear circuit elements (e.g., resistors,
capacitors, and inductors), while a nonlinear circuit contains at least one nonlinear
element (e.g., diodes, transistors, and other semiconductor devices).
Nonlinear circuits will have a nonlinear relationship between the voltage and current in
a circuit. Think about a diode; the current is an exponential function of voltage. This
simple distinction between linear and nonlinear circuits is critical to understanding the
right circuit simulation to use in different designs.

Certain PCB design simulation tools are designed to work with one or both types
of circuits. Understanding this distinction and how different types of circuits relate to
your simulation goal is very important for determining the right analytical technique to
use. In some cases, nonlinear circuits can act as linear circuits, and understanding when
this is the case can help you avoid drawing inaccurate conclusions about your design.
Your PCB design simulation tools can typically be applied at the component level, as
long as parasitic are properly considered.
PCB Design Simulation Tools to Use

Linearity-agnostic Analysis
In general, the response of any circuit in the time-domain can be calculated with
finite difference methods. However, there are some specific tasks that can be performed,
as shown below.

DC sweep - performs a sequence of DC operating point simulations. This technique is

designed to determine the functional relationship between a DC signal level and the
response in a circuit. This can be used to determine when a circuit transitions from linear
to nonlinear. This is a fundamental analysis for any circuit.

Fig 2. Example of DC Sweep Multisim Live

Small-signal analysis - This technique is designed to approximate a circuit's response

as a linear function around some operating point, so it is normally used to examine the
behavior of nonlinear circuits driven with a single frequency. This is important for
working with diodes, transistors, and other common nonlinear circuits.

Sensitivity analysis - This technique is designed to examine how a circuit responds to

tolerances in components. You can use this to determine which components in a circuit
have the greatest effect on the response of your circuit.
 Fig 3 Overview of Sensitivity Analysis

Monte Carlo simulations - This technique is ideal for linear or nonlinear circuits where
analytical results cannot be derived easily. One example is for sensitivity analysis of
nonlinear circuits. Component tolerances or variations in the input voltages can be
treated as random variables, and thousands or millions of different possible values for
the response in the circuit are calculated. The response can then be analyzed with
standard statistical techniques.

Time domain transient analysis - This technique can be applied to linear or nonlinear
circuits driven with an arbitrary waveform. Note that Laplace-domain and Fourier
domain transfer function analyses (which are related) only apply to linear circuits.

Stability analysis - There are linear and nonlinear versions of stability analysis in the
time and frequency domains. These analyses can also be applied to non-autonomous
(i.e., time-variant) systems, although this is normally done in the time-domain. You can
also perform these tasks analytically.

Linear Analyses
This set of techniques is fundamental in linear time-invariant circuit analysis:
AC amplitude sweep - This is similar to a DC sweep, except it applies to the amplitude
of an AC signal with a particular frequency. This is normally done in the frequency
domain for linear circuits, but it can also be done in the time domain for nonlinear
circuits using small-signal analysis.

Transfer function analysis - This is sometimes called pole-zero analysis as the goal is
to determine the resonance frequencies and transient decay rates in a single simulation
(called poles and zero, respectively). This is done in the Laplace domain. The other
option is to work in the Fourier domain and calculate the phase and amplitude in the
output response in the circuit, known together as the circuit's transfer function.

Frequency sweep - This technique is similar to transfer function analysis in that you
are determining the amplitude and phase of the circuit's response at different
frequencies. Rather than deriving a specific functional form, you sweep through a range
of frequencies numerically and calculate the amplitude and phase of the response.

Power delivery network analysis - This is normally used to ensure that IR drop is
minimized throughout a PCB's power delivery network. If you can include parasitic on
your power rails, then you can perform this basic analysis to ensure power integrity.

Nonlinear Analysis
Here are some important nonlinear analyses:

Load-pull analysis - This particular analysis is used for determining the impedance
seen by a nonlinear driver in a circuit. The input impedance the source sees may be
different from the actual value of the load impedance when the source is nonlinear. An
example application is in impedance matching for power amplifiers in RF signal chains.

Harmonic balance analysis - This technique is designed to account for the fact that
modulated analog signals experience intermodulation distortion in nonlinear circuits.
This involves including a set of input frequencies at the driver of the circuit and
calculating the spectrum seen at the output.

Hysteresis analysis - Hysteretic circuits can create some interesting effects in the time-
domain when driven with oscillating sources, although they may not be obvious until
you plot the input-output curve for the circuit's response. Plotting the input-output curve
from time-domain data can reveal the presence of any hysteresis in the circuit.

ASSESMENT
1. Considering the design, you have made in the previous chapter, simulate in the
simulation tool. Compare your output to the conventional method of solving to
the answer in the simulation.
2. Describe some of the advantages of utilizing Circuit Simulation.

REFERENCES:
1. https://www.nwengineeringllc.com
2. https://www.nwengineeringllc.com/article/pcb-design-simulation-and-analysis-
which-tools-to-use.php
3. https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2019-defining-an-ac-dc-sweep-
simulation-profile