PSPICE Simulation

Rearranged by:
Ahmad Firdaus AZ, Grad. Eng. (Electronic) BEM
Kamarulzaman Kamarudin, PhD
Introduction
• SPICE (Simulation Program for Integrated Circuits Emphasis) is a general
purpose analog circuit simulator that is used to analyze and verify circuit designs
and to predict the circuit behavior. For decades, SPICE models have been a
mainstay of applications departments at semiconductor companies. PSpice is a PC
version of SPICE.
• In earlier times, they are provided in ASCII text format, which is generic and
allows importation into a variety of programs. The schematic was reduced to
numbered nodes. Years later, the schematic was typed into an ASCII .cir (Pspice
circuit description file) file and PSpice was run from DOS.
• Microsoft Windows introduced graphical interface. Designers finally could access
part symbols and draw schematics on the screen which is intuitive, eliminating
chance of error transcribing a schematic into a list of connections.
Introduction
• However, the parts available to the designer are limited to the list available in the
program’s library.
• From the very beginning, PSpice has provided a method to enter new part
symbols, but few designers have been able to understand the process, which is
anything but intuitive.
• Normally the circuit schematic is designed using OrCAD Capture and analysis /
simulation is done using PSpice. Therefore, both programs had to be installed
together as Pspice would be called automatically from OrCAD schematic
interface.
• Other popular software that able to perform similar function includes: MATLAB
SIMULINK Simscape, NI Multisim (formerly known as Electronic workbench) and
Proteous.
Types of Analysis
• Below is the type of analysis that can be performed on the designed circuit. We
will explore the first four in this lecture.
1. Bias point calculation
2. Transient analysis
3. DC sweep analysis
4. AC sweep analysis (also similar to frequency response)
5. Noise analysis
6. Sensitivity analysis
7. Distortion analysis
8. Fourier analysis
9. Monte Carlo Analysis
Circuit Components
• For the lite version, components that can be simulated ranging from:
generic RLC components, power supply, some type of discrete
analog/digital electronic devices and ICs
• Generally component that can be simulated has two main attributes:
1. Loaded from libraries inside Pspice folder
2. Has the Pspice logo as in figure
File structure PSPICE (Capture)
• Input file for PSpice has the file type “.CIR”
• When a circuit is simulated “.OUT” file is generated
• “*.DAT” file is by default a binary file to see the data
• “*.LIB” files where the details of complex parts are
saved
• Additional file types:
• *.SCH (the schematic data, itself)
• *.ALS (alias files)
• *.NET (network connection files)
Libraries
• These are files that contain reusable part data.
• They can be custom or default ones
• Some of the libraries available in the Evaluation version of
PSPICE are:
• abm.olb for special functions like square root and multipliers
• analog.olb for analog components like resistors and capacitors
• eval.olb for semiconductor, digital devices, switches
• port.olb for grounds, high/low digital ports
• special.olb for ammeters, viewpoints
• source.olb for various analog and digital sources
Parts
• Part is a basic building block which may represent
• One or more physical element
• Function
• Simulation model
• When a part is placed for first time its entry is done in
“Design Cache”

What is “Design Cache”????... Go and Find Out Yourself 

Things to remember before starting
• PSpice is not case sensitive
• All element names must be unique
• There must be a node designated "0" (Zero). This is
the reference node against which all voltages are
calculated.
• If any change is made in circuit make sure you create
netlist again before simulating it.
Getting Started
• File  New  Project  Analog or Mixed A/D

Make sure to choose Analog or Mixed A/D and proper location for project
 Getting Started
• Next comes following window

You can either select:

1. “Create a blank project” or
2. “Create based upon an existing project” if you want to start from template.
Getting Started
• This is how a typical “Schematic” Window will look
like. You can edit details on the titleblock at the
bottom right corner.
Getting Started
• Now start placing components and connecting them
as per details covered in OrCAD Capture circuit
design.

Add a library as per the requirement

for eg. here analog library has been
added
Getting Started
• Make sure in your design the ground parts that you use has 0 value.
Getting Started
• Select create New Simulation Profile. Give name that relates to type
of analysis that you are going to do. Select “none” when prompted
Inherit From:
Getting Started
• A dialog box Simulation Settings will show up prompting you to select
further details on the type of analysis to be done.
• There are four main type of analysis:
• Transient
• DC Sweep
• AC Sweep
• Bias Point
Simulation Example: Bias Point
• After completed necessary setting related to the type of analysis, your
simulation profile has been formed.
• In this example, simulation profile “biastesting” has been formed to
analyze bias point of the the BJT bias circuit in the figure.
• After selecting profile “biastesting”, select play to start simulation.
Simulation Example: Bias Point
• After you started simulation,
a Pspice interface will
automatically pop out
indicating simulation
progress status and whether
simulation successful or not.
Details are shown in the
notes inside red box. If there
is any error, simulation will
be aborted and details of
error will be mentioned in
the box.
Simulation Example: Bias Point
• For this bias point analysis, if simulation successful, the program will
calculate the bias point for the circuit and reveal in the schematic
when you activate the “V” and “I” bias display as indicated in the
circular mark in the figure.
Exercise Lab8-1-Bias Point Analysis
• Draw the unbalanced bridge circuit as in Figure below using OrCAD
capture. Simulate the circuit for bias point using PSpice. Obtain all
bias point voltages and currents. Based from obtained values, what
would be the bridge output voltage across R3and its respective
current?
Simulation Example: Transient Analysis
• In another circuit design, transient analysis can show the output voltage and current
time response (signal waveform as in the oscilloscope).
• For this comparator circuit, a simulation profile is created to specify settings as
transient analysis where Run to Time is set as 100ms.
Simulation Example: Transient Analysis
• Successful simulation
will be indicated if no
errors encountered
shown in the box.
Simulation Example: Transient Analysis
• From Trace manu, Add Trace
Simulation Example: Transient Analysis
• Select the input and output signal
that you want to display in the
graph. In this case we would like to
see the voltage signal of:
comparator output, V(U1:out),
inverting input V(U1:V-) and non-
inverting input V(V4+)
Simulation Example: Transient Analysis
• The waveforms can be seen in
oscilloscope after the trace is
specified:

• And can be printed to pdf from

Print command accessible
through File menu.
Exercise Lab8-2-Transient Analysis
• Draw the comparator circuit as in Figure below using OrCAD capture.
Use 741 op-amp. Modify the circuit so that the VREF is set to be 0.4V.
Obtain the time domain signal waveform of: (i) output (ii) non-
inverting input and (iii)inverting input in one graph.
Sweep Simulation
• Other types of simulation includes DC and AC sweep simulation.
• DC sweep simulation is useful when you want to see how a circuit
parameter responds when you vary a DC source (or multiple DC sources).
• You have to specify the variable name that you want to vary, start value,
end value and its increment value. If only single variable just specify under
parameter primary sweep.
• For multiple sources you have to specify parameter in primary and
secondary sweep.
• AC sweep simulation is useful when you want to see the frequency
response of the signal in any circuit for example in filter design.
Exercise Lab8-3-DC Sweep Analysis
• Draw the diode biasing circuit as in Figure below using OrCAD
capture. Use 1N4148 as diode. The objective is to obtain V-I
characteristic curve (positive side) for the diode circuit. Simulate the
circuit for DC sweep using PSpice. Vary the supply from 0 to 15V by
increment of 0.1V.
AC Sweep Simulation
• In AC sweep simulation, normally the source voltage frequency (AC source
voltage) is varied from minimum value to maximum value.
• The response of the circuit would be the voltage output when the input
voltage’s frequency is varied.
• This is very important in filter design to see how the output of a circuit
response to different frequency range (for example low, medium and high
range).
• Normally response of a circuit is measured in term of gain (for example:
voltage gain (Vout/Vin).
• Due to wide range, value of response is converted to logarithmic scale dB.
• For voltage gain response: Av(dB)=20log(Vout/Vin).
• Frequency response of a system is normally shown in Bode plot.
Bode Plot

• Figure above shows a Bode plot. On the x-axis is the frequency while on the y-axis is the circuit
response in decibel (dB) scale.
• Notice that until frequency of 100Hz, the circuit response curve is at 0dB. This shows that the
output has the same magnitude as the input (gain equals 1). After that, the curve starts to decay
indicating the output less than input (gain less than 1) as the frequency increases.
• Due to wide range of frequency, the x-axis of the plot is converted to logarithmic. Notice that for
this graph, there are 10 minor intervals between major intervals.
• As the y-axis is linear scale, such graph is considered semi-logarithmic graph (semi-log).
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
• In this example, we would like to
produce a a frequency response
of a low pass filter.
• Consider a simple single stage
low pass RC filter as in the
circuit.
• You should now be able to
calculate critical low frequency
for the circuit.
• Draw the circuit using Orcad
Capture.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit

• After creating a New Simulation profile, Select Analysis type: AC Sweep/Noise.

• Specify the parameter as in the figure according to your requirement. After Click
OK, you can start simulation.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit

• You should get empty bode plot upon successful simulation.

• Now we will add trace to show the curve of interest.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
• On the left side is the
Simulation Output
Variables: Select
V(Output).
• Upon selection,
V(Output) will appear on
the Trace Expression.
• On the right side is
Functions or Macros
where we have yet to
use.
 Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
1.0V

0.5V

0V
1.0Hz 10Hz 100Hz 1.0KHz 10KHz 100KHz 1.0MHz
V(OUTPUT)
Frequency

• The graph here will be circuit gain (Vout/Vin) on the y-axis versus frequency on x-
axis.
• Notice that the y-axis is the gain even though we only selected V(out). This is
because we have set the V(in) to 1V ac in the circuit. So the V(out) is normalized
against input and equivalent to circuit gain at the y-axis.
• However usually in Bode Plot, decibel scale is used to facilitate analysis. So the y-
axis values has to be converted to that scale.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
• You have to delete existing
trace to make way for the
new trace in dB scale.
• Select the DB() function
from the right side.
• Then select the V(output)
from the left side. Make
sure in the Trace Expression
the V(output) becomes
variable of the function
DB().
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
0

-50

-100
1.0Hz 10Hz 100Hz 1.0KHz 10KHz 100KHz 1.0MHz
DB(V(OUTPUT))
Frequency

• Now the scale in the y-axis has been converted to decibel (dB).
• In the Plot menu from Pspice interface, you can adjust the axis
parameter using Axis Settings.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
• From X Axis: Change Data
Range from Auto to User
Defined and Select frequency
from 1Hz to 10kHz.
• From Y Axis: Change Data
Range to User Defined and
Select decibel from-20 to 0.
• From X Grid: Deselect the
Automatic. Change Minor
Intervals between the Major to
10.
• Click OK after done with Axis
Settings.
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
-0

-5

-10

-15

-20
1.0Hz 10Hz 100Hz 1.0KHz 10KHz
DB(V(OUTPUT))
Frequency

• Now we have the complete Bode Plot indicating response of the low pass filter circuit
that we have previously designed.
• Do you know that there are parameters of concern that can be extracted from the this
graph? (Consult: Floyd T, Electronic Devies:Chapter 10 Frequency Response)
• Instead by manually determining the parameter from this graph there are special
function that you can use to determine critical frequencies and bandwidth.
• Just now we have analyzed frequency response on the circuit gain. Do you know that
there is frequency effects on phase shift too?
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit

• Remove the existing trace to make way for the new trace.
• Select the P() function from the right side. Then select the V(output) from the left side.
Make sure in the Trace Expression the V(output) becomes variable of the function P().
Simulation Example: AC Sweep for Low Pass
Circuit
0d

-50d

-100d
1.0Hz 10Hz 100Hz 1.0KHz 10KHz 100KHz 1.0MHz
P(V(OUTPUT))
Frequency

• Now we have the complete Bode Plot indicating phase response of

the low pass filter circuit that we have previously designed.
• You should notice the output voltage phase angle becomes delayed
compared to input as frequency is increased.
Exercise Lab8-4-AC Sweep Analysis
• Design a single stage low pass filter with cutoff frequency of 200Hz. Given R=1kΩ.
• Design a single stage high pass filter with cutoff frequency of 3kHz. Given
R=2.2kΩ.
• For each circuit design:
• Calculate necessary circuit parameters and the phase angle at cutoff frequency.
• Include the circuit diagram drawn in Orcad Capture.
• Simulate the gain and phase response versus frequency of the circuit in a Bode
plot using Pspice. Indicate the cutoff frequency at the gain response and phase
angle at the cutoff frequency at the phase response. Compare the cutoff
frequency and phase angle between design value and measured value.
• Put all diagrams in single MS Word file, your particulars and submit to e-learning.