Circuit simulation using SPICE

Neuromorphic Engineering II

Institute of Neuroinformatics
University | ETH Zurich

Spring Semester 2008

Outline

What is SPICE?

How does SPICE work?

Tanner Tools TSPICE

S-Edit
SPICE Origins

SPICE is a computer program designed to simulate analog electronic

circuits.
It original intent was for the development of integrated circuits, from
which it derived its name: Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit
Emphasis.
1967 Prof. Ronald Rohrer of U.C. Berkeley develop Computer
Analysis of Nonlinear Circuits, Excluding Radiation
(CANCER)
1972 CANCER was re-written and re-named to SPICE
(Version 1) and released to the public domain.
1975 Version 2 of SPICE was released (Version 2g6)
1985 Version 3 of SPICE was rewritten in C (rather than
FORTRAN) and released to the public domain.
SPICE Avaliable Packages

The SPICE home page:

http:
//bwrc.eecs.berkeley.edu/Classes/IcBook/SPICE/
Public Domain
I Original Berkeley SPICE3f4 code:
ftp://ic.eecs.berkeley.edu/pub/Spice3/
I NGSpice
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ngspice
Commercial
I HSPICE (Synopsis)
I PSCPICE (OrCAD)
I SYMETRIX
I TSpice (Tanner Tools)
SPICE Programming

SPICE is an interpreted language: In order for a computer to

understand the SPICE instructions you type, it must have the SPICE
program (interpreter) installed. SPICE source files are commonly
referred to as netlists (or "decks") with each line in the file being called
a "card."
Writing a SPICE deck is like writing a good program
Plan: sketch schematic on paper or in editor.
Modify existing decks whenever possible.
Code: strive for clarity.
Start with name, email, date, purpose.
Generously comment.
Test: Predict what results should be.
Compare with actual.
Garbage In, Garbage Out!
Solving differential equations

SPICE uses numerical techniques to solve nodal analysis of circuit.

The nature of SPICE’s iterative process allows it to simulate many
types of systems that can be modelled through standard equations
and differential equations.
I Hodgkin and Huxley model of a neuron’s spike generating
mechanism.
I Chaotic and Dynamical Systems
I Diffusion equations
Spice components and analysis types

You can use SPICE to specify these circuit components:

I Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors
I Independent sources (V, I), Dependent sources (V, I)
I Transmission lines
I Active devices (diodes, BJTs, JFETS, MOSFETS)
You can use SPICE to perform the following types circuit analysis:
I Non-linear d.c.
I Non-linear transient
I Linear a.c.
I Noise and temperature
SPICE common elemenets

Letter Element
R Resistor
C Capacitor
L Inductor
V Independent Voltage Source
I Independent Current Source
M MOSFET
D Diode
Q Bipolar transistor
X Subcircuitr
E Voltage controlled Voltage Source
G Voltage controlled Current Source
H Current controlled Voltage Source
F Current controlled Current Source
Active components: the MOSFET device models

All Mosfet devices in SPICE reference a model by its instance name.

Each Mosfet model in SPICE has a keyword NMOS or PMOS, as well
as a Level parameter.
MOSFET TRANSISTOR MODELS:
General form: .model [modelname] [nmos or pmos] [parmtr1=x] . . .
I .model mod1 pmos
I .model mod2 nmos level=2 phi=0.65 rd=1.5
MOSFET device model levels

I Levels 1,2,3 (Berkeley SPICE 2g6): basic transistor equations.

Not very accurate, but fast.
I Level 4 (BSIM1): accurate, based on the Berkeley short-channel
IGFET model.
I Level 5 (Tanner, Maher-Mead): accurate physically based model,
continuous over all regions of operation, including subthreshold.
I Levels 13, 28, 39, and 47: Based on Berkeley IGFET models
(BSIM, BSIM2, and BSIM3 models).
I Levels 49 and 53 (BSIM3 Revision 3): most accurate models.
Supported by most foundries and SPICE simulation engines.
SPICE Analysis Types

DC Operating Point Analysis .op: Computes circuit’s DC operating

point values.
DC Transfer Analysis .dc: Sweeps signals and computes operating
point values for all range of swept signals.
Transient Analysis .tran: Provides information on how circuit elements
vary with time.
Transient Powerup Analysis .tran/powerup: Sets the entire circuit to
zero for t = 0s. As the simulation proceeds, the voltage
sources are allowed to ramp up to their specified values.
Useful to define the initial state of a circuit which has no
definite DC steady-state condition.
AC Analysis .ac: Characterizes the circuits behavior dependence on
small-signal input frequency.
Why Tanner-Tools TSPICE

I Integrated with L-Edit and S-Edit

I Affordable (<2K, low maintenance fees)
I Optimized for subthreshold circuits simulations
I Table-based mode
TSPICE netlist example

Vdd Inverter netlist (inverter.sp)

Vin Vout .include mosis.md *(Include device models)

MP1 Vout Vin Vdd Vdd pmos L=10 W=10

MN1 Vout Vin Gnd Gnd nmos L=10 W=10
Mosfet D G S B model L W
TSPICE netlist example

Simulation commands (inverter_c.sp)

Vdd options
.options scale=0.8u deftables=0
.options maxmsg=1 modelmode=direct
.options abstol=1e-17 reltol=1e-7 chargetol=1e-19
Vin Vout .options absdv=0.01 accurate=1
.options js=1e-5
.include "inverter.sp" circuit
elements
vdd Vdd gnd 5
vin in gnd pwl( 0 0 5u 5 10u 0)
.tran/powerup 1u 10u commands
.print tran in out
How does (T)SPICE work?

Not very well! Don’t ever believe it completely models reality.

Problems:
I Very computer intensive.
I Doesn’t model transistor mismatch.
I Doesn’t model Early effects well.
I Doesn’t model distributed characteristics like resistance and
capacitance.
I Makes you lazy about thinking.
T-SPICE and S-Edit
T-SPICE and S-Edit
T-SPICE and S-Edit