Electronic Circuits Simulation

LTspice
By
Ketema Tullu
email:- ketematullu@gmail.com

1
 SPICE
Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis
 Originally developed at EE Berkeley
 Uses mathematical models to describe circuit elements
 SPICE3 is the latest variant.
 It allows DC and time transient analysis of nonlinear circuits
(transistors, diodes, capacitors, etc., also digital circuitry)
 Command line driven interface
 Available in public domain (written in C)
 Has become de-facto the industry standard
 Many spin-offs exist (use modified SPICE2 or SPICE3 as their
engine), such as HSPICE, PSPICE, WinSPICE (commercial)
2
 LTspice IV
 A freeware circuit simulator (Windows or *nix/Wine)
 Mac users: install http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/
 Netlist syntax is powerful but hard to visualize
 LTspice has schematic capture and is much easier to use
than traditional text-based SPICE. The user can enter a
circuit to be simulated via a graphical user interface
 Has virtual scope, makes Bode plots, performs FFT, etc.
 Worth learning about
– It is fast, expandable, powerful, and free
– Most widely used noncommercial CAD electronics software

3
 Why Use LTspice?
 Stable SPICE circuit simulation with:
 Unlimited number of nodes
 Schematic/symbol editor
 Waveform viewer
 Library of passive devices
 Fast simulation of switch mode power supplies
 Steady state detection
 Turn on transient
 Step response
 Efficiency / power computations
 Advanced analysis and simulation options
 Not covered in this lab class (sort of)
 Outperforms or as powerful as pay-for tools
 In other words LTspice is free!
 Automatically builds syntax for common tasks 4
How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
 JIG Files: Use a pre-drafted test fixture (JIG)
 Provides a good starting point, but is not production-ready
 Used to prove out part models, and are not complete designs
 Components are typically “ideal” components and will need to
be modified based on your operating conditions
 Use simulation circuits posted on the LTspice Yahoo! User’s Group
URL = https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LTspice/info
Also contains many very helpful discussion threads and tutorials
 Use the schematic editor to create your own design
 LTspice contains models for most LTC power devices, opamps,
and many more
 ADI opamp models are being added to the LTspice library
(nearly 100 ADI models to date)
 LTspice can be used to simulate any analog circuit you can
think of! 5
How Do I Get LTspice and Documentation?
 Go to http://www.analog.com/LTspice
 Left-Click on Download LTspice for Windows 7, 8 and 10
 Follow the instructions to install
 LTspice is a standalone application that runs on your computer
 At this link, you will also find:
 LTspice Download Links
 LTspice Demo Circuits
 LTspice Documentation
 LTspice Technical Articles & Videos
 SPICE Models

6
http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/

i ce
Tsp
d L
lo a
w n
D o

7
 To begin drawing the circuit, click New
Schematic, or Ctrl+N
 Enable grid if not shown by clicking
Ctrl+G

8
 wire “Component”
ground
(required)

 To add a component, click on the corresponding icon

 Component button contains slew of predefined components:
voltage and current sources; transistors; opamps; gates; user-
defined stuff
 You can Delete (F5 or Ctrl-X) and Move (F7) components, as
well as Drag (F8) them (keep the wires connected) 9
To rotate the component To mirror the component
prior to placing press Ctrl-R prior to placing press Ctrl-E
10
 Place Diode
Place Inductor
Toolbar Summary
Place Capacitor
Place Resistor
Label Node Place Circuit Element
Place Ground
Draw Wire

Simulate
Move
Zoom In
Drag
Pan
Undo
Zoom Out Find
Auto Scale Redo
Delete Rotate
Copy Mirror
Paste Place Comment
11
Place SPICE Directive
 Toolbar and Keyboard Shortcuts
Place Circuit Element [F2]
Zoom In Place Diode [D]
Pan Place Inductor [L]
Zoom Out Place Capacitor [C]
Autoscale Place Resistor [R]
Label Node [F4]
Place Ground [G]
Draw Wire [F3]

Move [F7]
Drag [F8]
Undo [F9]
Delete [Del] Redo [Shift+F9]
Duplicate [Ctrl+C] Rotate [Ctrl+R]
aste b/t Schematics [Ctrl+V] Mirror [Ctrl+E]
Find [Ctrl+F] Place Comment/text [T] 12
Place SPICE directive [S]
Prefixes are case insensitive: T = t, G = g, and so on
• T = terra = 1012
• G = giga = 109
• MEG = meg = 106
• K = kilo = 103
• M = milli = 10-3
• U = micro = 10-6
• N = nano = 10-9
• P = pico = 10-12
• F = femto = 10-15
No need to enter units, they are assumed (e.g. “1M” is
1mV if entered for voltage, 1ms if entered for time, etc.)

13
 How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit
 Step 1: Open up a blank schematic screen
 Select “File” Menu and “New Schematic”

14
 Cont.…
 Step 2: Add the passives and grounds
 Using the toolbar, select Resistor, Capacitor and Ground. Place these
symbols on the schematic as shown below. Use Ctrl+R to rotate before
placement.

Tip: Ctrl+R to Selec

ta
rotate before res, c nd place
ap
placement or use & GND,
k
keys R eyboard
, C, an
dG

15
•
Cont.…
Step 3: Add the voltage source
– Select “Edit” Menu and “Component”. From the component window, start
typing “voltage” in the dialog box, and click “OK”

2. T
“Vo ype
ltag
” e

el ect
u , s
men ent”

3. K”
d i t on
E p
1. Com

Cli
“O
“

ck
16
 Cont.…
• Step 4: Wire up the circuit
– Using the toolbar, select Wire, or, press F3

1. Sele
ct
“Wire”
button

17
Step 4: Wire up the circuit (cont.)

“Pull” wire down through

Left-Click ground “Pull” wire through the resistor the capacitor
“Pull” wire up through the source Left-Click here to anchor Left-Click here to
Left-Click here to anchor anchor & finish

18
Step 5: Add net labels Using the toolbar, select Label Net (or press F4). Label
the input/output nodes as shown below

1. Select “Label
Net”
2. Enter net
name

3. Place on wire

19
Step 6a: Component values Right-Click on each component symbol to change
its value as shown below

Right-click on
symbol

Or Right-click on
value
20
 Running and Probing a Circuit in LTspice
The following hotlinks are used in this presentation for opening up
LTspice simulation files
Note: Presentation Mode must be used for the hotlinks to work

Class exercise
Solution to exercise
Circuits to explore at your leisure

21
 Running the RC Circuit Simulation – Transient Analysis
 With the RC circuit in the active window, click on the RUN button
on the toolbar
 The Edit Simulation Command window will appear. Set the Stop
Time to 60m and click OK.
 Using the mouse, click on the IN node and OUT node to display
the input and output voltage waveforms.
Run
Run
Click here for
output
waveform

22
 Cont.…
 To add a measurement cursor to the waveform window, left+click
the mouse on the waveform name.
 To add a second measurement cursor (paired cursors), just
left+click on the waveform name again.
Click to display
measurement
cursor. Click
and drag cursor
position.

23
 Cont..
 To display the current in the resistor, just
left+click on the resistor.

Click here for

resistor
current
waveform

24
 Cont..
 Split the plot pane by selecting “Add Plot Pane” under the Plot
Settings pull-down menu.
 Drag and drop the I(R1) waveform title into the new plot pane

25
Summary of the Waveform Viewer

26
 SPICE analysis
“Draw” your circuit, then specify all of the components,
then select Simulate  Edit Simulation Cmd
Your choices:
 Transient analysis
 AC small signal anlysis
 DC sweep
 Noise analysis
 DC transfer function
 DC operating point (Q-pt)
Highlighted is what you will
be using in this course

27
 Adding SPICE directives
 After setting up the simulation command, you are set to
go. Simply click Run button
 Run command is a SPICE directive itself
 You can add other SPICE commands directly by clicking
on Spice Directive button
 Refer to HELP for details on the syntax

28
 SPICE use in this course
 Your home assignment for this week includes working
your way through Supplement Part 1 (a tutorial) then
working home problems using LTspice.
 Install LTspice on your own computer. LTspice is
installed on all lab computers and in A&EP computer
room
 Supplement Part 2 contains LTspice experiments.
They will start after the break and are to be done in the
same way as the usual lab experiments, but using
LTspice. Print out results using the lab printers, attach
them to your lab report, etc.
 You can do LTspice experiments anywhere you have
29
access to LTspice, not just in the lab
 Two examples
 We will look at how to setup two examples
o Example1: crossover corrected push-pull amp (ex6.10)
o Example2: active filter
 Any additional files not included with LTspice but
required for this course are found under Spice models on
the Blackboard.

30
 First example demonstrates transient analysis

• Next, specify component values for

resistors, DC voltages by right-clicking on
the elements (be careful, sometimes you
may click on the name thinking you are
changing the value).

• First, create the circuit (you

may want to use Ctrl-E,
Ctrl-R to mirror and rotate
the symbols for best
orientation)

31
 Assigning Vin
• Right-click on Vin, then click Advanced. You will see a
window like this. Choose SINE Function.

Enter:
DC offset[V] : 0
Amplitudep[V]: 0.05
Freq[Hz]: 100
Tdelay[s]: 20m

32
 Assigning Diodes and Transistors
If you do not assign diode and transistors, LTspice will use
some default models. It may be OK for a simple circuit like
the one we are looking at. Real-life situations require more
accurate model specific to the actual component being
used. E.g. to assign a specific diode model, right-click on it,
then click “Pick New Diode” and choose IN914.

33
 Assigning Transistors and opamp
 Similarly, assign the transistors to be 2N3904 and
2N3906
 Note: you will find some familiar components missing
(e.g. LM741 op-amp); you have to add them to LTspice
 All major manufacturers will have SPICE model files
online

34
 How to add LM741
 Google for LM741, you will get to the manufacturer’s
web-site with link to Model file LM741.MOD
 Download it, it is an ASCII file in SPICE format:

it comes from National

Semiconductor

component model
describes frequency
response, input and
output impedance, etc.
can be a subcircuit that
includes other elements

35
 How to add LM741
 Place this file where LTspice will look for it, preferably in
the local directory (where you circuit file is saved)
 Add generic opamp (opamp2) to your circuit
 Right-click on the symbol to invoke
Component Attribute Editor
 Enter Value = LM741/NS
(must match the first line in LM741.MOD file,
which is not a comment, i.e. not preceded
by *, something like .SUBCKT
LM741/NS …)
 Add SPICE directive

36
 Time Transient Analysis
 Choose Simulate  Edit Simulation Cmd
 Indicate Stop Time of 0.1 s
 Click OK and place SPICE
directive somewhere on
your circuit

 Ready to go!

37
 Looking at the result
 LTspice has nice tools to look at the waveforms, voltages
or currents, FFT (Fourier Analysis), gain amplitude and
phase (in AC analysis)
 You can open multiple panes, plot signals versus time
or signal versus another signal
 You can zoom in, zoom out, also activate scope-like
cursor(s) for more accurate measurements on waveforms
 By default the mouse cursor transforms into voltage
probe, however, when hovering over a component (or
pressing Alt over wire), it transforms into current probe
 Pressing Alt over an element will report instantaneous
power drawn by the element (thermometer icon) 38
Second example will Must include with this opamp!
demonstrate AC analysis

Use ideal opamp from

the list of components

39
 Assigning Vin
 Right-click on Vin, then click Advanced. Use Small
signal AC analysis section.

AC amplitude
1 volt

40
 AC Analysis
 Choose Simulate  Edit Simulation Cmd
 On AC analysis tab specify
type of sweep (decade),
number of points per decade,
initial and final frequencies
 Click OK, plant SPICE
directive somewhere

 Ready to go!

41
• Click on Vout to
display Bode
plot

42
 Few gotchas
 “M” and “m” are interpreted the same by SPICE. Thus, a
resistor value of 10M is the same as 10m (ten milliohms)
 Use 10MEG (or 10E6) to specify ten megohms
 Do not enter “1F” or “1f” as the capacitance for a one-
farad capacitor (enter “1”). “F” and “f” designate the
prefix femto (10-15)
 When simulating astable circuits (multivibrator), specify
some small nonzero initial voltage in the positive
feedback to seed the oscillations

Initial conditions SPICE directive

43
 LTspice final notes
 Like many modern software tools
 it is relatively easy to begin using but one must spend some
time to discover and then master the most powerful features.
 As freeware goes, it is outstanding!
 It is relatively bug-free.
 It is compact and very fast.
 It is regularly updated.
 A tip for students:
 Knowing how to use a professional level circuit simulator
looks great on your resume!

44
 Additional resources
 LTspice Supplement (read Part 1 Tutorial this week)
 Documentation and examples installed with LTspice
 Our PHYS3360 mailing group
 Yahoo! LTspice group (great resource, kept active by many
thousands of users)

45
 Links
http://www.intusoft.com/models.htm#freemodels
http://www.penzar.com/links.htm
http://ee.cleversoul.com/simulation.html
http://cmosedu.com/videos/videos.htm
http://cmosedu.com/cmos1/book.htm
http://www.onsemi.com/site/support/models
http://www.coilcraft.com/modelsswcad.cfm
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LTspice/
http://ltspice.linear.com/software/scad3.pdf

46
 nk
h a
•T u
o