TABLE OF CONTENTS Computer simulation provides you with a powerful and cost-effective tool for designing, simulating, and analyzing a wide variety of electronic circuits. In recent years, the computer software packages designed for this task have not only become increasingly sophisticated but also have become increasingly easy to use. Furthermore, several of the most powerful and popular packages are now available at low cost either in evaluation, "lite" or student versions. In addition, there are several excellent freeware and shareware packages.
Whereas early electronic simulation software required that circuits were entered using a complex netlist that described all of the components and connections present in a circuit, most modern packages use an on-screen graphical representation of the circuit on test. This, in turn, generates a netlist (or its equivalent) for submission to the computational engine that actually performs the circuit analysis using mathematical models and algorithms. In order to describe the characteristics and behavior of components such as diodes and transistors, manufacturers often provide models in the form of a standard list of parameters.
Most programs that simulate electronic circuits use a set of algorithms that describe the behavior of electronic components. The most commonly used algorithm was developed at the Berkeley Institute in the United States and it is known as SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis).
Results of circuit analysis can be displayed in various ways, including displays that...
