Introduction to electronics simulation Online
Now that we live in an electronically advanced world, it is undeniably true that hundreds and thousands of circuits are built every day. Not only that, in fact, a single machine can easily use, starting from 10 to up to 50 electronic circuits. Thus, this means that millions of electronic components need to be put to use, in order to fulfil the high demand for electronic circuits.
But, do you really want to waste your money on pricey electronic components during the trial-and-error period of building your circuit? And also, on a more macro level, can we really afford the constant usage of electronic components in the first stage of building an electronic circuit? While we are not even sure whether the circuit would work after all or not?
Well, no need to worry about it, because the solution is already ready! Electronic circuit simulation. That’s right! These 3 tricky words put together are the solution to you wasting your electronic components in the first round of building a circuit. How? Well, let’s see.
What is Electronic Circuit Simulation?
Electronic Simulation or Electronic circuit simulation is a mathematical characterization of the circuit. In simpler terms, it is the mathematical model of a circuit that is built by electronic engineers to understand its behavior and analyze how efficiently the components of the circuit work together. Since the circuit simulation allows engineers to easily understand the circuit without building it, it ultimately saves them both time and money.
Majorly, there are 3 types of Electronic Simulation:
- Analog Circuit Simulation
- Digital Circuit Simulation
- Mixed-Mode Circuit Simulation
To understand how each of these circuit simulations works, let’s look at them separately.
Types Of Circuit Simulation
Let’s understand the 3 different electronic simulations more clearly.
Analog: In the analog simulation, we usually use analog components and signals. The mathematical models in this simulation, have to be highly precise and accurate in order to run the frequency domain (AC), non-linear quiescent (DC) modes, and the time domain (transient).
Digital: On comparing the digital simulators with analog simulators, you would find that they are simpler in comparison. Within the digital simulation, we have to work with 2 voltage levels ie Logic 0 and Logic 1.
Mixed-Mode: A great circuit simulation, as it uses both digital and analog simulations. In the mixed-mode electronic simulation, the digital and the analog are distinct entities and have their own tools and resources.
Since we now have differentiated the 3 types of electronic simulations and have grasped the general idea of this concept, we can start to understand their great demand due to them being a great resource in the electronic industry.
We all know, now that more and more electronic devices are being made, electronic circuit simulation has become an increasingly indisposable tool for the creation of integrated circuits (IC). It has a huge growing need in literally every industry. Let’s look at some of these needs that Electronic simulations fulfuill!
Image credit: vlab-iitk-opamp
The Need for Electronics Simulation online (Why simulation is used?)
- Allows us to test the functionality of a circuit without actually building the circuit.
- Cost-efficient, time-saving along with being an integral tool in easily designing complex circuits.
- Reduces the wastage of valuable hardware resources by granting us the power of getting satisfactory and accurate results using software simulations.
- Not satisfied with the working of the circuit? Worry not, you can easily re-design the circuit based on the simulation results and your liking.
- Not only this, but Circuit Simulation Software also allows us to modify existing projects without designing PCBs.
- Plus, you get to easily probe different points in a circuit and view the virtual waveforms.
Sounds super helpful right? Well, then allow us to introduce you to the benefits of using Circuit Simulation and make you aware of how advantageous they are to the electronics intellectual inside you!
Advantages of Circuit Simulation
Well, of course, if something is in such great demand, it is going to have some advantages, right? Allow us to list them for you!
- Circuit simulation softwares such as SPICE, LTspice, etc are all free to use which makes them quite accessible.
- Changing the models and overall behavior of the simulator has now become child’s play. Thus, iterating multiple levels of stimulation to explore the limitations and the possibilities of the circuit becomes seamless.
- Also, changing the value of the components of the simulation has also become pretty easy along with altering different input parameters like voltages and currents for the circuit.
- These circuit simulators also have the tools for testing power distribution systems and power supply designs which makes them of great advantage!
- Plus, on a separate basis, analog simulators allow you to check the duration of the transition between logic levels, and also Testing memory-related timings and latency of memory modules becomes super easy
Thus, you can see that Circuit simulations have become quite the need of the hour. Plus, their various advantages highly justify these demands.
Worried about where to start? And how to find the best simulation software? Well, let us help!
To get you started there are some great electronic simulators in the market. One of the most popular ones is SPICE- Simulation Program with Integrates Circuit Emphasis. Other similar softwares that are as easy to use as SPICE are :
- ngspice
- Multisim
- Synopsys PrimeSim
- PSIM
- Cadence Spectre
In our coming article, we will thoroughly discuss the benefits of each of these softwares and break down which one is the best for you. But remember, all of these are pretty great. So, start your journey with an electronic simulator today! and bring to life some great ICs!
See also: Basic electronics virtual lab for teachers and students
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References: electronicshub
