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NEW CAD PRODUCTS & SERVICES

handle 3-D projcciion and rendering. 102 ELECTRONICS Australia. September 1987

Analog Circuit simulation

PSpice brings the capabilities of SPICE and morę to a personal Computer.

By using an easy-to-learn input format, you entcr a Circuit description into an ordinary text file with any text editor on your PĆ, or use the schematic inter-face from many of the popular PC-based CAE packages. Then PSpice is run to analyse the Circuit you have de-scribed. The results are available on your monitor, on a printer or plotter, or may be saved in a file for later rcfer-ence. Results can be viewed interac-tively with high resolution, graphical output.

PSpice allows you to simulate your Circuit designs before touching the first piece of hardware. The responsc over time to different inputs, the frequency response, the noise, and othcr informa-tion about your Circuit are all availablc. In effect, PSpice allows you to do a “Computer breadboard” of the Circuit before building anything.

The Probc option lets you chcck results with high resolution, graphical output. Information about any of the nodes in the Circuit may be analysed intcrac-tivcly without rerunning the simulation.

The Parts option helps you extraCt device model parameters from the manufacturer*s data sheet spccification. Interactive, graphical feedback lets you chcck that the device characterisation has been done corrcctly.

PSpice will run on the IBM-PC/XT/AT, Compaq 386, or any IBM-PC compatible Computer with 512K of memory, the floating-point co-processor (8087, 80287 or 80387), and DOS 2.0 (or later). Double precision (64 bit) arithmetic is used throughout, including AC and noise analysis whcre the rcal and imaginary parts are each double precision.

With 640K of memory on the IBM-PC/AT PSpice will simulate circuits with up to 200 transistors. On the IBM PC/AT PSpice runs one-fourth the speed of SPICE on a VAX11/780 (both machines cquipped with floating-point hardware).

Interfaces are available for popular PC-based schematic editors including those from Aptos Computer, Case Technology, FutureNet, Omation, OrCAD, P-CAD and Viewlogic. Using one of these packages you can go di-rectly from schematic to simulation.

Prometheus Software Developments, 191 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn 3122.

Ultra-fast graphics

A new rangę of microcomputer graphics monitors which can pan, zoom and rcdraw images up to 20 times faster than comparable screens, has been launched on the Australian PC market by Comprador Business Systems.

The rangę, callcd Xcellerator, is claimed to be the world's first graphics system for micros to incorporate the rcvolutionary T134010 third-generation Texas Instruments graphics processor chip. The manufacturer is Cambridge Computer Graphics of Cambridge, Eng-land.

The Xccllerator rangę is designed for users of IBM PC/AT computers and compatibles who need to produce largc drawings particularly architects, engi-neers, graphic artists and desktop pub-lishers. It comprises two 19“ high resolution display monitors — a grey scalę with eight shades of grey version, and 256-colour version — and threc graphics controller cards.

Insiead of waiting many seconds for conventional screens to zoom or pan. an Xcelleraior user can perform all these functions on a 2-D CAD design almost instantaneously.

Similarly. users producing 3-D designs can programme ihe system to and in engineering applications, wire frame modcls can be rapidly trans-formed or viewed from new angles.

Xcellerator software drivers are avail-able for most standard CAD and graphics packages including AutoCAD, MS Windows, Campaint and Personal Designer. In addition to these screen drivers, Comprador can provide software tool kits which enable users to de-velop their own. A typical Xcellerator colour screen with 1Mb of memory would cost about $14,(XX).

For morę information contact Comprador Business Systems, 90-94 WarTen Road, Smithfield 2164.

Analog simulation system

The CAE Systems Division of Tek-tronix has announced the HSPICE simulation system which provides an in-tegrated environment for analog Circuit design and verification.

The HSPICE Simulation System pro-vides tight integration of Tektronix Designer^ Database Schematic Capture (DDSC) program, and Meta-Software’s popular HSPICE analog Circuit simulation software. Offered as an option to Tcktronix PCB WorkSystem, the system allows the design engineer to develop and analyse analog designs within the powerful, easy-to-use DDSC cnviron-ment.

Tektronix DDSC is the controlled repository of Circuit or system graphical, clectrical and parametric data. DDSC accommodates “team engineering” by allowing designers immediate transparent access to design data resident any-where on a network. Multiple Windows can display design and simulation results simultaneously, different designs for side-by-side comparison, or sections of a design.

Meta-Software’s HSPICE Circuit Simulator program offers exccption con-vergence handling, a greatly enhanced fcature set and highly accurate discrete componeni models developed by Meta-Software’s Dcvicc Characterization Laboratory.

A super-set of the defacto industry standard SPICE Circuit Simulator, HSPICE provides analog Circuit veri-fication through AC, DC or time do-main analyses. Information may also be