Webinars by Topics

Recorded on 2017-10-19

This one hour webinar is the first in a series of webinars on creating high level models for the SIMPLIS simulator. The webinar will begin with an overview of the modeling goals which should be common to all modelling efforts. A hierarchical example is then examined and tested against those goals and detailed modeling techniques will be discussed. Finally, we will present the model development timeline, from initial concept schematics, to the final hierarchical design.

Recorded on 2017-11-09

This webinar will cover the design of two common blocks used in power converters:

• Oscillators, Including Spread Spectrum
• Soft-Start (Moved to December's Webinar: Modeling in SIMPLIS - Part II)

Recorded on 2016-10-20

Piecewise linear (PWL) resistors, capacitors, and inductors allow designers to create very complex models using only a single two terminal device. This one-hour webinar will start with the one of the most versatile SIMPLIS primitives: the PWL Resistor. The webinar uses real-world application circuits to define PWL Resistors as well as explain their limitations. Circuit examples include:

• Constant Power Loads
• ESD Diodes with Snapback
• Soft-Start Blocks
• Current Sources with Saturation
• Multipliers and Dividers
• MOSFET Driver Output Characteristics

Recorded on 2017-12-14

This webinar will cover the design of soft start blocks using both digital and analog techniques.

• Analog Soft-Start
  • Issues With PWL Source Implementation
  • Designing for Back Annotation
  • Handling Pre-charged Outputs
• Digital Soft-Start

Recorded on 2017-05-18

This one hour webinar focuses on creating high-level models, both from the IC developer and system-level designer's point of view. Techniques for defining block re-usability and parameterization as well as designing models which simulate fast and succeed at the Periodic Operating Point (POP) analysis are covered. Finally, methods for backing up models and taking

Recorded on 2018-01-18

In this one hour webinar, PWM modulators will be presented in both analog and digital forms. Trailing edge, leading edge, and dual edge PWM modulators will be presented in detail.

• Implementation Discussion - Classic/Advanced Digital Logic
• Analog PWM modulators
  • Trailing edge
  • Leading edge
  • Dual edge
• Digital PWM modulators
  • Trailing edge example

Recorded on 2016-05-19

Parameterization is one of the most powerful concepts in SIMPLIS. Using parameterization, you can create reusable technology blocks where each block is configured by parameters. In this one hour webinar you will learn how to use parameters on both the top level schematic and how to pass parameters into subcircuits using the SIMPLIS_TEMPLATE property.

Recorded on 2018-02-15

In this one hour webinar, a programmable load with three load types (constant resistance, constant current, and constant voltage) will be presented. After the individual loads are created, a parameter editing dialog is used to select which load will be used in the simulation as well as the electrical parameters for the load.

• Creating each load subcircuit
• Error checking parameter values with .ERROR
• Using a master parameter to determine which schematic

Recorded on 2018-03-22

The agenda for this one hour webinar is as follows:

• Brief review of parameterization
• Overview of the three dialog types
  • NewValueDialog
  • TabValueDialog
  • RadioSelectWidgetStackDialog
• Using dialog definition spreadsheets
• Modifying dialog definitions

Recorded on 2016-07-21

The webinar starts with the digital hardware approach to modeling, where adders, multipliers, and other digital hardware models are used to implement the control algorithm. The second approach uses discrete time filters, which emulate the digital hardware model but with the benefit of allowing an AC analysis to be performed on the control loop. Next, SystemDesigner, which is a set of built-in modelling blocks which allow the user to use a single schematic to implement both a digital hardware and a discrete time filter model. Finally, co-simulating SIMPLIS with the controller implemented in Verilog HDL is covered.

Scheduled for 2021-08-19

This one hour webinar will cover some of the SIMPLIS Advanced Training course material, specifically Section 4.4: Protecting Your IP - Model Encryption. The bulk of the webinar will focus on steps necessary to create self-contained, standalone schematics with encrypted IC models suitable for distribution to end users.

Agenda:

• Introduction
• Advantages of distributing flattened, encrypted schematics
• Requirements for encryption
• Example:
  • Converting a .sxcmp into a flattened ASCII subcircuit model
  • Modifying the top-level schematic to use a plain-text subcircuit model
  • Modifying the top-level schematic to use an encrypted subcircuit model
• Additional discussion topics:
  • Creating an library of encrypted models
  • Caveats, errors and things to be aware of
  • Testing encrypted schematics

Recorded on 2016-04-28

The SIMPLIS POP analysis finds the periodic steady-state operating point of a circuit and is one of the most powerful features of SIMPLIS. To find the steady-state operating point, POP runs a sequence of transient simulations on your circuit, constantly refining the initial conditions between simulations. This one hour webinar will cover how to setup the POP analysis on a DC/DC converter, the core POP process, analysis parameters and common POP errors.

Recorded on 2016-09-15

Several tips and tricks to help you work more efficiently in SIMPLIS will be discussed in this one-hour webinar. These time saving actions are some of the

Recorded on 2016-11-17

Running AC analyses on PFC converters has always been challenging because the circuit has no true steady-state when the input voltage is sinusoidal. The SIMPLIS POP and AC analyses assume the converter has a single operating frequency, namely the switching frequency. As soon as the sinusoidal input voltage is applied to the converter, running a POP analysis becomes difficult, but as you will see, not impossible. Tricks for running a POP and AC analysis on a PFC converter with an AC input voltage will be discussed and the loop gain results obtained with a DC input will be compared to the loop gain results when the converter is operating with an AC input.

Recorded on 2017-03-16

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS has a powerful built-in measurement system which allows users to make measurements on simulation waveforms. As powerful as this system is, it is infrequently used. In this one hour webinar you will learn how to make measurements, and most importantly, add your own custom measurements to the program.

Recorded on 2017-06-29

This one hour webinar focuses on identifying the circuit elements which cause a SIMPLIS simulation to run slowly. The webinar will begin with a description of circuit elements which cause SIMPLIS to run slowly. Example circuits with small RC and L/R time constants will be presented and examined, with the simulation speed correlated to the smallest time constant.

Recorded on 2020-06-25

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Version 8.40 was released on May 19th, 2020, and offers several important upgrades and additional features. Several new features were added and this webinar will cover some new SIMPLIS features:

• Capacitor or Inductor Conversion Tool
• Power Supply Sources and Loads
• Useful Schematic Editor Features
• Controlled Sources with Ideal Limiting
• Multi-Level Lossy Transformer
• Magnetics Design Module (brief overview)
• C-Code DLL-Defined Digital Devices (brief overview)

Recorded on 2018-05-17

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Version 8.20 was released on January 27th, 2018 and offers several important upgrades and additional features. Among the changes for this version are a brand new, ground up redesign of the waveform viewer, a simulation health report which diagnoses common simulation issues, and updates to the arbitrary probe for Multi-Step and Monte Carlo simulations. In this one hour webinar, several new features will be discussed:

• Simulation Health Report
  • How it diagnoses common problems with simulations
• New Waveform Viewer
  • Completely New Rendering Engine
  • Curve History/Grouping (replaces persistence feature)
  • Graph Tab Naming
  • Continuous X-Y Value Display (small

Recorded on 2020-09-17

Included with the release of SIMetrix/SIMPLIS 8.40 is the introduction of the SIMPLIS C/C++ code DLL-defined device. This feature is available to all SIMPLIS users with a Pro or Elite license. In this one hour webinar, we will walk through the entire lifecycle of a DLL-defined Digital Voltage Controlled Oscillator. Creating a DLL-defined Digital Device requires both SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Pro or Elite and a C/C++ compiler toolchain. In this webinar, we will switch between them in order to create and test our example device.

Recorded on 2018-07-19

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Version 8.20 was released on January 27th, 2018 and offers several important upgrades and additional features. This webinar is the second part of a two-part series detailing these features. In this one hour webinar, several new features will be discussed:

• Component Enable/Disable
• Improved Transformer GUI
• DVM Enhancements
• Laplace Filter Pole-Zero Entry Dialog
• Ability to Shift the Reference (x-values) of a Waveform
• Piecewise Linear Curve Fit

Recorded on 2017-09-14

This one hour webinar will explore measuring switching losses and efficiency on SIMPLIS circuits. In order to effectively model switching losses, the MOSFET driver circuit must be modeled with more detail than is typical. The driver sourcing and sinking current limits, as well as the saturation resistances, must be realistically modeled for the switching losses to approximate a real circuit.

Recorded on 2017-02-16

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS version 8.10, was introduced on December 13th, 2016. Several new features were added and this webinar will cover some new SIMPLIS features.

Recorded on 2018-09-27

In this one-hour webinar, we focus on the losses of a MOSFET switching a clamped inductive load. A dual simulator mode test bench will be presented which helps compare and contrast how MOSFETs are modeled in both SIMPLIS and SPICE. Losses due to turn-on, turn-off, and conduction are quantified using both SIMPLIS and SIMetrix SPICE. All losses will be presented in both terms of energy as well as power dissipation, and these energy curves provide helpful insight into which part of a switching transition dominates the loss. Finally, we end the webinar discussing the difficulties in finding a true, periodic steady-state operating point which is crucial to measuring efficiency in a power converter.

Recorded on 2016-01-21

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS version 8.00, with a new user interface using dockable layouts, was released in August, 2015. In addition the user interface changes, the schematic editor was updated with graphical annotation features including images and hyperlinks. Finally, the Analog Functions library adds several general purpose models. This webinar is divided into two parts - the first part is a one hour webinar which introduces 5 new features of version 8.00:

• New User Interface
• Schematic Features
• New Parts
• New Probes
• Schematic Migration Tool and Followup Questions

Recorded on 2018-11-29

In this webinar, we will take the customized MOSFET models created in the first webinar and insert these models into a real application circuit. A hard-switched synchronous buck converter will be used as the test vehicle.

Recorded on 2016-02-18

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS version 8.00, with a new user interface using dockable layouts, was released in August, 2015. In addition the user interface changes, the schematic editor was updated with graphical annotation features including images and hyperlinks. Finally, the Analog Functions library adds several general purpose models. This webinar is divided into two parts - the first part is a one hour webinar which introduces 5 new features of version 8.00:

• Monte Carlo Report
• DVM Makes Probe Measurements After a Monte Carlo Simulation
• SIMPLIS Debug Tools
  • Finding the Smallest Time Constant
  • Graphing Time Constants
  • Debug Report Generator
• Digitize Data Sheet Curves (SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Pro Feature)
• Documentation Updated for Version 8.00
  • Expanded SIMPLIS Tutorial
  • Advanced SIMPLIS Training Material

Recorded on 2019-01-24

In this one hour webinar, we will discuss reverse recovery loss in diodes. To begin the discussion, we will present waveforms for a diode commutating from an on to off state under an inductive load for the following models:

• No Reverse Recovery and No Junction Capacitance (ideal, conduction only.)
• No Reverse Recovery but Including the Junction Capacitance (ideal, capacitance only.)
• Including Reverse Recovery (conduction, junction capacitance, and reverse recovery as modeled by SPICE).

Recorded on 2016-06-23

As pressures increase to increase efficiency and decrease size and design cycle time, it is becoming more important to model the non-ideal behavior of magnetic power devices. As switching frequencies increase, the need to model PC Board and device package parasitics is also growing. This webinar is Part I of a series looking at how to effectively model magnetic devices in SIMPLIS. Using Piecewise Linear modeling, SIMPLIS offers a powerful and simple way to model non-linear magnetic devices such as power inductors and transformers. In this one hour webinar we focus on how to model inductors in SIMPLIS.

Recorded on 2017-01-19

This Webinar presents the SIMPLIS best practices approach to modeling energy-storage transformers for power electronic applications. We first illustrate the SIMPLIS T-Equivalent circuit transformer model, which is good for the large majority of switching power supply applications, such as predicting device stresses and output voltage cross regulation. We also address an approach for modeling more complex magnetic structures based on a reluctance model.

Recorded on 2020-07-16

The SIMPLIS Magnetics Design Module (MDM) is a new add-on available for all SIMetrix/SIMPLIS products (Classic, Pro, or Elite) starting with version 8.40. MDM enables the creation of realistic inductor and transformer models from a large, editable, and extendable catalog of standard and customizable components (cores, materials, wires, and bobbins), as well as the calculation detailed and accurate inductor and transformer losses and temperatures. SIMPLIS MDM will be introduced in this two-part webinar. Part I will cover the basics of MDM and demonstrate how MDM can be used to design inductors.
Abstract

• Review of inductor modeling in SIMPLIS
• The new Level 2 model of the Multi-Level PWL Lossy Inductor
• Introduction to the MDM GUI and MagDB
• Basic principles of MDM operation and use
• Buck converter inductor design example
• Planar magnetic design example
• PFC inductor design example
• Concurrent design of magnetic and electric circuits (inductor example)

Recorded on 2020-08-20

This webinar is the second part of an introduction to the SIMPLIS Magnetics Design Module (MDM). In this webinar, we will demonstrate how MDM can be used to design transformers. It will also introduce, in detail, the new Multi-Level Lossy Transformer, which does not require MDM for its Levels 0 through 2. Before attending or watching this webinar, please make sure you have reviewed the Introduction to the SIMPLIS Magnetics Design Module - Part I: Inductors webinar.
Abstract

• Improved modeling of transformers in SIMPLIS: The Multi-Level Lossy Transformer
• Multi-Level Lossy Transformer Model Levels 0-2 (do not require MDM)
• Multi-Level Lossy Transformer Model Level 3 (can only be created with MDM) - the reluctance circuit
• Using MDM to design and simulate transformers
• Self-oscillating flyback converter transformer design example
• DC-DC isolated LLC converter transformer design example
• Concurrent design of magnetic and electric circuits (transformer example)

Recorded on 2020-10-15

This webinar will show how the Magnetics Design Module (MDM) can be used in the context of a real-world LLC converter design example. It will start by going through part of the design process of an actually manufactured 600W DC-DC LLC converter board, using MDM to demonstrate the advantages of the final design choices compared to the initial design. Further possible variations of the designs of the resonant inductor and transformer of the LLC converter will then be explored, along with their impact on converter performance. Trade-offs, such as cost vs. efficiency, will be examined. It will be shown how even in situations where the “right” magnetics design seems apparent from the application constraints and designer experience, MDM can be used to quickly evaluate many alternatives and “what ifs” straightforwardly and quickly, giving immediate insight into the impact of different design choices not only on the magnetics, but on the whole system.

Abstract:

• 380V-to-12V, 50A output DC-DC LLC converter
• LLC design basics and impact on magnetics selection
• Initial LLC transformer design (real-world example)
• Refined and final LLC transformer design (real-world example)
• MDM analysis supporting advantages of final over initial design
• Exploration of variations on the inductor and transformer design: different core shapes, materials, wire types
• MDM analysis of trade-offs

Recorded on 2016-08-18

This one hour webinar introduces DVM, the mechanics of setting up a design to run in DVM, and customizing testplans. Examples include plotting measured scalar values (e.g. average output voltage) against other scalar values on X-Y plots, creating design of experiments, and worst case analysis of the power converter.

Recorded on 2017-07-20

This one hour webinar will expand on the previously held Introduction to DVM Webinar, with the goal of bringing into reach some of the more powerful DVM features. The bulk of the webinar will be focused of practical example circuits.