COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN 2 (E3004)
AC ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION TO AC SIMULATION
In this unit, you will learn about frequency variation analysis and simulation. These include AC sources, AC analysis and their setup. To run ac analysis, the circuit to be simulated has to have ac source. No ac analysis can be done to a circuit without an ac source connected to it.
AC analysis produces frequency response curve for a given circuit
WHAT IS AC ANALYSIS?
AC analysis is a type of analysis which involves the use of ac source.
In this type of analysis, the ac source can be set to a single frequency or multiple frequencies. For multiple frequencies, the magnitude of the source is set the same.
AC Sweep and Noise are types of AC analysis that evaluate circuit performance in response to a small-signal ac source. AC Sweep outputs include voltages and currents with magnitude and phase.
AC SOURCE
An ac source generates sinusoidal waveforms at several frequencies but having the same magnitude and phase. Attributes of an ac source is as follows : PKGREF ; designator of the ac source ACMAG ; magnitude of the ac source. ACPHASE ; phase of the ac source.
I. II. III.
AC SOURCE
Get an ac source part called VAC and place it on the schematic sheet. The ac source will have an default designator V1, displayed on the sheet.
Setting up AC Sweep
To set up an AC Sweep, values for certain attributes have to be set before the ac analysis could run or executed. The attributes are: a) AC Sweep type ; type of sweep to be used (linear, octave, decade) b) Sweep parameter Points per decade : number of point to be plotted for every frequency decade. Start frequency : the frequency at which Pspice starts simulation. End frequency : the final frequency at which Pspice stops simulation.
Setting up AC Sweep
To do an ac analysis setup. Click on analysis setup icon. Check the Enable box on left of AC Sweep box.
Setting up AC Sweep
USING OFFPAGE used to connect circuit points located on different schematic pages or to avoid using long wires in a page.
EXAMPLE
Simulate the circuit from 1Hz to 1KHz
GENERATING FREQUENCY RESPONSE CURVE USING PROBE
how to generate frequency response curve at user instruction or automatically, using probe. how to determine cut-off frequencies. based on the cut-off frequencies, you will then determine the frequency bandwidth.
Frequency Response Curve
A frequency response curve is used to know how a circuit responds to frequency change of the input source. The respond could be in the form of voltage gain. Voltage gain is the ratio of output voltage to input voltage and represented by Av. The gain is usually measured in decibel (dB) unit.
Frequency Response Curve
A frequency response curve together with gain in decibel unit is called Bode Plot. Bode plot is very important when analyzing the performance of circuits such as filters and amplifiers due to frequency change of the input source.
How to determine cut-off frequency
Click and drag the cursor using left mouse button until the maximum gain is reduced 3db from the maximum gain. The frequency where the gain drops 3db from the maximum gain is called the cutoff frequency.
How to determine frequency bandwidth
Frequency bandwidth, BW, of a circuit can be determined from a Bode plot. The Bode plot will have two cut-off frequencies, fc1 and fc2. Frequency bandwidth is the difference between fc2 and fc1 and can be calculated using the formula, BW = fc2 fc1
