220-spice-notes.

tex

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ECE 220

introduction to

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

spice source files

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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The Input (*.cir) File

In pspice, this file must be named <filename>.cir. The source file for any version of

spice has the following format.

TITLE
ELEMENT DESCRIPTIONS
.MODEL STATEMENTS
ANALYSIS COMMANDS
OUTPUT COMMANDS
.END
Important points:

The first line of this file is used as a title on output files. It is not included in the circuit
description. A common and frustrating error is caused by omitting the title.

The file must end with the command .END followed by a newline.
Comment entire lines by beginning them with * or the rest of a line by using a ;
Continue a statement on a new line with +

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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The Circuit Description

A circuit description in

spice , which is frequently called a netlist, consists of a statement

defining each circuit element.

Connections are described by naming nodes. (The usual names are actually numbers.) One
node name has a defined meaning. Node 0 is ground!
The format of an element description is

<letter><name> <n1> <n2> ...[mname] [parvals]

where <...> must be present and [...] is optional.

<letter> is a single letter denoting the component type

<name> is a unique alpha-num combination describing the particular instance of this
component

<ni> is the name of a node

[mname] is the (optional) model name
[parvals] are (sometimes optional) parameter values

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Sign Conventions
Two-terminal elements (including sources!) assume the load sign convention

I
The power P

= IV associated with an element is positive when the element absorbs power.

spice shows sources delivering negative power.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Passive Elements
The <letter> that begins an element instance denotes the circuit element. The passive
elements are

R or r for resistors, L or l for inductors, and C or c for capacitors.

This <letter> is followed by a unique instance name and then (in order) the nodes
associated with + and - voltage and the value of the associated parameter (R, L, or C ).

Examples:

R1 5 0 20k
cload nIN GND 250pF
L4 122 21 4mH

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Powers of Ten

The following abbreviations for powers of ten are recognized by

spice .

MEG

MIL

femto

pico

nano

micro

milli

kilo

mega

giga

tera

mil (103 inch)

1015

1012

109

106

103

10+3

10+6

10+9

10+12

25.4 106

spice ignores following letters. Thus 10pF, 10pAmps, and

10psec all simply represent the value 1012 .
Once a valid suffix is read,

MIL is used to convert distances in thousands of an inch, since spice uses metric lengths.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Independent Sources

V<name> <n+> <n-> [type] <val>

defines an independent voltage source with its + terminal at node n+ and its - node at node n-.

I<name> <n+> <n-> [type] <val>

defines an independent current source whose current flows through the source from node n+ to
node n-.

Examples:

Vdd 4 0 5

defines a 5 V source with the + terminal connected at node 4 and the -

terminal connected at node 0 (ground)

ibias 18 4 DC 15m
V2 3 0 25V

( spice recognizes the common abbreviations for units, which helps to

make source files more easily understood by humans.)

The optional type argument will be described in the analysis commands.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Voltage-Controlled Dependent Sources

The voltage-controlled dependent sources are defined using statements of the form

<letter><name> <nout+> <nout-> <nc+> <nc-> <gain>

or

<letter><name> <nout+> <nout-> (<nc+>,<nc->) <gain>

where E is a voltage-controlled voltage source, G is a voltage-controlled current source, the
output voltage is connected between nodes nout+ and nout-, and the control voltage is
measured at node nc+ with respect to node nc-.

Examples:

Ex 5 1 4 3 10

defines a voltage source that makes node 5 a voltage 10(v4

v3 )

above the voltage at node 1

G1 2 1 (5,8) 50m

defines a current source connected between node 2 (the + node)

and node 1 and supplying a current 50mf(v5

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

v8 )

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Current-Controlled Dependent Sources

The current-controlled dependent sources are defined by statements of the form

<letter><name> <nout+> <nout-> <vcontrol> <gain>

where F is a current-controlled current source, H is a current-controlled voltage source, and the
output current source is connected between nodes nout+ and nout-, with positive current
flowing through the source from node nout+ to nout-. The control current flows from the
positive node of the source vcontrol through the source and out the negative node.
Examples:

Fds 11 9 Vsens 1.25 defines a current source connected from node 11 to node 9
that generates a current 1.25 times the current flowing through the source Vsens.
H1 30 20 v5 100k defines a voltage source connected from node 30 to node 20 and
supplying a voltage 100 k times the current through the source v5.
It is frequently necessary to add a voltage source with value 0 V to the circuit to sense
the control current for these sources!

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Diodes
Diodes are defined using two statements. The netlist definition is of the form

D<name> <n+> <n-> <model-name>

4

Example:

D1 4 2 my-diode

corresponds to
D1

The <model-name> must be defined using a .MODEL statement

.MODEL <model-name> D ( [parameter = value] ...)

Continuing the above example,

.MODEL my-diode D ( IS=1.4e-18 N=1.2 )

where IS is the saturation current and N is the ideality factor (sometimes called the emission
coefficient). There are approximately 30 parameters which can be specified for diodes. Those not
explicitly specified have default values.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Useful Diode Model parameters

Parameter

Description

Units

Default

IS

Reverse saturation current

Amp

1014

XTI

Temperature exponent of IS

Ideality factor (emission coefficient)

BV

Reverse breakdown knee voltage

Volt

RS

Parasitic series resistance

Ohm

CJO

Zero-bias junction capacitance

Farad

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Bipolar Junction Transistors

The BJT also requires both a netlist statement and a .MODEL. A BJT is included in the netlist
with a statement of the form

Q<name> <nc> <nb> <ne> <model-name>

where the collector is connected at node nc, the base at node nb, and the emitter at node ne.
Example:

Q3 6 3 0 my-npn corresponds to
3

Q3
0

The model-name is defined as

.MODEL <model-name> <npn | pnp> ( [parameter = value] ...)

Continuing the example,

.MODEL my-npn npn ( BF = 175 IS=1e-17 VA=75 BR=2 )

where BF is the forward , IS is the saturation current, VA is the Early voltage, and BR is the
reverse . There are approximately 60 parameters for BJTs.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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MOSFETs
The BJT again requires both a netlist statement and a .MODEL. A MOSFET is included in the
netlist with a statement of the form

M<name> <nd> <ng> <ns> <nb> <model-name> [L=value] [W=value]

where the drain, gate, source, and body are connected at nodes nd, ng, ns, and nb
respectively. The length L and width W are optional.
Example:

Vdd

Md 4 3 2 10 my-pmos L=1.5u W=4u corresponds to

2
3

10

Md

L=1.5
W=4

The model-name is defined as

.MODEL <model-name> <nmos | pmos> ( [parameter = value] ...)

Continuing the example,

.MODEL my-pmos pmos ( VTO=-0.8V KP=5e-4 LAMBDA=0.01)

where VTO is the threshold voltage, KP is the transconductance parameter, and LAMBDA is
the channel-length modulation coefficient.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Subcircuits
A subcircuit simplifies spice netlists by allowing re-use of a set of circuit elements. The
syntax is

SUBCKT <SubName> <N1> <N2> ...

...
.ENDS
The SubName is the name used to reference the subcircuit, and the nodes are the internal
node numbers used to connect to the subcircuit.
A subcircuit can contain any spice netlist statements, including .model statements and
other subcircuits.
Any elements, nodes, models, subcircuits, or definitions in the subcircuit are completely local to
the subcircuit.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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* subcircuit example
.subckt inverter 1 2 3
*
input | |
*
output |
*
dc supply
mp 2 1 3 3 mypmos
mn 2 1 0 0 mynmos
.model mypmos pmos( ... )
.model mynmos nmos( ... )
.ends

Vdd

3
1

Vdd 30 0 dc 3.6V
vin 10 0 dc 0V

30

10
20
+
vin Xinv1 Xinv2

40
Rload

Xinv1 10 20 30 inverter
Xinv2 20 40 30 inverter
Rload 40 0 100k
.dc vin 0 3.6 0.1
.end

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.AC Small-Signal Analysis

.AC calculates the small-signal response as a function of frequency. The command is
.AC <type> <npts> <f-start> <f-end>
where <type> is one of

LIN (linear sweep) The analysis is repeated at <npts> linearly-spaced frequencies starting at
<f-start> and ending at <f-end>.
DEC (log sweep by decades) The analysis is repeated at frequencies starting with <f-start>
and ending with <f-end>. The frequencies are equally-spaced on a log10 scale with
<npts> per decade.
OCT (log sweep by octaves) The analysis frequencies start at <f-start> and end with
<f-end>, with <npts> points per octave.

A source whose frequency is swept has a type designation AC included in its element
description.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.AC Example

1
RC circuit
r1 1 2 10k
c1 2 0 1n
vin 1 0 ac 1 dc 0
.ac dec 10 .01 10
.probe
.end

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

vin

10k

2
1n

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.DC Sweep
.DC calculates the DC voltages and currents in a circuit for a range of values of a chosen
variable or variables. The .DC command has three forms.
.DC [LIN] <var1> <s1> <e1> <d1> [<var2> <s2> <e2> <d2>]
sweeps var1 from s1 to e1 with a linear increment d1. If the second set of values is present,
the entire first analysis will be done for each value of var2.

.DC <DEC | OCT>] <var1> <s1> <e1> <np1> [<var2> ...]

does a log sweep, adjusting var1 from s1 to e1 in decades (DEC) or octaves (OCT) with np1
points per interval. If the second set of values is present, the entire first analysis will be done for
each value of var2.

.DC <var1> LIST <val1> <val2> [...]

[<var2> ...]

performs the analysis for a list of values. Again, the entire first analysis is performed for every
value in the second list.
A source whose value is used in a .DC sweep has a type designation

DC included in its

element description.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.DC Example
3

2k
1 transistor inverter
vbias 3 0 5V
vs 1 0 dc 0V
rb 1 2 20k
rc 3 4 2k
q 4 2 0 gennpn
...
.dc vs 0 5 0.05
...
.end

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

1
vs +

20k
2

vbias

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.TF - Transfer Function

.TF <var-out> <source-in>
calculates the small-signal gain from source-in to var-out, as well as the input and output
resistances. If var-out is a current, it must be the current through a voltage source. (You may
have to add a 0V source to sense this current.)
Example:

5k
tf example
vin 1 0 dc 0.5 Vac 0.1 V
rin 1 2 5k
ro 2 0 10k
...
tf v(2) vin
...
.end

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

vin

10k

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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.TRAN - Transient Analysis

.TRAN calculates the voltages and currents in a circuit as a function of time. The form of the
command is

.TRAN[/OP] <print-inc> <t-end> [print-start] [UIC]

The operating point for the conditions at the start of the transient analysis is calculated, but will
not be displayed unless the optional .TRAN/OP version of the command is used.

print-inc is the time step for the output (not the time step for the calculation!), and
t-end is the end of the simulation time period.
The optional argument print-start only reports results after that time, and UIC
indicates that the simulation should use initial conditions. (Initial conditions are set either with a

.IC command or by following the element definition of a capacitor with IC=<voltage> and
that for an inductor with IC=<current>.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

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Input Sources for .TRAN

The source types available include EXP for exponential waveforms, PULSE, PWL for
piecewise-linear waveforms, and SIN.

EXP( <v1> <v2> [Td1 [Tau1 [Td2 [Tau2]]]])

defines an exponential pulse which has an initial value of v1, starts at time Td1, rises with a time
constant Tau1 until time Td2, then falls with a time constant Tau2.

PULSE( <v1> <v2> [Td [Tr [Tf [pw [tau]]]]])

represents a pulse train with low voltage v1 and high voltage v2. The first pulse starts at time

T1, has rise time Tr and fall time Tf, holds v2 for a time pw, and has a period tau.
PWL ( <t1> <v1> [t2 v2 [t3 v3 ...]]
describes a piecewise-linear waveform with each t

v defining a corner.

SIN ( <v0> <va> [f [Td [df [phi]]]])

defines an exponentially-damped sine waveform with peak amplitude va, frequency f, damping
factor df, and phase phi in degrees. The waveform has the offset voltage v0, and holds that
value for a time Td before the time-dependence begins.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

Page 23

.TRAN Example
tran example
vin 1 0 pulse(0V 5V 0 0.1n 0.1n
+ 1u 2u)
vcontrol 2 0 dc 5V
mpass 1 2 3 0 mynmos L=5u W=5u
cl 3 0 10p
...
.model mynmos nmos(kp=0.01m
+ vto-0.8)
...
.tran 0.1u 2.5u
...
.end

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

vcontrol
2
1
+
vin

3
CL

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

Page 24

.OP - Operating Point

The .OP command writes detailed information about the default dc operating point to be
written in the *.out file. (This information is actually calculated by spice.)
The current and power of all voltage sources is given, as well as the small-signal model
parameters for all semiconductor devices.
The .TRAN/OP command supplies operating point information for the bias point of a
transient analysis.

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson

220-spice-notes.tex

Page 25

Writing results to a file

The results of an analysis request can be written to a file using the .PRINT command. The
form of the command is

.PRINT <type> <OV1> <OV2> <Ov3> ...

The output variables are OV1,

OV2, . . . . Node voltages and branch currents can be

specified as magnitude (M), phase (P), real (R), or imaginary (I) by adding the appropriate suffix
to V pr I using the following designations:
M: Magnitude
DB: Magnitude in dB
P: Phase
R: Real part
I: Imaginary part
Example:

.print dc vm(4,0) vdb(4,2) ip(3,2)

ECE 220 - Electronic Devices and Circuits

Phyllis R. Nelson