Release_Notes
Release_Notes
0, Ansoft Corporation
SIMPLORER 7.0 is packaged with a powerful scripting interface, enhanced optimization and statistical analysis
tools, and several new ease-of-use features that enhance the user interface. Model development wizards are now
available for creating C-models, VHDL-AMS models, and component dialogs. The VHDL-AMS functionality in
SIMPLORER has been extended with optimized models and improved simulation efficiency. A new add-on library
of sensor models with 276 elements and a transient coupling link between SIMPLORER and Ansoft’s Maxwell FEA
product that enables simultaneous transient simulation of system and finite-element models are also available with
the new version release.
Much of the development of new functionality was driven by customer requests and requirements in the automotive
and aerospace industries, as well as the power and drive industries.
Modeling
Modeling with VHDL-AMS
Modeling with SML
Enhanced Functionality for Measuring Signal Characteristics
New Functionality in SIMPLORER Model Libraries
Scripting Interface
Simulator
Co-simulation Interfaces
Transient Coupling of SIMPLORER with Maxwell 2D
Simulink Coupling
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
User Interface
Wire Mode
¾ Wire connections can be made without explicit initiation of wire mode
Ö New wire cursor appears when the mouse is moved over potential connection points such as unconnected
pins or existing wires
Ö A mouse click at the appearance of the new wire cursor automatically changes the editing mode to wire
mode
Ö Wire mode is preserved even when schematic zoom is changed
Ö Zoom-dependent tolerance of auto-connect feature is available
Ö Auto connect feature can be initiated between pins of different models by overlapping the pins on the
schematic
Ö If models are dropped such that the pin comes above a wire, a connection is automatically created.
¾ Most redundant wire connections are automatically detected and deleted in both new connections and in old
schematics
¾ New option for wires to always be drawn on top will be default setting. Can be deactivated in the sheet
properties dialog
¾ Unconnected wires are highlighted in red, and it is possible to specify a user-defined color for unconnected
wires in the sheet properties dialog
Display Elements
¾ “Edit in Place” mode allows on-sheet formatting and movement of display elements, including legends, titles,
axes, and labels
¾ Three new display elements are available for displaying simulation data:
Ö Histogram Element
Ö 3D Graphic Element
Ö Sensitivity Report
¾ New display features have been provided for 2DView elements:
Ö Multi-run visualization capability with access to experiment and transient data
Ö AC/DC analysis outputs can also be viewed in the new 2DView elements
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
Schematic Environment
¾ The Schematic interface now has a new look and feel
¾ Tolerance parameters of models for multi-run analyses can be specified in multiple locations:
Ö The model’s properties dialog within the ModelAgent, where definitions will be used as default for all new
model instances
Ö The model instance’s properties dialog on the Schematic, where definitions will be valid for all analyses
Ö The analysis setup dialog, where definitions will be considered only for the specific analysis type
¾ Locally declared pins in graphical subsheet models can now be associated with a nature/physical type as well as
expected units
Editor Environment
¾ SimEdit provides syntax coloring of scripting languages such as VBScript and Tcl/Tk
¾ Automation scripts for SIMPLORER can be initiated from within SimEdit
¾ New editing functionality such as adding/removing block comments and intelligent find-replace are now
features of SimEdit
ModelAgent
¾ New model properties can be associated with SIMPLORER components
Ö Tolerance parameters can be specified for multi-run simulations
Ö Parameter sets that allow the association of multiple sets of parameters for each model can be created Note
that only the model instance’s parameter set is visible on the schematic but all parameter sets associated
with a model are visible in the ModelAgent
¾ Models can be copied or moved in the ModelAgent by using simple drag-drop mouse functionality
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
Modeling
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
VHDL-AMS Wizard
¾ VHDL-AMS Wizard facilitates the development of VHDL-AMS models for use in SIMPLORER and in other
VHDL-AMS simulators
¾ Wizard provides a set of dialog boxes that automates the writing, editing, and compiling of VHDL-AMS entity
descriptions and behavioral and structural architecture descriptions
¾ Wizard obviates the knowledge of language syntax details and also provides a comprehensive template of
VHDL-AMS constructs
¾ Wizard’s dual-mode model editing allows the editing of VHDL-AMS code either using dialogs or the text editor
¾ Wizard lists all declared VHDL-AMS objects (terminals, signals, quantities, etc.) graphically for an easy
reference
C-Model Wizard
¾ C-Model Wizard facilitates the development and extension of C-Models for SIMPLORER by generating C-
code required to implement a SIMPLORER C-Model
¾ Wizard can be launched from the Commander as a stand-alone application or from the SIMPLORER
ModelAgent
¾ Wizard integrates tightly with the Microsoft Visual Studio (C/C++) Development Environment
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
Scripting Interface
¾ SIMPLORER modules have been enabled with an automated COM interface that allows access to module
functionality through scripts. The available interfaces are listed below:
Ö Simulator Interface
Ö SDB Interface
Ö MathMod Interface
Ö Experiment Tool Interface
Ö Report Interface
¾ A command line function for creating SML descriptions in ASCII text of SIMPLORER schematics has been
developed
¾ Language independent implementation of the scripting interface allows the use of a variety of scripting
languages such as VBScript, Tcl/Tk, etc and even enables direct access from C/C++ programs
¾ Enhancements to SIMPLORER’s editor module allow easy creation and initiation of scripts from within
SIMPLORER
Simulator
¾ Inductors, capacitors, and certain other energy-storage components may have their initial conditions un-
specified. The simulator will then establish the operating point before transient simulation, based on other
sources in the circuit
¾ When the initial condition is specified, an inductor becomes a current source and a capacitor becomes a voltage
source when the simulator determines the operating point before transient simulation
¾ In expression-defined voltage and current sources, the "improved numerics" now work with node voltages,
voltmeter outputs, ammeter outputs, voltage source currents, and controlled voltage source currents as
controlling variables
¾ AC/DC functionality is available in the Block Diagram Simulator
¾ The State Graph Simulator has a new DC-state for specification of DC behavior
¾ A foreign model and foreign function interface is available for the VHDL-AMS simulator
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SIMPLORER v7.0, Ansoft Corporation
Co-simulation Interfaces
Simulink Coupling
¾ Mathworks Release 12 and 13 are supported (Matlab 6/6.5 and Simulink 4/5)
¾ Coupling link dialog can automatically connect signals having SIMPLORER-style reference names (ex: R1.VAL)
with the corresponding Simulink-style reference name (R1_VAL)