Whats New with LTspice IV?
Gabino Alonso
Follow @LTspice on Twitter for up-to-date information on models, demo circuits, events and user tips: www.twitter.com/LTspice
NEW DEVICE MODELS
LTspice IV is a high performance SPICE simulator, schematic capture and waveform viewer specifically designed to speed up the process of power supply design. LTspiceIV adds enhancements and models to SPICE, significantly reducing simulation time compared to typical SPICE simulators, allowing one to view waveforms for most switching regulators in minutes compared to hours for other SPICE simulators. LTspice IV is available free from Linear Technology at www.linear.com/LTspice. Included in the download is a complete working version of LTspice IV, macro models for Linear Technologys power products, over 200 op amp models, as well as models for resistors, transistors and MOSFETs.
To update your installation of LTspice IV with the latest models, choose Sync Release from the Tools menu in LTspice IV. Here is a list of some new models:
LT3029: Dual 500m A /500m A low
What is LTspice IV?
COOKING WITH LTspice IV SEMINAR TAKES WORLD TOUR NEW HOW-TO VIDEOS
dropout, low noise, power linear regulator www.linear.com/3029
LT6109-1/LT6109-2: High side current
Mike Engelhardt, the author and creator of LTspice IV, is embarking on a world tour to teach you the ins and outs of LTspice IV in a series of free half-day seminars. At each seminar, Mr. Engelhardt will show you how to quickly simulate switch mode power supplies, compute efficiencies and observe power supply start-up behavior and transient response. You will also learn how to use LTspice IV as a general-purpose SPICE simulator for AC analysis, DC sweeps, noise analysis and circuit simulations. The presentation includes a description of the algorithms used in LTspice IV to give you a unique and powerful perspective on the inner workings of LTspice IV. For more information on these upcoming seminars and other events please visit www.linear.com/LTspiceEvents.
One of the fastest ways to get started with LTspice IV and learn a few user tips, is to watch the instructional videos available at www.linear.com/LTspiceVideos. Two new videos are now available: The first new instructional video covers the LTspice IV Schematic Editor (video.linear.com/84). This video shows how to use the LTspice IV schematic capture program in the layout of a simple circuit so you can quickly draft and make edits to your design. The second video covers the LTspice IV Waveform Viewer (video. linear.com/88). This video shows you how to quickly probe the circuit for current and voltage response, and how to view and measure the waveforms. It also includes techniques to navigate the waveforms as you analyze results.
sense amplifier with reference and comparators www.linear.com/6109
LT3970-3.3/LT3970-5: 40V, 350m A step-down
regulator with 2.5 A quiescent current and integrated diodes www.linear.com/3970
LTC3618: Dual 4MHz , 3A synchronous
buck converter for DDR termination www.linear.com/3618
LT6107: High temperature, high side current
sense amp in SOT-23 www.linear.com/6107
LTC4225-1/LTC4225-2: Dual ideal diode and
Hot Swap controller www.linear.com/4225
LTC3867: Synchronous step-down
DC/DC controller with differential remote sense and nonlinear control www.linear.com/3867
LTC3388-1/LTC3388-3: 20V high efficiency
nanopower step-down regulator www.linear.com/3388
LTC3634: Dual 15V, 3A monolithic
step-down regulator for DDR power www.linear.com/3634
Two new LTspice IV how-to videos are now available
Get the Schedule
LTspice IV Schematic Editor
LTspice IV Waveform Viewer
36 | October 2011 : LT Journal of Analog Innovation
design ideas
COMPUTING THE AVERAGE OR RMS VALUE OF A TRACE IN LTSPICE IV The LTspice IV waveform viewer can integrate a trace to produce the average or RMS value over a given region. To integrate a trace in the waveform viewer: 1. Zoom in to the region of interest. 2. Hold down the control key and click the label of the trace you want to integrate. Based on the physical units of the data trace, LTspice IV displays a meaningful average for that type of data. For example, if the units are a voltage or current, LTspice IV displays the average and the RMS values. Otherwise, LTspice IV displays the average and integral of the data displayed in the waveform viewer. If youre plotting noise densities from a .noise simulation, LTspice IV shows total RMS noise. Happy simulations!
LTspice IV Power-User Tip
L1** 6.8H
+ +
THERMALLY COUPLED D1* D2* RMPPC 4.99k MPPC OFF ON CMPPC 10nF CAUX 1F SHDN AUX GND CIN 10F VIN SW VOUT LTC3105 FB PGOOD LDO FBLDO CLDO 4.7F 2.2V R2 604k R1 1.37M VOUT 3.3V
Its easy to calculate the RMS or average value of a waveform trace in LTspice IV. For more information, see the LTspice IV Power-User Tip above.
COUT 10F
Download the LTspice IV demonstration circuit for this 2-cell photovoltaic to dual output, 3.3V and 2.2V, converter at www.linear.com/3105
* MRA4003T3 ** PANASONIC ELL-VEG6R8N
LTC3617: 6A monolithic synchronous
step-down regulator for DDR termination www.linear.com/3617
LTM4613: EN55022B-compliant,
Automotive 30V supply protection circuit with 3.5V undervoltage and 18V overvoltage using the LTC4365. www.linear.com/4365 4V15V to 1.8V, 2.5A monolithic synchronous step-down DC/DC converter using the LTC3603. www.linear.com/3603
A 4.5V10V to 2.5V, 2.5A monolithic synchronous step-down DC/DC using the LTC3602. www.linear.com/3602 A dual synchronous step-up converter that takes a 5V24V input to 24V, 3A5A and 12V, 8A10A using the LTC3788. www.linear.com/3788 n
36V input, 15V, 8A output, DC/DC Module regulator www.linear.com/4613
NEW LTspice IV DEMO CIRCUITS
The LTspice IV circuit collection is available at www.linear.com/DemoCircuits. Here are some of the new demonstration circuits now available: 36V to 12V, 8A integrated stepdown DC/DC converter using the LTM4613. www.linear.com/4613 5V to 12V, 900m A step-up DC/DC converter using the LT3581. www.linear.com/3581
4.7F ILIM INTVCC IOSENSE PGOOD IOSENSE+
1F CER VOUT 12V 5A 330F 16V
VIN 4V TO 38V
22F 50V CER A
VIN VINSNS 0.1F TG1
EXTVCC VOUTSNS 0.1F D
0.010 10F 16V CER
TG2 LTC3789 BOOST1 BOOST2 SW1 SW2 BG2 MODE/PLLIN RUN VFB FREQ 121k ON/OFF BG1
B 2200pF 1000pF 8k 0.01F
C 105k 1% 7.5k 1%
ITH SS SGND
SENSE+ SENSE PGND
The LTspice IV demonstration circuit for this 12V, 5A automotive high efficiency buck-boost DC/DC solution with programmable output current limit is available at www.linear.com/3789
0.010
4.7H
October 2011 : LT Journal of Analog Innovation | 37
