ADS Fundamentals - 2009

LAB 4: AC Simulations

0veiview - This lab continues the amp_19uu pioject anu uses the same sub-ciicuit as
the pievious lab. This exeicise teaches the basics of AC simulation, incluuing small
signal gain anu noise. It also shows many uetaileu featuies of the uata uisplay foi
contiolling anu manipulating uata.


OBJECTIVES
Peifoim AC small signal anu noise simulations.
Aujust pinwiie labels.
Sweep vaiiables anu wiite equations.
Contiol plots, tiaces, uatasets, anu AC souices.







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Lab 4: AC Simulations

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Table of Contents


1. Copy & Paste (Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V) from one design to another. ............................... 3
2. Modify the copied circuit and pin labels. .............................................................. 4
3. Push and pop to verify the sub circuit.................................................................. 5
4. Set up an AC simulation with Noise. ................................................................... 5
5. Simulate and list the noise data........................................................................... 5
6. Control the output of equations and node voltages. ............................................ 6
7. Simulate without noise......................................................................................... 7
8. Write a data display equation using a measurement equation. ........................... 7
9. Work with measurement and data display equations. ......................................... 8
10. Plot the phase and group delay for the ac analysis data ................................. 9
11. Variable Info and the what function................................................................ 10
12. OPTIONAL - Sweep Vcc (as if the battery voltage is decreasing)................. 11


Lab 4: AC Simulations


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!"#$%&'"%
)* $+,- . !/012 3$145+$ 6 $145+78 94+: +;2 <20=>; 1+ /;+1?24*
a. 0pen the last uesign (uc_net) anu copy the ciicuit shown highlighteu heie
by uiagging the cuisoi aiounu the aiea - this is known as iubbei banuing.
With the items highlighteu, copy then by using the keyboaiu keys $145 + $
oi the %<=1 @ $+,- commanu. 0sing Ctil + C is piefeiieu because it
eliminates mouse clicks.

b. 0se the A=52@ B2C &20=>; commanu to cieate a new schematic anu name
it: /DE0=:. Then use $145 + 7 oi use %<=1 @ !/012 anu inseit (ghost
image) the copy by clicking into the new schematic.
c. F/G2 the /DE0=: uesign. You must save it oi it will not be wiitten to the
uatabase.
u. Click the commanu H=;<+C @ &20=>;0 #,2;. This commanu gives you
access to uesigns that aie open in memoiy but not visible in a winuow oi
not saveu in memoiy. When the uialog appeais, select <DE;21 anu click
#I. Then close uc_net uesign using A=52 @ $5+02 &20=>; (no neeu to save
the changes).
e. In the empty schematic winuow, ieopen the ac_sim
uesign using the A=52 @ #,2; &20=>; =D+;. This gives
you a list of all the uesigns in the pioject. If a uesign
is cieateu but not saveu initially, it will not be in this
list anu you will neeu to use the commanu Winuow >
Besigns 0pen to access it.
Lab 4: AC Simulations

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J* K+<=9- 1?2 D+,=2< D=4DL=1 /;< ,=; 5/M250*
Belete wiies, inseit new components, anu iewiie as neeueu. The steps follow:
a. Bisconnect the BC souice anu move it to the siue with a giounu.
b. Inseit two iueal &$EN5+DO capacitois fiom the Lumpeu-Components
palette oi use component histoiy.
c. Inseit a 7EP$ souice fiom the Souices-Fieq Bomain palette. uiounu the
souice. Then auu a QR +?: loau iesistoi anu giounu to the output.
u. Nouify the PinWiie (noue) labels. Click the B/:2 icon. Auu 7DD as a
label to both RC anu the BC souice. This will connect them
electiically insteau of a wiie.
e. Auu 7=; anu 7+L1 as shown. Also, if you uiu any
0PTI0NAL steps in lab S, iemove vC anu vBE by
by clicking on those labels when the uialog is blank
blank (shown heie) oi use the commanuS %<=1
@H=426!=; T/M25 > "2:+G2 H=426!=; T/M25.
f. veiify that the ciicuit looks like the one shown heie.
heie.
B#U% +; H=426!=; T/M25 P114=ML120: You can uiag labels
to move them anu you can euit attiibutes by uouble clicking
on them oi by using the commanu: %<=1 @H=426!=; T/M25 >
H=426!=; T/M25 P114=ML120.
Lab 4: AC Simulations


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V* !L0? /;< ,+, 1+ G24=9- 1?2 0LM D=4DL=1*
a. Select the bjt_pkg anu ,L0? into the sub-ciicuit (use the icons) to
to check youi sub ciicuit, anu then ,+, out again.
W* F21 L, /; P$ 0=:L5/1=+; C=1? B+=02*
a. Inseit an AC Simulation contiollei. Then euit the stait, stop,
stait, stop, anu step fiequencies: 1uu NBz to 4 uBz in 1uu
1uu NBz steps.
b. In the Noise tab, check the box foi $/5DL5/12 ;+=02
;+=02 anu auu the 7+L1 noue. Set the Noue to F+41
to F+41 M- B/:2 foi each noise contiibutoi. Soit by
Soit by value is goou foi laige ciicuits to see the
the laigest contiibutois fiist. Also, all noise values
values will be simulateu if a Bynamic iange
(thiesholu) is
not set.
c. Tuin on the
&=0,5/- foi
each of the
paiameteis as
shown heie.

Q* F=:L5/12 /;< 5=01 1?2 ;+=02 </1/*
a. F=:L5/12 (F7).
b. In the uata uisplay, inseit a 5=01
(icon) of ;/:2 anu G;D (voltage
noise contiibutois) using the $145
key to select them both. As shown
heie, at each fiequency, Q1.B}T1 is
the total noise voltage foi the
uevice anu is composeu of:
Q1.B}T1.ibe anu Q1.B}T1.ice.
Bowevei, these aie not coiielateu
voltages but have been auueu as
noise poweis: (vtotal)
2
= (vibe)
2
+
(vice)
2
. The total vnc is the same as
vout noise.
c. F/G2 the schematic anu uata uisplay.
N0TE: The inuex will
automatically appeai
when you list the
uata.
Lab 4: AC Simulations

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X* $+;14+5 1?2 +L1,L1 +9 2YL/1=+;0 /;< ;+<2 G+51/>20*
a. In the ac_sim schematic, inseit a K2/0%Y; fiom any simulation palette. 0i,
palette. 0i, you can type in K2/0%Y; in component histoiy.
b. Biiectly on the schematic scieen, euit (type) the equation to compute
voltage gain using the noue (pin) labels vin anu vout. 0se the keyboaiu
aiiow key to move acioss the equal (=) sign.

c. Euit the AC simulation contiollei anu go to the
#L1,L1 tab. The uefault is foi all labeleu noue
voltages (pinwiie labels) anu all Neasuiement
Neasuiement equations to be iepoiteu in the
uataset. You will change this in the next steps.
u. ';D?2DO the box foi Noue voltages anu click on the P<<6
"2:+G2 button.
e. Select 7=; anu 7+L1 fiom the list of available outputs anu P<<
P<< them as shown heie - then click #I. 0nly those noue voltages will be
wiitten into the uataset aftei simulation anu vcc will not. This woiks foi
measuiement equations also.

f. Click #I to uismiss the uialog - you aie now ieauy to simulate.
B#U% +; ;+<2 ;/:2 <=0,5/-: You can uisplay the noue names (Bisplay tab -
NoueName check box) but it is not necessaiy.
Lab 4: AC Simulations


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Z* F=:L5/12 C=1?+L1 ;+=02*
a. In the schematic, tuin off the noise calculation by
changing (typing) yes to ;+ as shown heie. This will
save simulation time anu memoiy, especially foi
laige ciicuits. 0f couise, this will make youi uataset
list (name anu vnc) invaliu.
b. Save the schematic anu F=:L5/12 (F7).
[* H4=12 / </1/ <=0,5/- 2YL/1=+; L0=;> / :2/0L42:2;1
2YL/1=+;*
a. In the uata uisplay, <25212 the invaliu noise listing.
b. Inseit a uata uisplay equation (use the icon).
c. In the uialog, wiite an equation foi the gain in uB as shown heie. Notice
that you aie inseiting the schematic measuiement equation into youi
uata uisplay equation anu click #I:

B+12 +; 2YL/1=+;0 - If the measuiement equation foi voltage gain was not alieauy
calculateu, you woulu wiite the uata uisplay equation with all the iequiieu values, foi
example: gain_uB = 2u * log (mag (vout) mag (vin)). Bowevei, because that voltage
gain was alieauy calculateu, it is easiei to simply inseit it heie.
Lab 4: AC Simulations

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\* H+4O C=1? :2/0L42:2;1 /;< </1/ <=0,5/- 2YL/1=+;0*
a. Inseit a list anu auu the measuiement equation >/=;EG+51/>2 anu also auu
also auu the uata uisplay equation >/=; <N as shown heie. Schematic
Schematic measuiement equations aie automatically wiitten to the uataset.
uataset. But uata uisplay equations aie not. Insteau, they aie stoieu in the
in the uata uisplay Equations memoiy anu aie selecteu anu auueu as
shown heie. Click 0K anu both equations will appeai in the list.

b. Select the list anu scioll uown to 19uu NBz using the list
the list scioll buttons shown heie. Then inseit the
the cuisoi uiiectly into the gain_voltage column heauing
heauing anu type in the <N function
as shown - be suie to auu
,/42;1?2020 so that it ieaus: <N
3>/=;EG+51/>28. This uemonstiates
the flexibility of the uata uisplay foi
opeiating (with ABS
functions) uiiectly on uata
anu equations.
c. Click the uata uisplay ';<+
icon iemove the uB function.
u. Euit the list (uouble click) anu change it to a
a 42D1/;>L5/4 ,5+1 by selecting the icon.
e. Inseit the cuisoi uiiectly onto the ]^/_=0 label anu change gain_voltage to
<N 3>/=;EG+51/>28 similai to the way you uiu in the list. Then L;<+ it.
Again, this shows the powei of functions anu the uata uisplay.
B#U% +; <N G/5L20 -
Conveiting the AC analysis
voltage to uB is not the
same as S-paiametei
analysis in uB that uses
powei (v anu I) anu also
has a Su ohm souice Z.
Neasuiement Equations listeu heie. Bata Bisplay equations listeu heie.
Lab 4: AC Simulations


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)R* !5+1 1?2 ,?/02 /;< >4+L, <25/- 9+4 1?2 /D /;/5-0=0 </1/
a. Inseit a iectangulai plot of the ,?/02 of 7=; anu 7+L1 - put maikeis on
19uu NBz (type in the value). The phase is not 18u uegiees uue to the
bjt_pkg paiasitics. Nove the maikeis anu see the phase closei to 18u at
lowei fiequencies. You may want to !"# %&' the new maikei commanu
using the BBS 0ptions > Bot Key similai to schematic.
b. Inseit a new 2YL/1=+; to calculate >4+L, <25/-. As shown heie, use the
phase of vout anu the ()** function then ,5+1 the equation. The ()**
function calculates the uiffeience between points on the slope. The minus
sign gives the iesult in uecieasing value. Place a maikei on the tiace anu
notice that it will be on eithei siue of 19uu NBz (+- Su NBz) because of
the !"## function.
c. uo back to the schematic, change the
012, size to )R K`a, 0=:L5/12 again
anu watch the plot upuate.
u. Euit (uouble click) the :/4O24* In
the "2/<+L1 tab, set Foimat to %;>=;224=;> with J
with J significant uigits as shown heie. Notice the
the maikei value changes to pico (pico-seconus) anu
seconus) anu the inuepenuent value iesolves to 1.9u
to 1.9u uBz.
e. 0PTI0NAL - Tiy giouping the gioup
gioup uelay equation anu the plot so
plot so they stay togethei when you
you move them. 0se the Shift key anu
key anu select the plot anu the
equation. Then clickS %<=1 @ b4+L,.
b4+L,. They shoulu now move
togethei in the uata uisplay.
Lab 4: AC Simulations

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))* 7/4=/M52 c;9+ /;< 1?2 +,-# 9L;D1=+;*
a. Inseit a new 5=01 (uataset is still /DE0=:). Auu 7+L1d select it, anu click on
the U4/D2 #,1=+;0 button. You can uo this in a new page if uesiieu oi
zoom out by 2 foi moie ioom on the uisplay.
b. When the uialog box appeais, click on the
the 7/4=/M52 c;9+ button anu anothei uialog
uialog will appeai as shown heie. Select the
the 7+L1 uata anu you will see that the
uepenuency foi vout is S91 fiequency points.
points. This shoulu be the same foi all the items
the items in the uataset because only fiequency
fiequency was swept.
c. Close the uialog, click 0K, anu go back to the list
the list of vout. Inseit the cuisoi in the 7+L1
7+L1 column anu type in the $%&' function as
function as shown: C?/1 37+L18. Notice that
that you get the same vaiiable infoimation.
infoimation. Latei on, you will use this function
function to ueteimine how to inuex into uataset
uataset tables with multiple sweeps oi mixing piouucts.

B#U% +; 9L;D1=+;0: You can ieau about the
$%&' function anu othei ABS functions (abs,
ieal, s_stab_ciicle, etc.) by clicking the
Functions Belp button whenevei you inseit
an equation in the uata uisplay oi whenevei
you go to Tiace 0ptions. When the Belp
biowsei appeais, scioll uown to the function
of inteiest. Tiy this anu look ovei some of the
infoimation to see how ABS functions aie
uesciibeu if you have time.
Lab 4: AC Simulations


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)J* #!Uc#BPT ^ FC22, 7DD 3/0 =9 1?2 M/1124- G+51/>2 =0 <2D42/0=;>8
This step will iequiie you to use the skills you alieauy leaineu in the
pievious lab exeicises. You will set up a paiametei sweep foi 7DD fiom J
volts to Q volts in R*JQ volt steps.
a. In youi schematic, inseit a 7P"
(vaiiable equation) initializing
7M=/0 e Q 7.
b. Reuefine the souice: 7<D e 7M=/0.
c. Inseit a !/4/:2124 FC22, fiom
any simulation palette. Then set
the FC22,7/4 (sweep vaiiable) to be 7M=/0. Be suie the Simulation
Instance Name of the AC simulation contiollei is also set as shown heie.
u. Change the </1/021 ;/:2 = /DEM/1E0C, anu F=:L5/12. When the
simulation is completeu anu the BBS opens, a uialog will appeai asking if
you want to change the uataset - answei N0. Then plot the :/> of 7+L1.
A set of cuives foi each step will appeai as shown heie.
e. To uisplay tiace labels of vbias, euit the tiace using the U4/D2 #,1=+;0
tab anu check the &=0,5/- T/M25 box.
f. Inseit maikeis as uesiieu. Remembei that you can inseit the maikei anu
then, in the maikei ieauout, type in the fiequency you want - the maikei
will then go to that value of fieq.

Tiace 0ptions useu to
Bisplay label of vbias on
iight of plot. Tiace lines
can also be thickeneu.
Lab 4: AC Simulations

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g. F/G2 /55 -+L4 C+4O. You can keep the existing schematic winuow
openeu - you will use it to stait the next lab exeicise. But close the uata
uisplay if it is still openeu.

./012 ./.1345.5S
1. In a new uesign, simulate with poit noise anu poits. To uo this, use a P_AC souice as
the input poit 1(Num=1) anu place a Teim on the output as poit 2 (Num=2). These
two components aie shown heie with the poit numbeis.
2. In a new uesign, inseit an I_AC constant cuiient souice anu simulate.
S. Inseit the P_AC souice anu look at the powei gain. Also, sweep anothei paiametei
anu plot the iesults.

4. Tiy using the noue settings in the AC simulation palette. You can set initial voltages
at noues using the Noue Set oi by iefeiiing to name noues using the
NoueSetByName component.