Literature: 		SPICE Newsletter
Description: 		Technical publication describing applications of the SPICE simulation program
Price:	 			FREE
Featured Topics:	Modeling Mixed Mode parts (Digital Potentiometers), Visual Basic Scripting With SPICE, New ICAPT for OrCAD software, New SpiceNet Schematic Entry Version Released For FREE, New Design ValidatorT SPICE Option
Other Topics:		New European Web Site for Intusoft,  New SPICE Reference Book Released for SMPS Designers
Contact:			Charles Hymowitz - Vice President intusoft (310) 833-0710, Fax (310) 833-9658
					E-mail: info@intusoft.com, http://www.intusoft.com


Newsletter Discusses Mixed Mode Modeling and Visual Basic-SPICE Interface

The Intusoft Newsletter is a unique FREE publication dedicated to discussing topics related to the SPICE circuit simulation program. The latest issue contains several application notes designed to help engineers simulate circuits more effectively.

The first application note discusses a new SPICE model for the Xicor X931x digital potentiometer line. The X931x, and similar X9C10x line, are solid-state nonvolatile potentiometers that are ideal for digitally controlled resistance trimming. They use digital circuitry to control a series of electronic switches that connect to a resistor array. The model provided an interesting modeling task due to device's mixed mode nature. The application note includes example circuits and SPICE models. More SPICE models are available from Intusoft or Xicor.

The second application note discusses the new Visual Basic interface in IsSpice4. The IsSpice4 simulator supports two types of OLE enhancements. First, IsSpice4 is an OLE Server. This means that any OLE Controller application can "drive" the simulator. Secondly, IsSpice4 exposes an Interactive Command Language (ICL) as an accessible set of OLE objects. ICL is a scripting language that contains a comprehensive set of simulation related functions such as analysis commands and functions that change part values. With the OLE interface, the ICL is distilled into a form that makes it easy to gain access to all of the capabilities of IsSpice4 from a Visual Basic script. In order to demonstrate this feature, the Intusoft Newsletter shows how to use a Visual Basic Script to start IsSpice4 and remotely run transient and Fourier analyses from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program.	

The Intusoft Newsletter also introduces three new software packages and a SPICE reference book. ICAPT for OrCAD, Intusoft's own schematic entry package SpiceNet, and the new Design Validator SPICE option are each discussed in detail. Of note is the new SpiceNet program which is designed to make SPICE easier to use than ever before, while still providing a wealth of uncompromising features for the power user. Many new features have been added, including several that are not available in any other schematic package. The newsletter describes these. As a way to make new users aware of Intusoft's capabilities, SpiceNet is being made available For No Charge via download from the Intusoft Web site (www.intusoft.com) or Intusoft's new mirror site in Europe (www.softsim.com). The last article discusses a new SPICE reference book available from Intusoft. Entitled "SMPS Simulation With SPICE 3", the new book is designed for power supply designers interested in learning about the latest SPICE simulation and modeling techniques.

A floppy disk containing all of the schematics and SPICE models shown in the newsletter is available for a nominal fee. The contents includes models for Xicor digital potentiometer models, Siliconix PWM and power MOSFET models, elantec IC models and Motorola/Zetex discrete parts. The Intusoft Newsletter is the only regularly scheduled publication dedicated to SPICE modeling and analog circuit simulation. An electronic version (Adobe Acrobat document) of the newsletter is posted on Intusoft's Web site (http://www.intusoft.com). The peak newsletter circulation is 34,000 readers in over 110 countries.
