Spectrum Software has released Micro-Cap 10, the tenth generation of our SPICE circuit simulator.
For users of previous Micro-Cap versions, check out the new features available in the latest version. For those of you who are new to Micro-Cap, take our features tour to see what Micro-Cap has to offer.
Using IBIS Models
Although Micro-Cap 8 will have a built-in IBIS model, Micro-Cap 6 and 7 do not have one. What do you do until Micro-Cap 8 comes along? Well, IBIS models can be converted by a utility program called IBIS2SPICE. This article describes how to translate the subcircuit files created by the IBIS2SPICE utility into subcircuits that Micro-Cap can use. This utility is available from Intusoft and can be downloaded from
http://www.intusoft.com/utilities.htm#Modeling.
It translates IBIS pin descriptions to subcircuit models in the Intusoft SPICE3 syntax. This article shows you how to convert these SPICE3 buffer models to Micro-Cap / PSpice compatible syntax.
Caveats:
First, be aware the IBIS2SPICE utility only produces a simple exponential that approximates the RAMP keyword and makes no attempt at all to produce the RISING WAVEFORM or FALLING WAVEFORM portions of the IBIS spec. The utility does an adequate job of modeling the output impedance of the IBIS buffer and a rough approximation to the switching time.
To illustrate we will use the MOT7410.IBS file which was downloaded from a Motorola web site. If you wish to use the file as a working example, it is available from our user group:
Don't forget on the last line to change the bracket " ]" to a parenthese ")".
Do this for the four PWL sources in the GND_CLAMP, POWER_CLAMP, PULL_UP, and PULL_DOWN subcircuits. You should be able to just cut and paste as all four PWL sources use the same syntax and node numbers.
4) Parameter definitions:
Change the two DEFINE statements from this format:
B1 820 0 V={2*((V(100)>=1) AND (V(500)>=1))}
B2 830 0 V={2*((V(500)>=1) AND (V(100)<=1))}
Having made these changes to the MOT7410.LIB file, you are ready to begin using it in Micro-Cap. You can use it directly as a SPICE file by adding a pulse generator to drive it and a battery or two by adding these lines to the top of the file.
All you need to do now is to run transient analysis and plot the voltage on the input node, V(100), and the output node, V(4). Here is what the run looks like for a 1us analysis time:
This completed circuit file with the modifications is also available in the user group File section at: