Difference between revisions of "An Overview of RF.Spice"

Revision as of 22:44, 12 August 2014

RF.Spice is the “RF Edition” of B2.Spice A/D. In other words, it is an enhanced superset of B2.Spice A/D with an extensive library of RF devices that include S-parameter-based multiport networks and a variety of generic and physical transmission line types.

The major differences between RF.Spice and B2.Spice A/D are the following:

• The RF.Spice Workshop has an additional RF Menu with a large collection of RF parts.

• The RF.Spice Device Editor has an additional RF Menu with a variety transmission line calculators and designers and utilities for importing active and passive S-parameter-based RF device models.

• The RF.Spice parts database is a superset of the B2.Spice A/D parts database.

• The node-locked licenses of the two programs are different.

RF circuit analysis, by nature, is an AC analysis running at high frequencies typically ranging from tens of Megahertz to tens of Gigahertz. The RF devices of RF. Spice are characterized and modeled based on their frequency-domain scattering (S) parameters. The S-parameters are tabulated as a function of frequency and interpolated in between the frequency samples. RF.Spice performs an AC analysis of these RF devices by converting their S-parameters to Y-parameters and using them in conjunction with the SPICE’s nodal admittance matrix formalism. As a result, you can mix RF devices with all the other analog and mixed-mode devices of B2.Spice A/D in your circuits.

The RF devices of RF.Spice are primarily intended for use in two types of tests:

• AC Frequency Sweep Test

• Network Analysis Test

RF devices do not work with “Live Simulation” or Transient Test as their models normally contain S-parameters at high frequencies only.

At the heart of RF.Spice lie the concepts of a multiport network and a generic transmission line.

Back to B2.Spice A/D Wiki Main Page