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Session 3520

Schematic Capture as an Entry Program for Electronics Analysis

William R Conrad, Earl F. Brune, Elaine M. Cooney Indiana University Purdue IJniversity Indianapolis

Abstract

Schematic capture software programs provide a convenient and meaningfid way for students to interface with other electronics analysis software programs. In the early analog and digital electronics courses the student becomes quite fkrniliar with the associated hardware components, but entry into the various software programs remains a mystery. The dhliculty in using computer analysis programs is that students are required to use an unfamiliar language. Because of the time involved in learning this new sofiware language, the computer analysis of electronics circuits is sometimes delayed to a later course.

CapFastl is a flexible and usefil circuit design software tool for electronic design engineers. The CapFast soflware has many finctions and features that make students productive sooner. They can draw the circuit schematic with standard component symbols using drop and drag techniques. This makes it easy for them to draw and modi~ the circuit schematic. Including CapFast software as an integral part of a course allows more time to teach the theory because computer simulations can be used with a common schematic entry point.

This paper explains the actual program fiuwtions that allow CapFast to be used as a schematic entry to 2 interface with PSpice , for an analog circuit, and with CUPL3 for a digital circuit to be programmed in a PLD. Students use the software as a prelab exercise. Then the actual electronics laboratory was conducted to veri~ the simulation tool. The students were pleased with the experiments because they could do computer simulation using the schematic as the entry point. Using a schematic as the entry point for electronics computer simulation programs is an advantage over writing the netlist files by hand. CapFast is a schematic capture program which intetiaces with a variety of electronic design software programs.

Introduction

CapFast soflware creates files that maybe used by many electronics analysissoflware packages to analyze the operation of the original circuit. This schematic entry is very usefi.d when circuit conditions change, such as changes in the component values, input signal levels, and voltages. The simulation files created by CapFast are used in PSpice, CUPL and Susie4. The addition of CapFast soilswu-e to a course makes it easier for the student because they learn only one schematic entry program. This program provides the netlist for other software programs. CapFast also reduces the mistakes that students make when they are required to enter netlist ties for the various software packages.

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{~~~ 1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings ‘a.,yyy,~ .

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Conrad, W. R., & Brune, E. F., & Cooney, E. M. (1996, June), Schematic Capture As An Entry Program For Electronics Analysis Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6276