Electronic Devices and Circuits Engineering Sciences 154

SPICE is an analog (originally) circuit simulator that was developed at the University of California at Berkeley. PSpice is one of the many commercial SPICE derivatives, and has been developed by MicroSim Corporation.

SPICE stands for Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis.

PSpice's strong point is that it helps the user simulate the circuit design graphically on the computer before building a physical circuit. Hence, the designer can make any necessary changes on the prototype without modifying any hardware. As soon as the test design is completed, PSpice can help you run a check on it before deciding to commit yourself to building a hardware model. Hence, PSpiec allows you to check the operability of the circuit model in real life simulations to validate its viability. Since all the tests, designs and modifications are made over a terminal, the designer can save a lot of money that would have otherwise been spent on the building of models and modifying them.

PSpice is a commercial derivative of the SPICE2 circuit simulator programs that were developed at the University of California at Berkley. Since its development was based on U.S. public funds, SPICE2 belongs to the public domain. SPICE2's robustness and power made it an industry standard. PSpice uses SPICE2's major algorithms and conforms to its input syntax.

PSpice is embedded in the demo suite of Cadence Design Systems tools comments  which is mounted on Windows platforms in the basement of Maxwell-Dworkin and is available on a free demo CD.   A Student Version of PSpice 9.1 can be downloaded free of charge here.   The Orcad suite on the machines in Maxell-Dworkin contains a complete set of PSpice documentation.   A copy of that documentation is available as a pdf.

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SPICE References and Documentation Links

Appendices C and D in Microelectronic Circuits, 4th edition, Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith, HRW,1998, ISBN 0-19-511663-1.

The PSpice reference which is part of the Orcad Lite version 9.2 suite is available on the Windows platforms in Maxwell-Dworkin and for convenience can be read as a pdf here.

The University of California at Berkeley Spice user guide.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte PSpice help page.

University of Hertfordshire PSpice tutorial booklet.

From Prof. Shur at RPI:  Course overheads on Spice.

MicroSim PSpice and Circuit Analysis (3rd edition), John Keown

From Michigan Technological University: PSpice Circuit Simulation Software and Documentation

If you need a PDF reader 

PSpice Software (viz. downloadable evaluation versions of PSpice suited for educational purposes)

See comments on Orcad Lite version 9.2 above.

 

Unfortunately the famous MicroSim DOS version of PSpice is no longer promoted by the Orcad,  so if you want to use a stripped down DOS version of PSpite you can use the last available DOS version (6.0) of PSpice.

The DOS version of PSpice 6.0 is available on the Maxwell-Dworkin computers in a folder called "ps60" (in the course directory) and can be download for use on your home computer.  You should either:

1. directly download the zipped file CRUFTPS60.ZIP  to your computer

 
2. or download the zipped files DSK1PS60.ZIP and DSK2PS60.ZIP to two 1.44MB floppy disks for transfer to your computer.

 

In either case unzip the file(s) with WINZIP into a folder/directory  entitled  "ps60" on your computer and install the PSpice files by executing the command ps60 in DOS.  After installation, enter PSpice by typing ps.

 
You may need to download WINZIP

ECS (European Circuit Society) SPICE page.

 

Spread Spectrum Scenesimulation software shareware directory.

 

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Electronics Shop Web Page.