Online Design and Simulation of an RP506K series Step-down DC-DC Converter

Online Design and Simulation of an RP506K series Step-down DC-DC Converter

We’ve released a new video tutorial demonstrating the design and simulation of a power management circuit—specifically, the RP506K001F Step-down DC/DC Converter—using TINACloud.

TINA and TINACloud allow fast and accurate simulation and design of power management integrated circuits both offline and online.

The datasheet of this device can be found on the Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. website: (https://www.nisshinbo-microdevices.co.jp/en/pdf/datasheet/rp506-ea.pdf) and was used to create the SPICE model for TINA and TINACloud by DesignSoft.

This model runs not only in TINA and TINACloud, but also in major SPICE programs including PSpice, SIMetrix, LTspice, and more.

Startup Transient Simulation

Fast Average Model: In most simulators, this process is slow, but TINA and TINACloud use a built-in average model that completes the simulation in just seconds (online or offline). First load the circuit from the TINA Examples folder. To run the simulation, select Transient… from the Analysis menu, and ensure the Use switching model checkbox is not checked. Pressing Run displays the startup transient time function in a few seconds. Next, we run a cursor on the startup diagram to check that the output voltage is 1.2V.

Switching Mode Analysis: TINA and TINACloud also support the more detailed switching mode transient analysis. Thanks to advanced multicore solvers, this is still fast and provides more detailed waveforms.

RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit:
Startup Transient Fast analysis
Redesigning the Circuit

TINA and TINACloud’s Design Tool allows you to quickly determine component values to achieve a target output. Select Re-design this Circuit… from the Tools menu (or double-click the circuit’s text box).

In the Design Tool dialog, change the target output voltage to 3.3V and press Run. The tool instantly provides analytic results, showing the required component changes (highlighted in red) and confirming the new output voltage.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Redesigning the circuit

You can then run the numerical Transient simulation again to confirm the result, which will be nearly identical.

Running the Switching Model for Accuracy

You can run the most accurate simulation by checking the “Use switching model” checkbox in the Transient Analysis dialog.

This calculation takes minutes (or around 10 minutes in TINACloud, depending on traffic) and the output voltage curve is very similar to the fast average method.

Note: Switching mode simulations typically run much faster in the offline TINA program, especially on powerful, multi-threaded machines.

The only difference this method reveals is the Ripple voltage, which is not provided by the average model.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Switching mode simulation

However, switching mode analysis takes considerable time, and the small ripple voltage makes zooming in quite difficult.

To solve this problem, TINA and TINA Cloud feature a fast and accurate method for the direct calculation of ripple voltages in steady state. 

Steady State Analysis and Ripple

Steady state analysis of a DC-DC power supply is the analysis of the circuit’s behavior when it has reached a steady state. This means that the output voltage is constant, except for the ripple voltage, and all the components in the circuit are operating in their steady state conditions.

Fast Ripple Calculation: Standard switching mode analysis is time-consuming, and zooming in to see the small ripple can be difficult. TINA and TINACloud feature a fast and accurate direct calculation of steady-state ripple voltages.

This method uses average models to quickly reach the steady state, then switches to switching models to determine the precise ripple voltage without needing to store initial inductor and capacitor values.

Load the specified circuit (identical to the previous one but with Global Parameter settings to define a starting time for the switching mode analysis) and run Transient Analysis. The ripple voltages and currents will appear in a diagram after a brief calculation.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Steady state analysis

Line Stepping Analysis

This determines the converter’s response to changes in the input voltage (line step disturbance).

Load the appropriate circuit and run Transient from the Analysis menu. The circuit’s response to the input voltage step appears in a few seconds.

You can also run the switching model (by checking the box) to see the full ripple voltage during the step response.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Line stepping fast analysis

RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Line stepping accurate analysis

Load Step Analysis

This determines the converter’s response to changes in the load current (load step disturbance). Load the corresponding circuit (which includes a load step applied to the output current).

Select Transient from the Analysis menu and click Run. The circuit’s response will appear in a few seconds.

To see the most accurate simulation, check the “Use switching model” checkbox in the transient analysis dialog and run the simulation.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Load stepping fast analysis

RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Load stepping accurate analysis

AC Analysis

The built-in average models enable fast and accurate AC analysis. Load the AC analysis circuit from the TINA Examples folder.

Select AC Analysis from the Analysis menu, then select Run AC Transfer Characteristic… The AC Bode diagram of the Loop Gain will appear.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit:
AC Bode diagram

Efficiency Analysis

TINA and TINACloud can quickly calculate efficiency as a function of the load current.

Load the specific circuit, which uses a special time-dependent load current and an Efficiency Meter. Run Analysis\Transient…

The efficiency as a function of time is calculated. Click the TR XY Plot Tab to display the Efficiency as a function of the Output (Load) current.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Efficiency as a function of time.


RP506K001 Step-down DC/DC Converter circuit: Efficiency as a function of Output or Load current

Conclusion

This presentation covered the analysis of all important characteristics of the
RP506K001F Step-down DC/DC Converter including:

  • Startup Transient Simulation (Fast average and detailed switching modes)
  • Steady State Analysis (Fast ripple voltage calculation)
  • Line Stepping Analysis
  • Load Step Analysis
  • AC Analysis
  • Efficiency Analysis

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

Check out our full collection of videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

Online Design and Simulation of the TDA38826 DC-DC Point-of-Load (POL) regulator

Online Design and Simulation of the TDA38826 DC-DC Point-of-Load (POL) regulator

We’ve put together a new video tutorial showing how to efficiently design and simulate power management circuits in TINACloud, using the Infineon’s TDA38826 DC-DC Point-of-Load (POL) regulator  as the featured example. While this video focuses on TINACloud, you can also use the offline TINA program.

The datasheet of this device can be found on the Infineon website and was used to create the SPICE model for TINA and TINACloud by DesignSoft.

This model runs not only in TINA and TINACloud, but also in major SPICE programs including PSpice, SIMetrix, LTspice, and more.

The video covers the following topics:

  • Startup Transient Analysis
  • Steady State analysis
  • Line and Load Step Analysis
  • AC Analysis
  • Efficiency Analysis

Startup Transient Analysis

A startup transient is the time a DC-DC converter takes to go from an off state to a stable, steady-state condition. Traditionally, simulating this can be time-consuming. However, TINA and TINACloud use a built-in average model that significantly speeds up this process, taking only a few seconds.

For more detailed results, the software can perform a switching-mode transient analysis, which is still fast thanks to its advanced multi-core solvers. Additionally, TINA and TINACloud can quickly calculate ripple voltages by combining the average and switching models.

To begin, you’ll open the “TDA38826 DC-DC Point-of-Load (POL) regulator integrated” circuit file from the TINA Examples folder.

Running a Simulation

To perform a fast transient analysis, click the “Transient Analysis Fast” link or select “Transient…” from the Analysis menu. By default, the “Use switching model” checkbox is unchecked, ensuring the fast average model is used. After clicking “Run”, a diagram will show the startup transient’s time function, with an output voltage of 1V.

TDA 38826_Startup Transient Fast analysis
TDA 38826_Startup Transient Fast analysis
Redesigning the Circuit

TINA and TINACloud’s Design Tool can automatically adjust circuit parameters to meet a new output voltage target. For example, let’s change the output from 1V to 3.3V.

Select “Re-design this circuit” from the Tools menu or double-click the text box on the circuit. In the dialog box, simply change Vout to 3.3V and click “Run”. The Design Tool will automatically adjust the necessary components, highlighting them in red. After running the transient analysis again, you can use a cursor to confirm the new output voltage is approx. 3.3V.

TDA 38826_ After redesigning the circuit: Startup Transient fast analysis Vout is approx. 3.3V

For a more accurate simulation, you can run the switching model by clicking the “Transient Analysis Accurate” link or checking the “Use switching model” box in the Run Transient Analysis dialog. The calculation may take a few minutes, and the Vout curve will be very similar to the one from the average model. The key difference is that the switching model will show the ripple, which the average model does not. You can zoom in on the diagram to see the ripple voltage waveform more clearly.

TDA 38826 After redesigning the circuit: Startup Transient Accurate analysis

Steady-State and Ripple Voltage Analysis

Steady-state analysis examines a circuit’s behavior after all transients have settled. This is crucial for quickly determining ripple voltages. This method is fast because it doesn’t require storing initial inductor and capacitor values. Using the same circuit file, you can perform a transient analysis to view the ripple voltages and currents.

TDA 38826 Steady State analysis diagram

Line and Load Step Analysis

TINA and TINACloud can quickly simulate how a DC-DC converter responds to sudden changes in input voltage (line step) or load current (load step).

Line Step Analysis

To see the circuit’s response to an input voltage change, click the “Line Step Analysis Fast” link. A diagram of the circuit’s response, including the full ripple voltage, will appear within seconds

TDA 38826 Line Step Fast Analysis diagram
TDA 38826 Line Step Accurate Analysis diagram

Load Step Analysis

To see the circuit’s response to a load current change, click the “Load Step Analysis Fast” link. The diagram will appear almost instantly. You can also run a more accurate, switching-mode version of this analysis by checking the “Use switching model” box.

TDA 38826 Load Step Fast Analysis diagram
TDA 38826 Load Step Accurate Analysis diagram

AC Analysis

The built-in average models also allow for fast and accurate AC analysis. By clicking the “AC Transfer Characteristic” link or selecting “AC Analysis” from the menu, you can display the AC Bode diagram of the loop gain.

TDA 38826 AC Bode diagram

Efficiency Analysis

TINA and TINACloud can quickly calculate and plot efficiency as a function of time and load current. Clicking the “Efficiency Analysis Fast” link will generate a diagram showing efficiency versus time. By switching to the TR XY Plot Tab, you can also view efficiency as a function of the output or load current.

TDA 38826 Efficiency as a function of time diagram
TDA 38826 Efficiency as a function of the output or load current diagram

This concludes the video tutorial on analyzing the key characteristics of the TDA38826 DC-DC Point-of-Load (POL) regulator using TINACloud.

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

Explore more content from our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

Online Design and Simulation of the LT8609 Step-Down Regulator

Online Design and Simulation of the LT8609 Step-Down Regulator

We’ve created a new video tutorial that explores how to quickly and accurately design and simulate power management circuits with TINACloud, this time using the LT8609 synchronous step-down switching regulator as an example. You can also use the offline TINA program for this, which we’ll illustrate in another video. The SPICE model for this device, created by DesignSoft from the official Analog Devices datasheet, is compatible with most major SPICE programs, including TINA, TINACloud, PSpice, SIMetrix, and LTspice. 

Here is a summary of the video’s content:

  • Startup Transient Analysis
  • Output Voltage Ripple
  • Line and Load Step Analysis
  • AC Analysis
  • Efficiency Analysis

1. Startup Transient Analysis

A startup transient is the period a DC-DC converter takes to transition from an off state to its steady-state operating condition. Typically, simulating this can be time-consuming. However, TINA and TINACloud’s built-in average model significantly speeds up the process, taking only a few seconds. For more detailed results, the software can also perform a switching mode transient analysis, which is still quite fast thanks to its advanced multi-core solvers. Additionally, TINA and TINACloud can quickly calculate ripple voltages by combining the average and switching models.

To begin, we’ll open the “LT8609 Multiple Simulations.TSC” circuit file. This single file allows you to run all the necessary simulations to characterize the LT8609.

Running a Simulation

To perform a fast transient analysis using the average model, click the Transient Analysis Fast link or select Transient… from the Analysis menu. By default, the “Use switching model” checkbox is unchecked, which ensures the fast average model is used. After you click Run, the startup transient’s time function will appear in seconds, showing an output voltage of approximately 5V.

Startup Transient analysis

Redesigning the Circuit

TINA and TINACloud’s Design Tool can automatically adjust circuit parameters to meet a new output voltage target. Let’s change the output voltage from 5V to 3.3V. Select Re-design this circuit from the Tools menu or double-click the text box on the circuit. In the dialog, simply change Vout to 3.3V and click Run. The Design Tool will automatically adjust components like the Rfb2 and Rload resistors to achieve the new output, providing an immediate diagram based on these changes. You can then run a more accurate numerical simulation to confirm the new voltage.

You can also run a more accurate simulation using the switching model. Just select the Transient Analysis Accurate link or check the “Use switching model” checkbox. This calculation takes longer (about a minute) but provides more detailed waveforms, including the ripple that the average model doesn’t show.

Startup transient fast analysis after redesigning the circuit
Startup transient accurate analysis after redesigning the circuit

2. Steady State and Ripple Voltage Analysis

Steady-state analysis examines a circuit’s behavior once all transients have settled. This is crucial for quickly determining ripple voltages. This method is particularly fast because it doesn’t require storing initial inductor and capacitor values. Using the same circuit file, let’s perform a transient analysis to see the ripple voltages and currents. A diagram of these values will appear after a brief calculation.

Steady state analysis

TINA and TINACloud can also quickly simulate how a DC-DC converter responds to sudden changes in either input voltage or load current. These are known as line stepping and load stepping, respectively.

3. Line Step Analysis

To see how the circuit responds to an input voltage change, click the “Line Step Analysis Fast” link. Within a few seconds, a diagram of the circuit’s response, including the full ripple voltage, will appear.

Line step fast analysis
Line step accurate analysis

4. Load Step Analysis

Similarly, to see the circuit’s response to a load current change, click the “Load Step Analysis Fast” link. The diagram will appear almost instantly. You can also run a more accurate, switching-mode version of this analysis by checking the “Use switching model” box in the transient dialog.

Load step fast analysis
Load step accurate analysis

5. AC Analysis

The built-in average models also enable fast and accurate AC analysis. Simply click the AC Transfer Characteristic link or select AC Analysis from the menu. This will display the AC Bode diagram of the loop gain.

AC Bode diagram (using fast analysis)
AC Bode diagram (using accurate analysis)

6. Efficiency Analysis

Additionally, TINA and TINACloud can quickly calculate and plot efficiency as a function of time and load current. By clicking the “Efficiency Analysis Fast” link, you can get a diagram showing efficiency versus time. By switching to the TR XY Plot Tab, you can also view efficiency as a function of output or load current.

Efficiency as a function of time
Efficiency as a function of Output or Load current

Conclusion

TINA and TINACloud provide a comprehensive and efficient platform for analyzing all the key characteristics of a synchronous step-down regulator like the LT8609. Its built-in average models and advanced solvers make it easy to quickly get accurate results for various analyses, including transient, ripple, line/load step, AC, and efficiency.

Click here to watch our video.

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

TINA installation on macOS

TINA installation on macOS

Installing and Running TINA on macOS

Our tutorials (UK version, US version) show you how to install and run the TINA software on a macOS system. Follow these steps:

  1. Download the installer: Download the setup file using the link provided in your email.
  2. Unzip the archive: Use Finder to locate the downloaded file and unzip the archive. Some web browsers may do this automatically.
  3. Install the software: Double-click the installation package to begin the installation.
  4. Launch the application: After installation, go to the Applications folder in Finder and launch TINA.
  5. Complete the setup: The program will download additional files and install the main modules and the AI Assistant.
  6. Start TINA: Once the setup is complete, the TINA launcher will open. Double-click the TINA icon to start the program.

Registering and Authorizing TINA

To unlock the full version of the software, you’ll need to authorize it with your order number.

  1. Find your order number: Copy the order number from your order confirmation email.
  2. Authorize the software: In TINA, click the Authorize button.
  3. Enter the order number: Paste your order number into the authorization window and click OK.

After this initial setup, you can launch the application directly from the Applications folder in Finder.

Important Note on AI Assistant:To use the AI Assistant feature, you must have the AI software Ollama installed on your system beforehand.

TINA v15 on macOS: Practical Examples

In the following sections, we will use practical examples to demonstrate how to use TINA v15 on macOS, covering:

  • Transient Analysis
The transient response appears in the Diagram Window of TINA.
The transient response appears in the Diagram Window of TINA.
  • PCB Designer
Observing the design in the 3D viewer within the PCB Designer
  • Using TINA’s AI Assistant
Checking the output voltage by using transient analysis
Asking the AI Assistant to redesign the circuit to achieve an output voltage of 6V.
The output voltage is 6V and the changed components are selected in red.

Click here (UK version, US version) to watch our videos.

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

Linux installation of TINA on openSUSE

Linux installation of TINA on openSUSE
This video will guide you through:
  • Installing Wine on SUSE Linux 
  • Installing TINA v15 on SUSE Linux 15.6
  • Operating TINA v15 on SUSE Linux 15.6

TINA, a Windows-based software, runs seamlessly on Linux by utilizing Wine, a compatibility layer. You can easily install it on SUSE Linux using the YaST Software Manager.

How to Install Wine on SUSE Linux?

To run TINA on Linux, Wine is essential. We recommend using Wine version 9 or later.

Here are the main installation steps:

  1. Launch YaST Software Manager: YaST2 (Yet another Setup Tool) is a powerful and user-friendly system administration tool for openSUSE and SUSE Linux, available with both graphical and text interfaces.
  2. Search for “wine”: Use the search function within YaST to find the Wine package.
  3. Select “wine” for installation: Check the box next to the “wine” package.
  4. Accept and install: Click “Accept” to begin the installation.
  5. Verify installation: After the process completes, confirm a successful installation in your Terminal.
  6. Configure Wine: Launch winecfg to set your preferred font size for optimal display.
  7. Start TINA setup: Once Wine is configured, you can proceed with the TINA setup.
How to install TINA v15 on SUSE Linux 15.6?

Up next, we’ll guide you through the installation of TINA v15 on SUSE Linux 15.6:

  • Download the setup ZIP file.
  • Execute the setup program and allow it to download all necessary components.
  • Proceed with the installation steps as prompted.
How TINA v15 Operates on SUSE Linux 15.6?

In conclusion, we’ll demonstrate TINA v15’s functionality on SUSE Linux through practical examples, including:

  1. Transient Analysis
  2. PCB Designer and Interactive simulation
  3. Using TINA’s AI Assistant

PCB Designer and Interactive simulation

For more detailed instructions on running TINA on Linux, please refer to our comprehensive guide: TINA Installation Guide for Linux.

Click here to watch our video.

Content of the video:

00:15 How to install Wine on SUSE Linux?

01:18 How to install TINA v15 on SUSE Linux 15.6?

02:17 How TINA v15 operates on SUSE Linux 15.6?

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com