Author: Michael Koltai

Creating Subcircuits from Spice Models with TINACloud: .MODEL format

In TINACloud you can create your own components from any Spice models given in .MODEL format that you have made or downloaded from the Internet.

Watch our tutorial video

to see how to create a  TINA macro component using a BC846 NPN Bipolar transistor downloaded previously from the web.

 Download the FREE trial demo of TINA Design Suite and get:

1. One year free access to TINACloud (the cloud-based, multi-language, installation-free online version of TINA now running in your browser anywhere in the world.)
2. An immediate 20% discount from the offline version of TINA
3. Free license for your second computer, laptop etc.

Creating Subcircuits from Spice Models with TINACloud: .MODEL format

In TINACloud you can  create your own components from any Spice models given in .MODEL format that you have made or downloaded from the Internet.

Some device models are stored in Spice .MODEL format.

Let’s download one from the internet and add the model to TINACloud

Here is the model of the BC846 NPN Bipolar transistor

Let’ save this model

In Google Chrome click the right mouse button.

In other browsers find the Save as command

Select Save as

Switch the Save as type into All files

and Save it as a .cir file, as this is one of the extensions that TINACloud expects.

Start TINACloud

To invoke the Schematic Editor

Select New from the File menu

The Schematic Editor appears

Click the Insert button denoted by a  green + sign to invoke the Insert menu

Select Upload macro

Let’s name the new Macro as BC846

Switch into From File from Current Circuit

then Click Choose Files

Enter BC846.cir into the file name field , then click Open

Now click Upload

In the dialog box the following message appears: Macro uploaded.

Click OK

You can simularly add any Spice models in Spice .MODEL format.

Let’s check how to insert the new model into TINACloud.

Select Insert macro from the Insert (+) menu

Now select BC846 then press OK

The new component will appear attached to your cursor and you can place it anywhere on the workspace by moving the mouse and clicking the left mouse button.

Now let’s create the following test circuit by adding a few more components to test the new model.

Select the Resistor from the Basic Toolbar

Use the Rotate left or Rotate right icon then hold the left-mouse button down while moving it and connect it to the Transistor

Repeat this procedure for R2 & R3

Double click the Resistances (R1 & R2) and in their Properties window set the parameters as shown

R2=47k; R3=3k

click OK

Now select the Ground and connect it to the Transistor

Next add the remaining parts and the wires

then Click the Save button to save the file

Let’s save it under the name BC846_test.tsc

Let’s test this circuit using DC Interactive mode.

Press the DC button

The model works as expected.

Creating Subcircuits from Spice Netlists with TINACloud

In TINACloud you can create your own components from any Spice subcircuit that you have made or downloaded from the Internet.

Watch our tutorial video

 to see how to create a  TINA macro component using a THS4121 Spice Subcircuit downloaded previously from the web.

Download the FREE trial demo of TINA Design Suite and get:

1. One year free access to TINACloud (the cloud-based, multi-language, installation-free online version of TINA now running in your browser anywhere in the world.)
2. An immediate 20% discount from the offline version of TINA
3. Free license for your second computer, laptop etc.

www.tina.com

Creating Subcircuits from Spice Netlists with TINACloud

In TINACloud you can create your own components from any Spice subcircuit that you have made or downloaded from the Internet.

In this tutorial we will present how to create a TINA macro component using a THS4121 Spice Subcircuit downloaded previously from the web.

Note that TINA and TINACloud use the same macro components.

Start TINACloud.

To invoke the Schematic Editor

Select New from the File menu

The Schematic Editor appears

Click the Insert (+) button to invoke the Insert menu

Select Upload macro

Let’s name the new macro as THS4121

Switch into From File from Current Circuit

then Click Choose Files

In the Downloads folder Enter ths4121.cir into the file name field

then Click OPEN

click Upload

Now you have to specify the name of the macro pins and also, if you wish, you can place them anywhere around the box.

To move VSS/?, select it by holding down the left-mouse button & moving the mouse, then press the right mouse button & select Cut.

Now move your mouse to the place where you would like to insert the text and select Paste from the Pop-up menu.

The ? must be replaced by the macro pin name, so write VSS/VSS

Repeate this procedure for all items where it is needed.

Click OK

To check the newly created macro select Insert macro from the Insert (+) menu

Select THS4121 from the Dialog Window of the User macros then press OK

The newly created macro will be attached to your cursor and you can place it wherever you wish on the workspace

To check its content double-click the macro.

then press … (Details) in the SubCkt (Content) line

Note that the Netlist also contains an auxiliary subcircuit

Click OK

Now you can create an application circuit by adding other components.

Let’s create the circuit like the one on this sample schematic

Double-click the component

then in the Property dialog enter the required component value & press OK

Save this circuit as THS4121_test_circuit.TSC

Let’s test the DC operation by pressing the interactive DC button.

The model works as expected.