Getting Started with

Cadence 10.0

Gordon J. Black

Brigham Young University - Idaho

     The first required procedure is to open a Folder in the C: drive for storage of the circuit files that will result from the analysis. To establish the Folder, simply double-left-click on the

My Computer icon, double-left-click on the local disk (C:), and then use the sequence

File-New, Folder to obtain a new folder on the screen waiting for a name. Type in Pspice followed by a left click of the mouse to install. Then exit (using the X at the top right of the screen). The folder Pspice has been established for all the projects you plan to work on in the future.

     The first project can be initiated by double-clicking on the Capture CIS Icon on the desktop or by using the sequence, Start, Programs, Cadence PSD 15.0, Capture CIS.

     The Studio Suite Selection screen will appear. Click [OK]

     You will next see the Cadence Logo screen, wait for it to go away.

     You will now be greeted by the Capture CIS full screen window. If the screen is not filled by the entire working area, click on the expand button key located between the [-] and the [X] key in the upper right hand corner of the visible working screen.

      You start a new project by going to the File menu in the upper left corner, then New, and then Project.

      The following Screen will appear:

      Be sure that the “Button” for the

Analog or mixed A/D selection is chosen.

      You need to fill in the top line Name with a

file name and the bottom line Location with the

path name. (You have already established the

C:\Pspice as the project storage location)

      You may see a “Create PSpice Project” screen, Click the create a blank project button, then click [OK].

      Now you should come up to a blank schematic entry screen.

On the left hand side and behind the entry screen is a project manager window. Click on this window. It will be brought to the fore-front.

It will have the project name as its heading.

The new project listing will appear with an

icon and an associated + sign in a small square.

      Clicking on the + sign will take the listing a step

further to SCHEMATIC1.

      Click + again, and PAGE1 will appear; clicking on

a - sign will reverse the process.

Double-clicking on

PAGE1 will create a working window titled

SCHEMATIC1: PAGE1.

The width and height of the window can be adjusted by grabbing an edge to obtain a double-headed arrow and dragging the border to the desired location. Either window on the screen can be moved by clicking on the top heading to make it dark blue and then dragging it to any location.

      Now you are ready to build the circuit. Select the

Place a part key (The second key from the top of the

toolbar on the right) to obtain the Place Part Dialog box.

Since this is the first project, we must ensure that

the parts appear in the list of active libraries.

Select Add Library bar.

Select the analog.olb, and the source.olb files for the folders listed.

You may need to navigate to other folders by using the picture of the folder with an up-arrow on it to the right of the Look in window.

When the Libraries are properly installed

they will appear in the lower left hand

 Libraries section of the Place Parts

 window.

Click [OK], and we can now place components on the screen.

For the DC voltage source, first select the

Place a part key and then select SOURCE in the library listing.

Under Part List, a list of available sources will appear; select VDC for this project. Once VDC has been selected, its symbol, label, and value will appear on the picture window at the bottom right of the dialog box. Click [OK] and the VDC source will follow the cursor across the screen. Move it to a

convenient location, left-click the mouse, and it will be set in place. Since only one source is required, a right click of the mouse will result in a list of options, in which End Mode appears at the top. Choosing this option will end the procedure, leaving the source in a red dashed box. The fact that it is red indicates that it is an active mode and can be operated on. One more left click of the mouse, and the source will be in place and the red active status removed.

The voltage is listed as 0Vdc and will need to be changed

to the desired value of 12Vdc. Double click on the 0Vdc

value and a new window showing the current value highlighted will appear. Change the value to 12Vdc. Make sure you enter the Vdc or the circuit will not simulate properly. Click [OK] and the new value will appear next to the associated source.

     One of the most important steps in the procedure is to ensure that a 0 V ground potential is defined for the network so that voltages at any point in the network have a reference point.

Every network must have a ground defined.

For the network we are building (Shown to the right)

the 0/SOURCE option will be our choice w he n th e G N D key to the right of the screen is selected

This will insure that one side of the source is designated as 0V.

Place the GND symbol as show in the circuit drawing. Right click to End Mode as we only need one ground.

Finally we need to add a resistor. Select the Place a part symbol to the right of the drawing and

select the ANALOG library. Scroll the options and select the R . Click the [OK] and the resistor will appear next to the Curser on the drawing screen. Place the resistor as shown on the above circuit. Right click and select rotate to place the resistor in the correct position for placement on the drawing. Left click to place it and right click to End Mode. Double click on the 1k value of the resistor and change it to 4k. Click [OK].

The parts are all placed on the drawing and now we need to connect them. This is accomplished by selecting the Place a wire key that looks like a step in the right toolbar.

The result is a crosshair with the center that should be placed at the point to be connected. Place the crosshair at the top of the voltage source, and left-click it once to connect it to that point. Then draw a line to the end of the next element, and click the mouse again when the crosshair is at the correct point. A red line will result with a square at each end to confirm that the connection has been made. Then move the crosshair to the other elements, and build the circuit. When everything is connected, a right click will provide the End Mode option. Make sure you have included the ground in the circuit connections.

You are now ready to simulate your circuit.

To start the simulation process, open the PSpice menu. The first choice available is New Simulation Profile. Left-click on it and the following window will appear.

Give the New Simulation a Name.

In this example it will be called Ohmslaw.

Left-click [Create] and the next screen will appear.

Select the Bias Point settings in the

Analysis type window, and then

left-click [OK].

You are now ready to Run a simulation.

Go to the PSpice menu and select Run.

Don’t get excited. The simulation may

take a while.

A simulation evaluation window may appear. If it does, just close it.

The schematic will now appear and if the V, I, and W tool buttons are activated, the voltage, the current, and or the power dissipated in that component results will be attached.

These values may be toggles on and off as needed.

This has been a lengthly description of how to

begin a simple circuit analysis. I am sure as you finishing analyzing your third or fourth network, this procedure will become routine and will move rather quickly.

You will be looking for more challenging networks to run the Cadence simulation on.

                         The above is the complete circuit showing the simulation results.