About DC Simulation

This documentation describes DC simulation used in ADS. It outlines when to use a DC simulation, how to set it up, and the data it generates. Examples are provided to show how to use this simulation. Detailed information describes the parameters, theory of operation, and troubleshooting information.

DC simulation calculates the DC operating point characteristics of a design under test (DUT). DC analysis is fundamental to all Analog/RF simulations, so it is used for all Analog/RF designs. Following a topology check, the simulator performs an analysis of the DC operating point, including the circuit's power consumption.

You can also set up the DC simulation to sweep one or more parameters, enabling you to perform tasks such as verifying model parameters by comparing the simulated DC transfer characteristics (I-V curves) of the model with actual measurements.

In ADS, the DC simulation component is available in the Simulation-DC palette.

Refer to the following topics for details on DC simulation:

• Using DC Simulation explains when to use DC simulation, describes the minimum setup requirements, and gives a brief explanation of the DC simulation process.

• Examples of DC Simulation contains detailed examples of DC simulation setups for ADS, one for calculating a single DC point and another that sweeps variables to generate a set of I-V curves.

• DC Simulation Parameters provides details about the parameters available in ADS for the DC simulation controller.

• Theory of Operation for DC Simulation provides details about DC simulation operation. This is provided if you have an interest in understanding the underlying technology. Typical users should not need to examine this material.

• Troubleshooting a DC Simulation offers suggestions on what to do in the rare event that a DC simulation does not converge or converges too slowly.

• References for DC Simulation lists the references relevant to the theory of operation. This is provided if you have an interest in understanding the underlying technology. Typical users should not need to examine this material.