How to use SLiCAP

Workflow

Working with SLiCAP usually proceeds as follows:

1. Initialize a SLiCAP project: this will

   • Create the directory structure for your project

   • Create a configuration file for your project

   • Create the main html index page for this project

2. Create a circuit model that models the performance aspect(s) and/or cost factor(s) of interest and create netlist from it

   • SLiCAP supports netlist generation with KiCAD, LTspice, gSchem and lepton-eda

3. Import design budgets for performance and cost factors, as well as circuit parameters determined in earlier design steps to the circuit

   • SLiCAP writes and reads design data to and from a CSV file

4. Perform mixed symbolic/numeric circuit analysis with this model and obtain an expression that writes the performance or costs as a function of the circuit parameters

   SLiCAP has 16 predefined (mixed symbolic/numeric) analysis types grouped in:

   • DC and DC variance analysis for finding valid ranges for:

     • resistor tolerances

     • offset voltages and currents and their temperature dependency

     • matching and temperature tracking properties of resistors

   • Noise analysis for finding valid ranges for:

     • resistor values

     • equivalent input noise sources of operational amplifiers

     • geometry and operating current of semiconductor devices

   • Complex frequency domain analysis (Laplace) for finding

     • minimum gain-bandwidth product of operational amplifiers

     • minimum number of stages in a feedback amplifier

     • budgets for geometry and operating current of semiconductor devices considering bandwidth limitations

     • component values for filters and frequency compensation elements

   • Complex frequency domain analysis (Poles and Zeros) for determination of

     • frequency stability

     • non-observable or non-controllable states

   • Time-domain analysis (Inverse Laplace) for finding valid ranges for

     • component values, geometry and operating current of semiconductor devices, considering settling time requirements

5. Obtain valid ranges for circuit parameters (component values, geometry and operating voltages and currents) and save them in the design database

6. Assign values to circuit parameters and save them in the data base

7. Go to (2) for the next design aspect or the next hierarchical level