Design Simulation and Device Models

Linear Technology provides a variety of custom design simulation tools and device models to allow even novice designers to quickly and easily evaluate circuits using high performance switching regulators, amplifiers, data converters, filters and more.


LTspice IV

LTspice IV

LTspice IV is a high performance Spice III simulator, schematic capture and waveform viewer with enhancements and models for easing the simulation of switching regulators.  Our enhancements to Spice have made simulating switching regulators extremely fast compared to normal Spice simulators, allowing the user to view waveforms for most switching regulators in just a few minutes. Included in this download are Spice, Macro Models for 80% of Linear Technology's switching regulators, over 200 op amp models, as well as resistors, transistors and MOSFET models. 

BodeCAD

BodeCAD™ works together with LTspice IV to perform large signal AC analysis automatically and extracts the bode plot of the power system. The user only needs to insert a voltage source in the feedback path and BodeCAD will invoke LTspice IV to do FFT analysis over the desired frequency range.

LTpowerCAD

LTpowerCAD

The LTpowerCAD design tool is a Microsoft Excel based power supply design tool program that can significantly ease the tasks of power supply design with Linear Technology µModule and some monolithic products. Unlike conventional simulation tools, this tool guides users throughout the whole supply design process: it searches suitable LTC parts according to user’s supply specifications; then it guides the user to select and optimize circuit component values with suggestions and warnings. The tool shows real-time results of feedback loop bode plot, as well as the power stage performance. The design can be exported to LTSpice™ simulation circuit for users to further verify their designs. The tool also provides PCB layout example and a design summary. Currently, this design tool support Microsoft Excel 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007 on a Windows based computer. Contact LTpowerCAD@linear.com for questions or support.


LTpowerPlay

LTpowerPlay

LTpowerPlay is a powerful Windows based development environment that supports Linear Technology digital power ICs with EEPROM, like the LTC2978 Octal PMBus Power Supply Monitor and Controller. The software supports a variety of different tasks. You can use LTpowerPlay to evaluate Linear Technology ICs by connecting to a demo board system. LTpowerPlay can also be used in an offline mode (with no hardware present) in order to build a multi-chip configuration file that can be saved and re-loaded at a later time. LTpowerPlay provides unprecedented diagnostic and debug features. It becomes a valuable diagnostic tool during board bring-up to program or tweak the power management scheme in a system or to diagnose power issues when bringing up rails. LTpowerPlay utilizes the DC1427A USB-to-SMBus controller to communicate with one of many potential targets, including the DC1540 demo board set, the DC1508 socketed programming board, or a customer target system. The software also provides an automatic update feature to keep the software current with the latest set of device drivers and documentation.


Amplifier Simulation

Spice Models

Download the complete library of LTC op amp SPICE models for general analog circuit simulations. These models are designed for compatibility with LTspice (SwitcherCAD), PSPICE, and PSPICE-compatible simulation programs. They may require a syntax conversion for use with other simulation programs.

The Configurator

The "Configurator" is a design tool that generates the complete schematic for an amplifier stage designed with one of Linear Technology's Gain Selectable Amplifiers: the LT1991,  LT1995 and LT1996.  With hundreds of combinations, theses amplifiers can be configured for inverting, non-inverting, differencing and even buffered attenuation through simple pin strapping.

Noise

Linear Technology's Noise program allows the user to calculate circuit noise using LTC op amps, determine the best LTC op amp for a low noise application, display the noise data for LTC op amps, calculate resistor noise and calculate noise using specs for any op amp.

Filter Simulation

FilterCAD

FilterCAD™ 3.0 is a computer aided design program to help users without special expertise in filter design to create filters using Linear Technology's monolithic filter ICs.  With FilterCAD, you can design lowpass, highpass, bandpass and notch filters with a variety of responses, including Butterworth, Bessel, Chebychev, elliptic, minimum Q elliptic, and custom responses.

LT1568 Design Guide

The LT1568 is a dual amplifier block useful for creating high frequency active filters.  Implementation of lowpass and bandpass filters over a frequency range of 100KHz to 10MHz can be achieved using only a few external resistors. This easy to use Excel based Design Guide crunches the numbers to calculate all of the external component values and provides a "ready to build" schematic of the filter.

LT1567 Design Guide

The LT1567 is a low noise (1.4nV/rtHz), 180MHz filter building block. This easy to use Excel based Design Guide crunches the numbers to calculate all of the external component values and provides a "ready to build" schematic of the filter.

Data Converter Evaluation Software

PScope (QuickEval II)

The PScope™ System is a USB-based product demonstration and data acquisition system for use with Linear Technology’s high performance ADC's. The system consists of a USB Data Acquisition Controller board that connects to individual daughter cards for specific Linear Technology ADCs. The software collects and analyzes data from the ADC in both the time and frequency domains and displays relevant parameters for the device being evaluated. The software also provides an automatic update feature to keep the software current with the latest set of device drivers. Use PScope software with the DC718 and DC890 Data Collection Boards.

QuickEval System

The QuickEval™ System is a USB-based product demonstration and data acquisition system for use with Linear Technology’s A/D, D/A, LED drivers and Powered Ethernet Controllers. The system consists of a USB Data Acquisition Controller board that connects to inpidual daughter cards for specific Linear Technology products. The software also includes web links to the appropriate device data sheets and provides an automatic update feature to keep the software current with the latest set of device drivers. Use QuickEval software with the DC590 Controller board.