DVM - Design Verification Module

ArbitraryBodePlot()

The ArbitraryBodePlot() function allows you to create a Bode plot with gain and/or phase curves from reference designators or from a pair of net names on a specified graph address.

The ArbitraryBodePlot() function can create  the following types of curves:

Although the Bode Plot Probe - w/ Measurements schematic symbol has similar functionality, the ArbitraryBodePlot() testplan function includes formatting options that increase the flexibility of this function. One such option makes it possible to probe between schematic hierarchical levels.

For example, plotting the gain and phase of the compensation error amplifier in the LTC3406B circuit is difficult with the schematic-based probe because the output of the error amplifier is not at the top level of the hierarchy. Bringing the output of that error amplifier to the top level would require a modification to the LTC3406B symbol. Using the ArbitraryBodePlot() function, however, solves this problem because with this function, you can directly probe the nets in the schematic hierarchy and generate the curves without making any changes to the schematic.

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ArbitraryBodePlot() Syntax

The ArbitraryBodePlot() function has four forms as listed below.

** For additional information about OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING, see Optional Parameters.

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Example

This example generates a closed loop gain of an op-amp using the last function form listed above.

ArbitraryBodePlot(netIN+, netIN-, netOUT+, netOUT-, curve_name, graph_name, grid_index, axis_name, OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING)

The specific function call is as follows:
ArbitraryBodePlot(input, 0, out, 0, DVM Closed Loop, Closed Loop, A1, ignoreme, curve=splitphase color=Medium violet red)

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Optional Parameters

The following syntax rules apply to the OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING  argument:

Spaces in values are allowed as long as no spaces are on either side of the equal sign. Thee three examples below illustrate this:

The following table lists the available formatting options for use in the OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING argument.

Parameter Syntax Value Type Description

xgrid=
positive_integer

Any positive integer Specifies space between the x gridlines
ygrid=
positive_integer
Any positive integer Specifies space between the y gridlines
xscale=lin | log One of two options:
  • lin: plot x-axis in linear units
  • log: plot x-axis in logarithmic units
Specifies the units for the x axis
yscale=lin | log

One of two options:

  • lin: plot y-axis in linear units
  • log: plot y-axis in logarithmic units
 
Specifies the units for the y axis
xlabel=string

Any alphanumeric string

Specifies a label for the x axis
ylabel=string

Any alphanumeric string

Specifies a label for the y axis

Note: The ArbitraryBodePlot()function ignores this option if curves are placed on multiple grids.

xunits=string

Any alphanumeric string

Specifies the units label for the x axis
yunits=string

Any alphanumeric string

Specifies the units label for the y axis.

Note: The  ArbitraryBodePlot()
 function ignores this option.

xMinlimit=integer

Any positive or negative integer

Specifics the minimum x-axis limit
xMaxlimit=integer

Any positive or negative integer

Specifics the maximum x-axis limit
yMinlimit=integer

Any positive or negative integer

Specifics the minimum y-axis limit
yMaxlimit=integer

Any positive or negative integer

Specifics the maximum y-axis limit
showpoints=
TRUE | FALSE

TRUE or FALSE

Specifies whether or not to show points on graph.

curve=
gain|phase

One of following options:
  • gain: generates a gain curve.
  • phase:generates a phase curve.
Generates a curve based on the graph address parameters: graph_name, grid_index, and axis_name.

curve=
splitphase|
splitgain

One of the following options:
  • splitphase: generate gain and phase curves with the phase curve on the upper grid and gain on the lower.
  • splitgain: generates a gain and phase curves with  the gain curve on the upper grid and phase on the lower.
Generates both a gain curve and a phase curve based on the graph_name parameter only. Both grid_index and axis_name are ignored since the parameter itself determines the grid that is used.

format=center

String value: center Centers both the gain 0-dB and 0-degree grid lines on the gain and phase grids so that they are aligned. The maximum or minimum y axis values are not scaled, and the grid spacing is automatically selected by SIMetrix.

format=center_m_n

Alphanumberic string that starts with center Centers the grid lines as with format=center, but also sets the gain grid to m dB and the phase grid to n degrees. For example format=center_20_45 sets the gain axis major grid to 20dB and the phase axis major grid to 45 degrees.

format=alignzero

String value: alignzero Aligns the gain 0-dB grid line with the phase 0-degree grid line and changes the gain grid to 20dB/division and the phase axis grid to 45 degrees.

format=alignzero_m_n

Alphanumberic string that starts with alignzero Aligns the grid lines as with format=alignzero, but also sets the gain grid to m dB and phase grid to n degrees. For example format=alignzero_40_90 sets the gain axis major grid to 40dB and the phase axis major grid to 90 degrees.
color=
color_specification
One of three options to specify the color:
  • Color-name alias
  • Hexadecimal color
  • SIMETRIX sequence
Specifies the color for the curve.

Note: See the next section for information on these three methods for specifying a color..

Specifying a Color

You have three options for specifying the color for a curve:

Color-name Alias

The syntax for the color-name alias is as follows:
color=color_name
where color_name is one of the 16 built-in color aliases as listed in the following table with the hexadecimal code.

Color Name Alias Hex Code
 
Red #FF0000
 
Green #008000
 
Blue #0000FF
 
Teal #008080
 
Purple #800080
 
Maroon #800000
 
Navy #000080
 
Black #000000
 
Magenta #FF00FF
 
Lime #00FF00
 
Salmon #FA8072
 
Medium violet red #C71585
 
Brown #A52A2A
 
Indigo #4B0082
 
Medium orchid #BA55D3
 
Blue violet #8A2BE2

Hexadecimal Color

The syntax for the hexidecimal color is as follows:
color=#rrggbb
where rr, gg, and bb are hex numbers from 00 to FF.

You can specify any color for the curve by using a hexadecimal specification.

SIMetrix Sequence

The syntax for the SIMetrix sequence method of specifying a color is as follows:
color=SEQ:n
where n is a positive integer between 1 and 20.

SIMetrix has eight default curve colors, starting with red, green, blue, etc.

To change and extend these colors to a maximum of 20 user-defined curve colors, follow these steps:

  1. From the command shell menu, select File ▶ Options ▶ Colour....
  2. Double click a curve item in the list and then select another color from the palette, and click OK.

Note: If you do not set each Curve item in the list, the sequence wraps; for example, with the default curve colors, SEQ:9 yields the same curve color as SEQ:1.

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Using ArbitraryBodePlot() in a Script

The ArbitraryBodePlot() function is also available as a SIMetrix script function and can be called from a PostProcess or FinalProcess script. Calling this function from a script is useful when you need to generate a large number of curves and/or if the length of the arguments makes the testplan difficult to read or edit.

The syntax for the function in a script is as follows:
SimplisDVMAdvancedUtilMeasurementArbitraryBodePlot(array, log_file)

Argument

Description

array

A string array that contains the normal arguments to the CreateArbitraryBodePlot() function

log_file

The DVM log file that is an argument passed into the post and final process scripts

The Example above could be generated in a post-process script with the following statement:

Let return = SimplisDVMAdvancedUtilMeasurementArbitraryBodePlot([ 'input', '0', 'out', '0', 'DVM Closed Loop', 'Closed Loop', 'A1', 'ignoreme', 'curve=splitphase color=Medium violet red' ], log_file)

Note: The array argument is bounded by open and close brackets [ ], and the string elements in the array are each enclosed in single quotes.

Note: Using the script function in a post or final process script produces slightly different results than calling this function from a testplan. The post-process script does not set the vectors_to_keep argument because this would need to be performed before the simulation run executes. The simplest way to keep the necessary vectors during a simulation run is to place a voltage probe on the required schematic node and uncheck each Analysis checkbox in the edit dialog. This probe would then keep the voltage or current to which it is attached but would not create a curve.

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