Free program offers analog circuit simulation and analysis

Texas Instruments has released TINA-TI, a Windows-based software circuit program for designing, simulating, and analyzing analog circuits.

The free software is a complimentary version of TINA PRO, a more robust package from DesignSoft, an engineering and educational software developer.

TINA-TI provides engineers with a better understanding of how various products, such as power, logarithmic, and comparator amplifiers, are going to behave in a circuit, said Bruce Trump, TI strategic-development manager. The tool includes a library of macromodels for precision and high-speed amplifiers.

"Customers will be able to get started efficiently and easily with material we give away [in this program] and learn a lot about certain circuits and how devices perform in them," Trump said.

The tool, which is based on a Spice simulation engine and features an intuitive schematic-entry and capture screen, offers dc-, ac-, transient-, Fourier-, and noise-analysis options. It also features virtual instruments including a function generator, a multimeter, an oscilloscope, an X-Y recorder, and a signal analyzer.

TINA-TI will appeal to engineers because it helps them have a greater understanding of how circuits will work, Trump added. "[Engineers] can learn more about circuit operation and ways to optimize circuits quickly and efficiently," he said.

The TINA-TI tool, a 20-Mbyte download, is available free at www.ti.com/tina-ti. The tool can simulate up to two IC macromodels. The full-featured version of TINA PRO, which offers more options and supports unlimited circuit size, is available from DesignSoft at http://www.tina.com/, starting at $360.

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