The Circuit Design Blog

If you are looking for a quick, reliable way to bring your existing Multisim workflows into the cloud, you are in the right place. In this post, we will demonstrate how to seamlessly convert analog circuit files originally created in offline Multisim formats (such as .ms13 and .ms14) and run them directly inside TINACloud.

💡 Good to Know: This exact conversion process is also available in the offline desktop version of TINA. Because the resulting .TSC files are fully cross-compatible, you can enjoy a frictionless workflow between your local desktop and the online cloud environment.

Click here or on the image above to watch this blog presented as a video tutorial.

Let’s dive into four practical examples to show you exactly how it works.

Example 1: AM Demodulator Circuit

Our first example features an Amplitude Modulation (AM) Demodulator circuit designed to process a modulated signal with a 500 kHz carrier and a 10 kHz modulating frequency.

Step 1: Exporting from Multisim

Before heading to the cloud, open your circuit in Multisim. Navigate to the File menu and save the circuit file to your local hard drive.

Step 2: Importing to TINACloud

Switch over to TINACloud and click the Upload command. Select your saved .ms14 file to initiate the automatic conversion. In just a few moments, your fully converted schematic will populate the TINACloud editor workspace.

Step 3: Verifying Signal Parameters

To double-check that your inputs carried over correctly, double-click the AM signal generator component. Click the “…” (Details) button on the right side of the Signal line to view and verify the specific parameters of your modulated waveform.

Step 4: Running the Simulation

With everything verified, go to the analysis menu and select Transient Analysis. Once the simulation finishes running, you will see the resulting waveforms on your screen, confirming that the circuit behaves identically to its original Multisim environment.

Example 2: FM Demodulation Circuit

Next up is a Frequency Modulation (FM) Demodulation circuit, configured to handle a 500 kHz carrier signal with a 40 kHz modulating frequency.

The Conversion Process

Just like before, save your Multisim file locally (your Downloads folder is a quick, accessible choice). In TINACloud, click Upload, select your file, and watch the platform instantly generate the web-ready schematic.

Waveform Organization & Customization

First, inspect your signal generator parameters to ensure the frequencies are accurate.

To double-check that your inputs carried over correctly, double-click the FM signal generator component. Click the “…” (Details) button on the right side of the Signal line to view and verify the specific parameters of your modulated waveform.

To make the final graph easier to interpret, we can manipulate how the traces display. Open the properties for the output probe PR4 and add :1 to the label name (changing it to PR4:1). This tiny syntax trick tells TINACloud to isolate this specific trace and move it directly to the top position of your diagram.

Running the Analysis

Execute a Transient Analysis. When the graph appears, use the zoom tool to focus on a few periods of the modulating signal. This gives you a clear, uncrowded view of both the raw FM signal and the demodulated output.

Verifying with Cursor Measurements

To verify your output frequency mathematically, place two cursors on the PR4 output waveform. Measuring the time difference between neighbouring peaks allows us to determine the signal period and confirms that the output frequency is indeed 40 kHz, matching the original modulating signal.  

Example 3: Active Bandpass Filter

For our third example, we are converting an Active Bandpass Filter. After uploading your .ms14 file to TINACloud, you have options for how you want to manage your files:

• Use the Download command to save the newly converted file locally in TINA’s native .TSC format.
• Use Save or Save As to store it securely in your cloud-based TINACloud folders.

Advanced AC Analysis Configuration

Go to the menu bar and select Analysis > AC Analysis > AC Transfer Characteristic…

Beyond basic Bode plots, TINACloud is highly capable; it can calculate Amplitude, Phase, Nyquist, and Group Delay diagrams simultaneously. Check the boxes for AC Bode, Amplitude, and Nyquist, and set the number of simulation points to 1000 for a smooth, high-resolution curve. Click Run.

TINACloud will open three separate tabs, neatly separating your Amplitude, Nyquist, and combined Bode diagrams.

Deep Dive: Symbolic Analysis in TINA

One of the most powerful features unique to TINA and TINACloud is the ability to derive a circuit’s Transfer Function symbolically. Instead of just plotting lines based on raw numbers, the engine calculates the exact mathematical formula of the circuit.

This is incredibly valuable for engineers and students looking to study poles, zeros, gain, and absolute frequency responses without relying strictly on numerical guesswork.

⚠️ Note: Symbolic derivation is mathematically reserved for linear circuits. However, you can still easily analyze active filters. By temporarily replacing complex, non-linear operational amplifier models with ideal op-amps, you will achieve highly accurate symbolic formulas.

1. Generating the Formula

Navigate to Analysis > Symbolic Analysis > Symbolic AC Transfer, and click run. The algebraic, analytical form of the Transfer Function will pop up instantly in a new window.

2. Documenting the Schematic

You can stitch this exact formula right onto your schematic diagram for professional documentation. Inside the Symbolic Result window, click the Send to tab and choose Text editor.

(Note: You can tweak or format the equation inside the Text Editor text box if needed). Click OK, and the formula will attach directly to your mouse cursor. Move it to an empty spot on your grid and left-click to drop it in place.

3. Comparing Symbolic vs. Numerical Data

To prove how accurate the symbolic equation is compared to the heavy numerical simulation run earlier:

1. In the Symbolic Results window, click Draw Diagram to plot the algebraic formula.
2. Click the resulting curve and change its color to green to differentiate it.
3. Click the curve again, and select the Copy curve icon to save it to your clipboard.
4. Switch back to your original, numerically simulated Ampl 1 tab, and click Paste Curve.

As you will see, the symbolic green line overlays the numerical red line almost perfectly—which is exactly why ideal op-amp approximations are so trusted in filter synthesis.

Example 4: Inverting DC-DC Converter

Our final example is a power electronics circuit: a DC-DC converter built around the popular MC34063 switching regulator from onsemi.

This circuit steps up and inverts a +5V input into a stable -12 output. It is available in both Multisim Live (MSJS) and Multisim Offline (MS14) configurations. Both variants convert seamlessly into TINA, where they run at identical—and often vastly superior—simulation speeds.

Upload and Setup

Save your file, click Upload from TINACloud’s File menu, and open the circuit inside the editor.

Customizing the Waveform Display

Go to Analysis > Transient Analysis and run the simulation.

When the graph window appears, the waveforms might overlap. To fix this, click the View tab in the diagram menu and select Separate curves. Next, select the PR1 axis line, input your preferred scale values, and repeat the process for PR2. This cleans up the display, creating a presentation-ready look at your input vs. inverted output waveforms.

Wrap-Up & Industry Integration

Whether you are designing basic filters or complex switching power supplies, TINA and TINACloud feature a massive built-in library of specialized DC-DC converter ICs and official evaluation circuits from the world’s leading manufacturers, including:

• Texas Instruments
• Infineon
• Analog Devices
• Nisshinbo Micro Devices
• Würth Elektronik
• STMicroelectronics
• Semtech

Ready to see these step-by-step conversions in action? Check out our full multimedia resources below:

• 📺 Watch the complete video tutorial: Watch on YouTube
• 🌐 Explore the software & features: Visit TINA Official Website
• 🎥 Subscribe for more design insights:
  www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

In this post, we’ll walk through how to convert digital circuit files originally created in offline Multisim formats such as MS13 and MS14, and run them directly inside TINACloud. The same conversion process is available in the offline version of TINA, where you can perform it locally as well.

We’ll cover three examples, each illustrating a different type of circuit: a purely digital up/down counter, a mixed-mode digital dice, and an 8-bit PIC microcontroller running both assembly and C code.

Click here or on the image above to watch this blog presented as a video tutorial.

Example 1: 8-bit Counter

Our first example is an 8-bit counter — specifically, a two-digit synchronous up/down counter built from two 74191N counter ICs and two 7-segment HEX displays. Interactive switches let you:

• Enable or disable the counting process.
• Clear the counters completely.
• Control the direction of the count (upward or downward).

With the Counter.ms14 file already saved locally, we use the Upload command to bring it into TINACloud, where it’s converted automatically.

To run the simulation, press the TR button and enable counting with the Upwards switch. The counter starts from zero and climbs steadily. Once the U2 display reaches F, U1 advances to 1 and U2 rolls back to 0. Disabling counting with the Upwards switch, clearing the counters, flipping the direction, and re-enabling counting causes the counter to count downward starting from FF.

Replacing the switches for a fully digital version

If you replace the standard switches with TINACloud’s Digital High-Low switches, the circuit becomes fully digital, letting you observe the digital states of every node. Press the Dig button to enter this view.

Example 2: A Mixed-Mode Digital Dice

Our second example is a mixed-mode circuit — a digital dice. The design pairs an NE555 analog oscillator, which provides the clock pulses, with a CD4017 digital decade counter.

With the MS14 circuit file already on hand, we upload it into TINACloud using the standard procedure. The CD4017 is designed to convert incoming clock pulses into a sequential HIGH signal across its ten decoded outputs, Q0 through Q9. In this circuit, however, output Q6 is wired back to the Master Reset (MR) pin: the moment the counter reaches 6, it resets to zero instantly. The result is a circuit that effectively cycles through positions 1 to 6.

To see it in action, start the simulation by pressing the TR button, then click S1 to close the switch. The TINACloud logic indicators now light up one by one, moving from left to right. Clicking the switch again opens it, interrupting the clock pulses; the counting stops immediately, leaving one indicator HIGH at a random position between 1 and 6. This is why this circuit can be considered a digital dice. Opening and closing the switch repeatedly causes the sequence to “freeze” at a different indicator almost every time, neatly demonstrating the interaction between the continuous analog oscillator and the digital counter.

Example 3: 8-bit PIC Microcontroller

Our final example features an 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU). While microcontrollers are supported only in the offline version of Multisim, they are fully operational in both the offline and cloud versions of TINA.

The circuit, an “LED Blinker,” periodically toggles an LED on and off. Moving it from Multisim to TINACloud requires both the circuit file and the microcontroller program file. When you save the PICLedBlink.ms14 file in Multisim, the .ASM assembly file isn’t exported automatically — you have to extract it manually:

1. Double-click the MCU symbol in Multisim.
2. Open the Code tab and click Properties to launch the MCU Code Manager.
3. Click the icon on the right side of the “Show machine code file…” line.
4. In the file list, right-click PicLedBlink.asm and open it in Notepad.
5. Save it as PICLedBlink.asm in the same folder as your .ms14 file.
6. Compress both files into a single archive named PICLedBlink.zip.

Upload the ZIP file to TINACloud as usual, and the schematic diagram of the same circuit appears. In the MCU symbol in TINA and TINACloud, the MCU program file is directly available.

To view the MCU program file — in this example, the .asm file — double-click the MCU symbol, click the “…” icon on the right side of the MCU Code line, and choose Preview. The assembly language code appears. You can also upload your own assembly code by selecting Upload. Pressing the TR button starts the simulation, and the LED begins to blink immediately.

Debugging code execution with the MCU Debugger

TINACloud also lets you study code execution using the built-in MCU Debugger. Enable MCU Code Debugger in the Analysis menu, then press the TR button again to launch the debugger window. From here, you can:

• Use the Step button to execute code line-by-line while monitoring Registers and Memory.
• Set Breakpoints by clicking on a line of code or using the Breakpoint button.
• Press Run, and the program will halt at your designated points.

Pay close attention to Port B, which directly controls the LED.

C-Code and Arduino

While assembly is the most powerful tool, you can also program MCUs in TINACloud using C, which is much easier to write and read. Open PICLedBlink_C_Code.tsc — the circuit looks identical to the previous one, but the PIC is now running on C-code. Press the TR button to start the simulation, then double-click the MCU and click the “…” at the end of the MCU-code line, selecting Preview to view the source. As you can see, C-code is generally much easier to read and follow, and you can debug it in much the same way as assembly.

These days, the Arduino platform is more often used in place of programming MCUs directly in assembly or even in C, thanks to its ease of use. The Arduino platform is also supported in both TINACloud and TINA. For more information, see our Arduino tutorials on our YouTube channel, for example “Arduino blinking LED simulation using TINACloud.”

Learn More

For more information, visit www.tina.com or our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite.

In this post, we demonstrate how to seamlessly convert and run digital circuits from Multisim Live using TINACloud.

This feature of TINACloud and TINA is especially valuable because Multisim Live does not currently support the conversion of digital circuits into the .MS14 format, which limits their use in the offline Multisim environment. TINA ensures a seamless conversion of any .MSJS format files, allowing for the simulation of converted circuits in both TINACloud and the offline TINA environment.

Click here or on the image above to watch this blog presented as a video tutorial.

Example 1: Half Adder Circuit

We will begin with a Half Adder circuit, which we have already downloaded to our hard drive. To start, simply open the file in TINACloud using the Upload command.

Testing the Digital Circuit

Once the circuit appears in TINACloud, we can begin testing. A great feature of TINACloud is its ability to display digital states—not just on the output, but on any visible digital node on the screen.

• Change Switch A to High: You will see the state change at the Sum output.
• Change Switch B to High: It again appears at the Sum.
• Both Inputs High: If both A and B switches are ON, the Sum becomes zero (Low) and the Carry becomes High. This confirms the standard operation of a Half Adder.

VHDL and Verilog Subcircuits

TINACloud and TINA also allow digital circuits to be modeled using Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) like VHDL and Verilog. These descriptions are essential in modern electronics as they can be synthesized into FPGAs.

To demonstrate, we added two subcircuits: the Half Adder VHDL and Verilog macros. You can view the code by double-clicking the Macro, going to Properties, and clicking the three dots (Details) on the HDL line.

Today, it is very common to describe digital circuits using HDL code instead of building them from individual logic gates. Hardware description languages such as VHDL and Verilog allow designers to work at a higher level of abstraction, making development faster and more efficient. While this example is simple, the same approach is used for designing much more complex digital systems.

For more information on creating and uploading digital circuits to Xilinx and Intel FPGA boards using VHDL, Verilog, or schematic designs, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

Comparing Results

In TINACloud’s Interactive Digital Mode, you can see that the VHDL and Verilog macros produce the exact same results as the original gate-level circuit. Whether using one input or both, the Sum and Carry outputs match perfectly. Using HDL allows designers to work at a higher level of abstraction, making development faster and more efficient for complex systems.

Example 2: Analyzing a 4-Bit Digital Counter

1. Circuit Import

Our next example is a 4-bit digital counter composed of four JK flip-flops. We convert the Multisim circuit into TINACloud using the standard import process, and the schematic appears directly on the workspace.

2. Interactive Simulation

By clicking the DIG button, you can observe the signal propagating through each flip-flop until it reaches the final PR4 output.

3. Digital Analysis & Timing Diagrams

To get a clearer picture of high-speed operations, we can generate a timing diagram:

1. Navigate to the Analysis menu and select Digital.
2. Set the analysis time to 20 milliseconds.
3. Click Run.

4. Frequency Division Results

The waveforms clearly demonstrate binary counting behavior:

• PR5 (Input Clock): The base high-frequency signal.
• PR1 (First Stage): Frequency is half of the input.
• PR2 (Second Stage): Frequency is one-fourth of the input.
• PR3 (Third Stage): Frequency is 1/8th of the input.
• PR4 (Final Stage): Frequency is 1/16th of the input.

The diagram confirms the binary counting behavior: each successive flip-flop stage triggers at half the previous stage’s cycle, effectively doubling the period (and halving the frequency) at every step.

This feature makes the circuit applicable as a counter. Each output represents a bit in the digital counting result: the output with half the input frequency corresponds to the least significant bit (LSB), while the output with one-sixteenth of the input frequency corresponds to the most significant bit (MSB). 

Let’s add a Hex Display to the circuit to demonstrate this.

The counting result appears in hexadecimal form on the display from 0 to F, and then restarts.

Example 3: 74LS193 Integrated Circuit Demo

Our final example features the 74LS193 Synchronous 4-bit Binary Counter IC. This circuit is configured to count down from Hex F to zero and then reset.

Pressing the DIG button starts the interactive simulation. As the circuit decrements and reaches zero, it automatically restarts the cycle.

It is important to note that TINACloud supports all digital integrated circuits from both Multisim Live and the Multisim offline environment, as these components are native to the TINA library.

Summary

TINA and TINACloud provide a powerful bridge for your Multisim Live designs. Also beyond standard logic gates and ICs, TINA supports more than 1,400 microcontrollers, including:

• PIC, AVR, and Arduino
• 8051, HCS, and STM
• ARM, TI Tiva, TI Sitara, Infineon XMC, and ESP32

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

Explore more content from our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

With the announcement that the Multisim Live simulator will be shut down on September 15, 2026, many engineers, educators, and students are looking for a reliable online alternative to continue their work.

TINACloud offers a seamless transition path, allowing you to import, run, and analyze circuits created in Multisim v14.2 and Multisim Live. In this guide, we will walk through the process of converting analog circuits and exploring the advanced analysis features—like symbolic analysis—that TINACloud brings to your projects.

Click here or on the image above to watch this blog presented as a video tutorial.

1. Exporting Your Design from Multisim Live

Before moving to TINACloud, you need to retrieve your files from the Multisim Live environment.

1. Open your desired circuit (e.g., a “Voltage Divider”) in Multisim Live.
2. Verify the design by clicking the Run button.
3. Once verified, stop the simulation and navigate to the Menu.
4. Select Download to save the circuit file to your computer.

2. Importing to TINACloud

TINACloud is designed to be compatible with various Multisim formats, including .ms14, .ms13, and the Multisim Live format, .msjs.

• Step 1: Log into TINACloud and select Upload from the menu.
• Step 2: Locate your downloaded .msjs file and select it.
• Step 3: The circuit will appear in the TINACloud workspace, maintaining the original layout and parameters.

Voltage divider Circuit Analysis in TINACloud

Along with numerical analysis, TINA and TINACloud feature advanced capabilities such as symbolic analysis – a particularly powerful aid in teaching, as it brings to light the theoretical relationships that give meaning to the numerical values.

To see this in action, go to the Analysis menu, select Symbolic Analysis, and choose Symbolic DC Result. TINACloud will return the mathematical formula for the output voltage, providing clarity that a simple numerical value cannot.

Analyzing a more complex circuit

Of course, Symbolic Analysis is not limited to simple circuits – it handles more complex ones just as well.

To see this, select Current Source from the Sources component toolbar, rotate it by 180 degrees, add it to the circuit, and connect it in parallel with R2. Then perform a numerical analysis first and repeat the calculation using Symbolic Analysis.

To obtain the numerical result, press the DC button.  

To obtain the symbolic result, follow the same menu path as before: Analysis > Symbolic Analysis > Symbolic DC Result.

The program returns the analytical formula, which produces the same result as the numerical calculation.  The formula clearly demonstrates the application of the superposition theorem, expressing the total response as the sum of the partial responses due to the current source and the voltage source acting independently.   This is what makes symbolic analysis such a valuable teaching tool: it exposes the inner structure of the calculation, which is otherwise lost in a purely numerical answer. 

Series RLC Circuit Analysis in TINACloud

We have already opened the circuit in Multisim Live and downloaded the file to our computer.

After launching TINACloud, let’s upload the file using the standard upload procedure. The schematic will appear, maintaining the same layout and parameters as seen in Multisim Live.

Numerical Analysis: Transient Analysis, AC Analysis

Transient Analysis

Numerical analysis allows us to observe the circuit’s behavior over time and frequency through data-driven simulations.

Let’s first run a Transient Analysis. To generate curves, run transient analysis via the Analysis menu\Transient…

The curves will appear in a single, shared diagram. The coordinate system magnifies the view between the minimum and maximum values.

Round the axis scales for better readability: Click an axis to open the scale settings. Select the Round axis scale checkbox, then click OK.

To view multiple curves simultaneously, go to the View menu and select “Collect curves“.

Enhance your results by adding a legend or individual labels to identify each curve.

AC Analysis

Now, let’s run AC Analysis. Navigate to the Analysis menu, select AC Analysis, then click AC Transfer Characteristic...

You can select several diagrams from the list. Select the Amplitude and Phase (Bode)diagrams. A two-panel Bode diagram will appear. As with the transient analysis, you can round the axis scales for clarity.

To perform other types of analysis, return to the Analysis menu and select AC Analysis > AC Transfer Characteristic… From there, you can choose Nyquist in the Analysis window to generate the diagram. To improve the resolution of the plot, increase the number of points (e.g., from 100 to 1000) and click Run. The Nyquist diagram appears. Adjust the axis scales as needed.

Symbolic Analysis

Beyond numerical data, TINACloud can perform symbolic analysis to generate mathematical formulas that describe your circuit’s behavior. Go to the Analysis menu, select Symbolic Analysis, then choose Symbolic AC Transfer. The transfer function will be displayed in its symbolic form, providing a direct analytical representation of the circuit’s performance.

The Text Editor allows you to embed the symbolic formula within the circuit design.

2nd Order Low Pass Filter Analysis
in TINACloud

For our third example, we will analyze a 2nd Order Low Pass Filter. Follow the standard procedure to download the circuit file from Multisim Live and upload it to TINACloud.

Transient Analysis

First, let’s perform a Transient Analysis. Navigate to the Analysis menu and select Transient. In the settings window, set the End Display time to 100m and press Run. The results will display the output (PR1) alongside the excitation signal (V1).

To view both signals in a single plot, go to View > Collect Curves.

Using the Virtual Oscilloscope

To observe the signals in real-time, we can use the built-in Oscilloscope.

Close the current diagram.

Go to the T&M (Test and Measurement) menu and select Oscilloscope.

Click Run and apply the following settings to clarify the signal: Set the Time/Div to 20ms and the Volts/Div to 5V. Adjust the Time/Div  to 5ms for a more detailed view. To stabilize the waveform, change the mode from Auto to Normal. Under the Source tab, select PR1 as the trigger signal. You can now synchronize using either the positive or negative slope. Once finished, stop the simulation and close the Oscilloscope window.

AC and Symbolic Analysis

AC Analysis

Now, let’s examine the frequency response. Go to Analysis > AC Analysis > AC Transfer Characteristic… Go to Analysis > AC Analysis > AC Transfer Characteristic… Both the Amplitude and Phase curves will appear.

Transitioning to Symbolic Analysis

Because a standard Op-Amp is a non-linear component, TINACloud must treat it as an Ideal Operational Amplifier to generate a mathematical formula.

Let’s first recalculate the transfer characteristics numerically in a relevant voice frequency range.

Run AC Transfer Characteristic again specifically for the voice frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) with 100 points.

The Bode plots (Amplitude and Phase) are displayed.

Now close the diagram and generate the formula. Go to Analysis > Symbolic Analysis > Symbolic AC Transfer. The Symbolic Transfer Function appears.

To add the resulting formula to your design, select the “Send to” tab and click “Text Editor” in the results window.

Check the text size, then click OK. The symbolic transfer function is now embedded in your schematic.

Comparing Ideal vs. Non-Linear Models

Finally, we can verify the accuracy of the ideal model by comparing it to the non-linear version. Open the Interpreter and press Run. This draws the transfer function based on the ideal model. Overlay this plot onto the existing Bode diagram to compare it with the non-linear model.

Click the curve and select the “Copy Curve“icon to copy it to the clipboard. Next, switch to the AC Bode Diagram tab, click on the plot area, and select the “Paste curve” icon. As you can see, the two curves match almost perfectly. The same is true for the phase characteristics, so let’s perform that comparison as well. Again, the agreement between the results is good; however, at higher frequencies the ideal op-amp shows deviations from the phase response of the more accurate nonlinear model.

That brings us to the end of this tutorial on converting basic Multisim Live circuits and running them in TINACloud.

Be sure to check out our other videos on logic circuits and more advanced topics. 

Conclusion

Transitioning from Multisim Live doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. TINACloud provides the tools to not only replicate your current work but to enhance it with symbolic formulas and integrated test equipment.

As the 2026 deadline approaches, we encourage you to begin migrating your libraries to ensure your projects remain accessible and functional in a cloud-based environment.

You can learn more about TINACloud here: www.tinacloud.com

Explore more content from our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite

The MAX20830 is a fully integrated, high-efficiency step-down (buck) DC-DC switching regulator with a PMBus interface. The associated models can be used and executed in both TINA and TINACloud simulation environments.

The simulation results have been verified against real measurement data, ensuring reliable and accurate performance for design and analysis purposes.

In this video tutorial, we’ll first run simulations in TINA software, then verify the results with physical measurements.

Simulation with TINA

Part 1: Basic Simulation with TINA

To begin, we will simulate the output voltage adjustment via hardware components.

1. Open the Model: Navigate to the TINA Examples\Analog Devices\MAX20830 folder and open MAX20830_VOUT.TSC.
2. Hardware Adjustment: The MAX20830 uses a default 0.5V feedback reference voltage (VREF​). The external resistor divider determines the output voltage (VOUT).
   • With RFB1​ and RFB2​ both set to 1kΩ, the output voltage is 1V.
   • Run a Transient Analysis to observe the 1V output.
3. Modifying the Output: To reach a 5V output, change the RFB1​ value to 9.1kΩ and run the Transient Analysis again.

To change the output voltage value without replacing the resistors, the reference voltage can be programmed via the PMBus commands.

Part 2: Adjusting Output via PMBus

While resistors provide a fixed output, the MAX20830 also allows for dynamic voltage scaling via PMBus commands without changing physical components.

Open the MAX20830 PMBus TSC file located in the TINA Examples\Analog Devices\MAX20830 folder.

Device Configuration

The default configuration is programmed using a configuration file. This allows you to set key electrical parameters before start-up, including:

• Reference voltage
• Overcurrent protection threshold
• Switching frequency

These settings correspond to the internal registers of the MAX20830 and can be modified via PMBus commands to reprogram the device. For a detailed list of commands, refer to the MAX20830 Datasheet.

Running the Analysis

The MAX20830 is configured to power up with an initial output voltage of 1V (using a default 0.5V reference). To observe the device behavior:

1. Navigate to the Analysis menu.
2. Select Transient… and press the Run button.
3. In the simulation, the output voltage is first allowed to reach its initial value.

PMBus Communication Sequence

During the simulation, you can observe the PMBus communication protocol:

• Device Address: Transmitted first. The address is set to hexadecimal 31h via a 200Ω resistor on the PGM0 pin.
• Command: The VOUT command (21h) is sent next.
• Data: To update the reference voltage to 0.8V, the data bytes are sent (Lower byte: 9Ah, Higher byte: 01h).

MAX20830EVKIT Physical Measurements

To verify the simulation, we used the MAX20830EVKIT Evaluation Board connected to a MAXPOWERTOOL002 USB-to-SMBus Interface.

Monitoring Setup:

• Output Voltage: Monitored via the Maxim Digital PowerTool software.
• PMBus Communication: Captured and monitored using a logic analyzer.

Verification Results

Just as in the simulation, the hardware starts with a 1V output. A PMBus VOUT command was sent via the laptop to change the reference voltage to 0.8V, resulting in an output voltage of 1.6V.

The results, specifically the transition from 0.5V to 0.8V,showed perfect consistency between the Maxim PowerTool and the TINA simulation. The communication sequences were clearly visible and identical in both the physical software and the simulation environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MAX20830 DC‑DC converter can be accurately simulated in TINA. The PMBus communication circuit-including the output‑voltage‑change command and the device’s corresponding behavior-has been verified through measurements taken with the MAX20830EVKIT evaluation board.

You can learn more about TINA here: www.tina.com

Explore more content from our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaDesignSuite