(P)SpiceItUp: Search by Category, Description, or Function with PSpice Part Search

As a designer, your requirement at the early stages of schematic design is quite different, that is the part information you need when it comes to implementing the schematic design and while simulating it for testing and analysis is different in nature. While implementing, you know the part number you want to use and, therefore, you search based on the part number. 

While simulating the design for analysis, you need to know the functional behavior. In the analysis world, you may not know the exact part number, but you have a fair idea about the functional behavior of the part. For example, you may want to create a design based on an operational amplifier, analog-to-digital converter, diode, or a MOSFET. And within the MOSFET category, you may be looking for a power MOSFET or an RF MOSFET. So, while navigating or searching from thousands of simulation-ready PSpice components, a category-based part tree is very useful.

PSpice Part Search tunes search to work for your requirements at the various stages of design, whether at the implementation stage or analysis stage. PSpice Part Search displays parts that are organized in various Categories and Library folders. This search tool within OrCAD^® Capture has recently undergone a facelift and offers the best for any designer’s need. In this blog post, let’s see how.

In Capture, navigate to Place – PSpice Component – Search. You can search for a part in any category or library folder you want.

Navigating to the required part

The unique requirement of simulation and analysis when it comes to part search is the functional specifications of the part. For a selected category, a list displays individual part names and description. This makes it easy for you to locate and choose the required component for analysis.

For example, in the following animation, you can see how using the Categories tab you can navigate to the desired MOSFET.

Categories are classified as Favorites and PSpice. The number of parts in each category is displayed in a right-aligned manner. Tooltips show both the location of the part as well as a small description of its specifications.

You also have the option of viewing the symbol associated with the part. Right-click a part in the part table and select View Symbol from the pop-up menu.

Searching for the required part

Once you have selected the required category, or even without selecting any category from the tree, you can perform search based on description. Here is how you can use multiple combinations, and search based on part description.
Assume, you want to search for high-speed operational amplifiers. Specify opamp in the search field and you find all the operational amplifiers.

Now let’s say you want a part in a particular category that operates at 5 volts. Select a category under the Categories tab, select the search filter as Selected Category, and enter the search keyword as 5V.

This means that you don’t need to know the part number or name to search for a part. Just provide some specification or description and you will be able to find a part that meets your need.

Accessing additional part details

Another recently added feature in PSpice Part Search is the ability to configure libraries installed with PSpice installation packages from other semiconductor manufacturers. These PSpice installation packages come with a comprehensive list of models for parts offered by that manufacturer. So, if you have PSpice for TI libraries installed on your system, PSpice Part Search allows you to access these libraries and view additional part information from its interface directly. These recent enhancements in PSpice Part Search allows for a superior experience when it comes to accessing part-related information such as datasheets and model test circuits.

Adding or removing these libraries is also very easy. In the PSpice Part Search pane, click Add Models. The Add Models window shows the list of preinstalled libraries on your system and allows you to add or remove any of these libraries.

In the following figure, you see that the PSpice for TI libraries are installed on the system.

Toggle the Status in the Add Models window. The status changes to Pending.

Restart OrCAD Capture and you will observe that Texas Instruments libraries are configured and available in PSpice Part Search.

Click Add Models and you will observe that the status in the Add Models window has changed to Configured.

Now if you want to view the datasheet of a part, all you need to do is to right-click the desired part and select Open Product Page. The product detail page for the selected part opens at TI.com, as shown in the following example.

After you configure the preinstalled libraries, you can directly download (from TI.com), and simulate a related model test circuit (if available) for a part selected from these libraries. Right-click the desired part and select Open Model Test Circuit — <Model Name>, and the circuit opens in Capture.

Conclusion

Not just can you use the description-based search expressions to narrow the results for more specific part searches but with PSpice Part Search, you can also access the datasheet and other product information from its interface. So, explore the richness of this search tool and let us know your thoughts.

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