Quite Universal Circuit Simulator
Encyclopedia
Quite Universal Circuit Simulator (Qucs) is an open source
electronics circuit simulator software released under GPL.
It gives you the ability to set up a circuit with a graphical user interface and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit. Pure digital simulations are also supported using VHDL and/or Verilog
.
Qucs supports a growing list of analog and digital components as well as SPICE
sub-circuits. It is intended to be much simpler to use and handle than other circuit simulators like gEDA
or PSPICE
.
The documentation offers many useful tutorials (WorkBook), reports (ReportBook) and a technical description of the simulator.
Other features include the transmission line calculator, Filter
synthesis, Smith-Chart
tool for power and noise matching, Attenuator design synthesis, Device model and subcircuit library manager, Optimizer for analog designs, the Verilog-A
interface, Support for multiple languages (GUI
and internal help system), Subcircuit (including parameters) hierarchy, Powerful data post-processing possible using equations and symbolically defined nonlinear and linear devices.
The GUI is used to create schematics, setup simulations, display simulation results, writing VHDL code, etc.
The analog simulator is a command line program which is run by the GUI in order to simulate the schematic which you previously setup. It takes a netlist, checks it for errors, performs the required simulation actions, and finally produces a dataset.
The text editor is used to display netlists and simulation logging information, and to edit files included by certain components (e.g. SPICE netlists, or Touchstone files).
The filter synthesis application can be used to design various types of filters.
The transmission line calculator can be used to design and analyze different types of transmission lines (e.g. microstrips, coaxial cables).
The component library manager holds models for real life devices (e.g. transistors, diodes, bridges, opamps). It can be extended by the user.
The attenuator synthesis application can be used to design various types of passive attenuators.
The command line conversion program tool is used by the GUI to import and export datasets, netlists and schematics from and to other CAD/EDA software. The supported file formats as well as usage information can be found on the manpage of qucsconv.
Additionally, the GUI steers other EDA tools. For digital simulations (via VHDL) the program FreeHDL http://www.freehdl.seul.org is used. For circuit optimization (minimization of a cost function), ASCO http://asco.sourceforge.net is configured and run.
There is also a Component library that includes various standard components available in the market (bridges, diodes, varistors, LEDs, JFETs, MOSFETS, and so on).
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
electronics circuit simulator software released under GPL.
It gives you the ability to set up a circuit with a graphical user interface and simulate the large-signal, small-signal and noise behaviour of the circuit. Pure digital simulations are also supported using VHDL and/or Verilog
Verilog
In the semiconductor and electronic design industry, Verilog is a hardware description language used to model electronic systems. Verilog HDL, not to be confused with VHDL , is most commonly used in the design, verification, and implementation of digital logic chips at the register-transfer level...
.
Qucs supports a growing list of analog and digital components as well as SPICE
SPICE
SPICE is a general-purpose, open source analog electronic circuit simulator.It is a powerful program that is used in integrated circuit and board-level design to check the integrity of circuit designs and to predict circuit behavior.- Introduction :Unlike board-level designs composed of discrete...
sub-circuits. It is intended to be much simpler to use and handle than other circuit simulators like gEDA
GEDA
The term gEDA refers to two things:# A set of software applications used for electronic design released under the GPL. As such, gEDA is an ECAD or EDA application suite. gEDA is mostly oriented towards printed circuit board design...
or PSPICE
PSPICE
PSpice is a SPICE analog circuit and digital logic simulation program for Microsoft Windows. The name is an acronym for Personal Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis.- History :...
.
Analysis Types
Analysis types include S-parameter (including noise), AC (including noise), DC, Transient Analysis, Harmonic Balance (not yet finished), Digital simulation (VHDL and Verilog-HDL) and Parameter sweeps.Features at a glance
QUCS has a graphical interface for schematic capture. Simulation data can be represented in various types of diagrams, including Smith-Chart, Cartesian, Tabular, Polar, Smith-Polar combination, 3D-Cartesian, Locus Curve, Timing Diagram and Truth Table.The documentation offers many useful tutorials (WorkBook), reports (ReportBook) and a technical description of the simulator.
Other features include the transmission line calculator, Filter
Electronic filter
Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal, to enhance wanted ones, or both...
synthesis, Smith-Chart
Smith chart
The Smith chart, invented by Phillip H. Smith , is a graphical aid or nomogram designed for electrical and electronics engineers specializing in radio frequency engineering to assist in solving problems with transmission lines and matching circuits...
tool for power and noise matching, Attenuator design synthesis, Device model and subcircuit library manager, Optimizer for analog designs, the Verilog-A
Verilog-A
Verilog-A is an industry standard modeling language for analog circuits. It is the continuous-time subset of Verilog-AMS.Verilog-A was created out of a need to standardize the Spectre behavioral language in face of competition from VHDL , which was absorbing analog capability from other languages...
interface, Support for multiple languages (GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
and internal help system), Subcircuit (including parameters) hierarchy, Powerful data post-processing possible using equations and symbolically defined nonlinear and linear devices.
Tool Suite
Qucs consists of several standalone programs interacting with each other through the GUCS.The GUI is used to create schematics, setup simulations, display simulation results, writing VHDL code, etc.
The analog simulator is a command line program which is run by the GUI in order to simulate the schematic which you previously setup. It takes a netlist, checks it for errors, performs the required simulation actions, and finally produces a dataset.
The text editor is used to display netlists and simulation logging information, and to edit files included by certain components (e.g. SPICE netlists, or Touchstone files).
The filter synthesis application can be used to design various types of filters.
The transmission line calculator can be used to design and analyze different types of transmission lines (e.g. microstrips, coaxial cables).
The component library manager holds models for real life devices (e.g. transistors, diodes, bridges, opamps). It can be extended by the user.
The attenuator synthesis application can be used to design various types of passive attenuators.
The command line conversion program tool is used by the GUI to import and export datasets, netlists and schematics from and to other CAD/EDA software. The supported file formats as well as usage information can be found on the manpage of qucsconv.
Additionally, the GUI steers other EDA tools. For digital simulations (via VHDL) the program FreeHDL http://www.freehdl.seul.org is used. For circuit optimization (minimization of a cost function), ASCO http://asco.sourceforge.net is configured and run.
Components
The following categories of components are provided:- Lumped components (R, L, C, amplifier, phase shifter, etc.)
- Sources
- Probes
- Transmission lines
- Nonlinear components (diodes, transistors, etc.)
- Digital components
- File containers (S-parameter datasets, SPICE netlists)
- Paintings
There is also a Component library that includes various standard components available in the market (bridges, diodes, varistors, LEDs, JFETs, MOSFETS, and so on).