Circuit Simulation for Sensitivity Analysis

Circuit simulators can be used to conduct sensitivity analysis on electronic circuits, allowing engineers to test, understand and refine designs digitally before building physical models. This approach is not only more accessible but also helps conserve project resources. DesignSpark offers cloud-based circuit simulation software as part of our wider software portfolio. Circuit Simulator lets you design, model, simulate and analyse electronic circuit designs, all in a single tool. Find out more in our guide below about how using circuit simulation for sensitivity analysis can streamline your design process.

What is a circuit simulator?

A circuit simulator is a specialised type of software that lets you create and test digital models of electronic circuits.

DesignSpark's circuit simulation software features a comprehensive suite of tools that lets you model and simulate designs. It has an extensive library of hundreds of pre-defined components and models to help you get started quickly. You can place waveform probes in the circuit to measure and analyse performance at the component or circuit level. This allows you to compare results across different configurations so you can ensure your design is right before prototyping.

These features make circuit simulators invaluable to the electrical design process, removing the need to invest in production before you're certain the project is viable.

What is sensitivity analysis?

Sensitivity analysis is a method of systematically testing how different input parameter variations change the output of an electronic circuit. For example, you might use sensitivity analysis to test how resistance variations in an electronic circuit change the output power or voltage.

Electronic circuits are complex systems of interconnected and correlated components. Changes in the system input result in deviations in the output because the system output is more sensitive to certain inputs than others. Moreover, electronic components have tolerance values that need to be accounted for in the system design.

Designing electronic circuits involves keeping a delicate system in balance. Sensitivity analysis helps determine the influence of each input in the system and their effects on the overall performance of the model. This helps you understand the efficiency and stability of the design –and make any adjustments needed to improve its performance.

Benefits of circuit simulators for sensitivity analysis

Engineers enjoy several benefits from using circuit simulators for sensitivity analysis, including:

• Time savings: Building prototypes of electronic circuits is time-consuming, especially when several iterations are needed to arrive at an optimal design. It's much faster to test and correct the behaviour of model circuits using a circuit simulator before fabrication.
• Cost-efficient projects: Repeatedly constructing physical models drains money as well as time. Using a circuit simulator to trial and refine your designs reduces the amount of hardware you need to buy, helping to keep your project within budget.
• Greater accessibility: Circuit simulators allow engineers of all experience levels to conduct sensitivity analysis across a huge range of circuit designs and components, bypassing any financial and material restrictions they might face.

Why choose DesignSpark's Circuit Simulator for sensitivity analysis?

Choose the DesignSpark Circuit Simulator to apply sensitivity analysis to your designs and you'll benefit from:

• Customisability: Every aspect of a circuit model is user-definable, including input signals, component values and simulation parameters. You can add as many waveform probes as you like to any part of a circuit to gauge every aspect of your design's performance. Then you can analyse and compare results in greater detail using the waveform viewer.
• Unlimited designs: Enjoy unlimited public designs on all three of our subscription plans. You can also access the SPICE and VHDL-AMS models our partners provide for you to work with, as well as other users' designs to clone and modify as you see fit.
• Plan flexibility: We offer three subscription plans, so pick the option that best suits your needs. All levels give you access to design, modelling and analysis environments for electronic circuits in Circuit Simulator. Our free entry-level subscription, Explorer, lets you run simulations for up to a minute of run time. Our two paid plans, Creator and Engineer, let you enjoy up to an hour of simulation run time. Engineer also gives you access to private groups where you can collaborate on designs with other engineers.
• Expert insights: Build your knowledge with our library of Circuit Simulator articles. You can also read our FAQs to brush up on your skills or get in touch with our experts for any assistance you need.

Register today to start using Circuit Simulator with DesignSpark.