DVM - Design Verification Module

Basic DVM Control Symbol

The Basic DVM control symbol holds the minimum amount of information that is required to run DVM. The Full Power Assist Control Symbol stores additional information, such as specifications for the sources and loads, as well as performance specifications. The DVM control symbol dialog consists of two areas:

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Adding a Basic DVM Control Symbol to a Schematic

To add a Basic DVM control symbol to a working schematic, follow these steps:

  1. From the parts selector, choose DVM ▶ Control Symbols ▶ Basic DVM Control Symbol.
    Result: The DVM Basic Control Symbol appears.

  2. Place the symbol on the schematic.

  3. Double click the symbol.
    Result: The SIMPLIS DVM Control Panel dialog opens for you to enter the information that is described in the following sections.

Circuit Specifications

The Circuit Specifications page allows you to define circuit descriptions and specifications that DVM uses when measuring and checking scalar values in the simulation. On this dialog, you also specify the number of DC inputs, AC inputs, and outputs. Additional pages appear for each input and for each output as shown in the page selection panel below.

Label Parameter Description
Circuit Name Name of the circuit as it will appear in the DVM report; for display purposes only.
Circuit Description Description of the circuit under test which appears in the DVM Control symbol; for display purposes only.
Switching Frequency Nominal switching frequency used to calculate simulation timing for DC/DC test objectives
Supports Startup? If checked, the startup tests will be performed; if not checked, the startup tests will be skipped.
Supports Short Circuit? If checked, the short circuit tests will be performed; if not checked, the short circuit tests will be skipped.
Number of DC Inputs On a Basic DVM Control Symbol, the number of DC and AC  inputs and the number of outputs will all be zero. Increasing both the number of inputs and the number of outputs to one or more will convert the Basic control symbol into a Full Power Assist DVM Control Symbol.
 
The numbers that you select in these three fields dynamically change the page selection list to accommodate the number of AC and DC inputs and the outputs that will then be available for you to configure.
Number of AC Inputs
Number of Outputs

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Multi-Step Analysis

The SIMPLIS Multi-Step analysis allows you to step a design parameter over a range of values using a decade-step or linear-step interval. You may also step values over a defined list of parameter values. One advantage of using a multi-step analysis over multiple DVM tests is the multi-core capability which is part of the Pro and Elite license packages. The multi-core capability runs steps in parallel on multiple processor cores and will greatly reduce the simulation time required for the multi-step analysis.

For more information, see the Multi-Step Analysis topic.

Parameter name
Parameter name The name of the stepped parameter. The schematic symbols should be parameterized with this parameter name in braced {} substitutions as at the top of the dialog above.

Note: You can automatically change symbol property values by using the Change testplan entry.
Step Parameters and Step type
Start value The starting value for the parameter step, used with decade and linear steps
Stop value The ending value for the parameter step, used with decade and linear steps
Number of steps The number of steps for the decade or linear steps
Step type The step type can be one of the following:
  • Decade: The stepped parameter is stepped logarithmically.
  • Linear: The stepped parameter is stepped in a linear fashion.
  • List:The parameter is stepped over a list of values. To define the list, click the Define List... button.
Multi-core
Number of cores The number of cores used for the simulation. The Pro and Elite licenses allow the use of 4 and 16 cores respectively.

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Monte Carlo Analysis

The Monte Carlo analysis allows you to investigate the effect of random parameter value changes on your circuit. The Monte Carlo analysis assumes that you have set up your circuit with statistical parameter distribution functions.

For more information, see the Monte Carlo Analysis topic.

Parameters
Number of Monte Carlo Steps The number of steps, or simulations, to run
Monte Carlo Seed The seed value for the Monte Carlo simulation. The seed value starts the pseudo-random number generator at a specific value. Subsequent seeds follow a predictable pattern, which makes the Monte Carlo simulation repeatable.
Multi-core
Number of cores The number of cores used for the simulation. The Pro and Elite licenses allow the use of 4 and 16 cores respectively.

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Files Page

The Files page allows you to do the following:

Default Testplan: used when you select either DVM ▶ Run Schematic's Default Testplan or DVM ▶ Run Entire Schematic's Default Testplan from the menu bar.
Default Testplan Specifies the default testplan to be used with this schematic.

Report Customization: Options to customize the appearance of the DVM report
Overview Report Title The title used on the overview report. The titles for individual test reports can be changed with the HTMLTitle testplan entry.
Custom Style Sheet Cascading Style Sheet (CSS file) to use with the DVM report
Custom Logo Image Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file to use with the DVM report

Pre & Post Processing
Pre-process Script

SIMetrix script to be executed immediately before launching each simulation; this allows you to change schematic values or analysis statements before running the test. Preprocess scripts are executed after all Objective entries are processed which allows users to override any schematic changes made by DVM.
Post-process Script SIMetrix script to be executed immediately after each simulation successfully completes; this allows you to perform waveform manipulation and to create custom scalar and specification values.

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