Electronic Workbench Basic Tutorial

Ensure you're logged in under a Microsoft Windows Network (you must have entered your NetID and password under a WinNT domain: usually "YALE" on a workstation in the Morse Labs)

Click on the Electronic Workbench Icon.

A) Font Colors:

Under Menu "Circuit", "Schematic Options", "Fonts", "Set label font" Set font color to black.

Under "Set value font" Set color to black. This allows you to print schematics in black and white.

B) Nodes:

Under Menu "Circuit", "Schematic Options", "Show/Hide" Make sure all boxes under display are checked.

Displaying the nodes will help with simulation but can be left blank when printing schematic.

A) Place Components:

(Sample Circuit)

Using component toolbar place needed components on schematic.

B) Wire Components:

Using mouse, wire from component to component.

Note: All components must be connected by wires. Component to component connections are not interpreted as connected. When going from a component to a node be sure there is no more then three wires per node. If the node has three wires then connect the new wire to an existing wire coming from the node.

C) Edit Component Values:

Right click mouse on component to edit. Select "component properties". Here you can select type of device, value, and other parameters. Set up the components V1, C1, R1, D1, and R2 as shown in the schematic.

D) Export Schematic:

To export the schematic to another document (such as Word) Under "Edit" select "copy as bitmap". Then move the cursor and while holding the left mouse button down, mark off the section of the schematic to save to the clipboard. Then from your other application such as Word click the paste option to import to your document.

A) Oscilloscope:

Virtual instruments can be attached to your circuit. Place an oscilloscope on the schematic as shown above.

Connect Channel 1 to the input and channel 2 to the output node (#4 in example)

To view scope double click on the scope symbol.

Set channel A and B settings to 10mv/div and the time base to .2ms/div.

Click the left mouse button on the switch in the upper right of the main screen.

Note: Waveform flashes on oscilloscope. To stop this turn off run switch and click on "Analysis", "Analysis Options", "Instruments" and under Oscilloscope click Pause after each screen box.

Now click the run switch again and note the oscilloscope stores one sweep. To store a new sweep click on Resume box under switch.

A) Frequency response:

Turn off run switch in upper right. (Run must be OFF for analysis)

Click on "Analysis" and "AC frequency"

Set to the following:

FSTART = 1Hz

FSTOP = 100 kHz

Sweep Type = Decade

Number of points = 100

Vertical scale = Log

Make sure nodes for analysis selection is set to the output node number on your schematic.

Click on "simulate". A graph of amplitude vs. frequency and phase should appear.

B) Fourier analysis and THD:

Click on "Analysis" and "Fourier..."

Set the following:

Output Node = Set to the number of the node on your schematic

Fundamental Frequency = Set to match frequency of input generator

Number of Harmonics = 3

Vertical Scale = Linear

Click on "simulate". A plot of frequency components along with the %THD should appear.

Now change the voltage output on V1 to 1volt. Run the THD analysis again and note much higher THD due to diode clamping action.

C) Parameter Sweep:

Click on "Analysis" and "Parameter Sweep"

Set The following:

Component = C1

Start value = .001uf

End value = 10uf

Sweep type = decade

Output node = 4 (or your output node number)

Check AC Frequency Analysis

Press simulate and a family of curves should appear showing the frequency response of the circuit with C1 as .001, .01, .1, 1.0, and 10.0 uf values.

These are just some of the basic features of Electronic Workbench you are encouraged to try the other features of the package.