JCDaly Header

Physics

Frequency Sweep

Here we simulate the frequency response of an RC circuit in PSPICE by sweeping through frequency.

First the schematic was drawn using the schematics program

With the AC source set to an amplitude of one volt, the output voltage will equal the gain. We were able to double click on the output node wire and name the output node to "out".

From the analysis pulldown menu select "setup". In the analysis setup menu that comes up select "AC SWEEP" as shown below. Click on the AC Sweep button.

In the AC SWEEP window choose decade and the start, and end values as shown.

Run the simulation by selecting "simulate" in the analysis pull down menu. The probe window came up. I selected V(out) using the trace pulldown menu.

Trace > Add Trace
V(out) was selected for the trace.

Change the Y axis to a logarithmic axis;

Plot > Axis Settings > Log
The output voltage as a function of frequency was displayed as shown below. The horizontal axis is frequency. The corner frequency for this first order low-pass filter is 1.59 KHz.

The PSPICE input file contains the line that produces the frequency sweep,

.ac DEC 101 100 1MEG
PSPICE did a frequency sweep with 101 points per decade from 100Hz to 1 MHz 


** Analysis setup **
.ac DEC 101 100 1MEG

* From [SCHEMATICS NETLIST] section of msim.ini:
.lib nom.lib
.lib "nom.lib"

* Schematics Netlist *

R_R1         $N_0001 out  10k  
C_C1         0 out  10n  
V_V1         $N_0001 0 DC 0V AC 1V 

.probe

.END
View the SPICE ascii output.