ESim

eSim (previously known as Oscad / FreeEDA) is an open source EDA tool for circuit design, simulation, analysis and PCB design. It is an integrated tool built using open source software such as KiCad (http://www.kicad-pcb.org) and Ngspice (http://ngspice.sourceforge.net/). eSim is released under GPL.

eSim offers similar capabilities and ease of use as any equivalent proprietary software for schematic creation, simulation and PCB design, without having to pay a huge amount of money to procure licenses. Hence it can be an affordable alternative to educational institutions and SMEs. It can serve as an alternative to commercially available/ licensed software tools like OrCAD, Xpedition and HSPICE.

The Spoken Tutorial Effort for eSim has being contributed by Usha Vishwanathan, Gloria Nandihal and Athul George from FOSSEE Project, IIT Bombay with domain reviews done by Gloria Nandihal and Athul George.

Basic Level

1. Overview of eSim
   • Introduction to simulation and examples
   • What is eSim
   • Benefits of eSim
   • Spoken Tutorials available on eSim
   • Timed discussion forum of Spoken Tutorials
   • Discussion forum of FOSSEE
   • Circuit simulation project for eSim
   • Lab migration for eSim
2. Getting started with eSim.
   • Installation of eSim 1.1.0 on Ubuntu
   • Installation of eSim 1.1.0 on Ubuntu
   • Run eSim using an example
3. Schematic creation and Simulation
   • Create Schematic in eeschema
   • Generate Spice Netlist
   • Convert Spice netlist to Ngspice netlist
   • Simulate the Ngspice netlist
   • Circuit schematic is modified by changing components and then again simulated.
4. Model Editor
   • Create a Device model library
   • Add or Remove parameters of device model
   • Save the Device model library
   • Uploading the external or user model file
   • Demo an example which uses this model
5. Creation of a sub circuit in eSim
   • Create the new subcircuit schematic
   • Generate the netlist for subcircuit schematic
   • Convert kicad netlist to ngspice netlist of subcircuit
   • Create the subcircuit component
6. Adding sub circuit to a schematic
   • Add the subcircuit to a schematic
   • Simulate the schematic
7. NGHDL for mix mode Simulation
   • Install nghdl
   • Open nghdl window
   • Upload VHDL code
   • Import schematic library of digital block uploaded in previous step
   • Enter model parameters
   • Plot simulation result
8. Optimisation using OpenModelica
   • Install OpenModelica 1.9.1 alpha version.
   • Create ngspice netlist and generate OpenModelica file.
   • Perform optimisation in OMOptim
9. Device Model creation and Simulation
   • Create device model
   • Add the device model to a circuit
   • Add parameters of device model
   • Remove parameters of device model
   • Edit the value of a parameter
   • Save the device model
   • Add the edited device model
   • Compare the simulation output before and after editing the device model
   • Upload the external device model
   • Locate the uploaded device model from User Library

Contributors and Content Editors

Nancyvarkey, PoojaMoolya, Pratik kamble, Vineeta