introduction of multisim

8/10/2019 Introduction of Multisim

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Figure 1-1

Multisim uses three different kinds of components to create schematics. The! are virtual

components, real /or manufacturer)s0 components, and 3D components. 1irtual and real

components use the standard industr! schematic s!mbols. -! default, virtual components are

colored black and real components are colored blue. n contrast, 3D components look more like

photographs of the actual component. #xamples are shown in %igure &'2. Although 3D

components add a certain amount of color and false realit! to a circuit, the! are non'standard and

not generall! used for simulations. $e shall not discuss them further.

The difference bewteen virtual and real components is that real components reflect items from a

manufacturer)s database. The items include ph!sical parameters, such as si(e and pinouts, which

are reuired for designing proper printed circuit boards. Also, real behavioral models for

semiconductor devices such as op amps will be more accurate than the virtual models. %inall!,

the values of real passive components /resistors, capacitors and inductors0 are limited to the

nominal values specified b! the manufacturer. n contrast, the values of virtual components can

#xercise &


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be set to almost an!thing, however, there are no corresponding ph!sical data. As a conseuence,

if a "4- is needed, virtual components are not the appropriate choice. n practice, if the goal is

to create a production circuit, real components will be used. f the goal is to simulate a lab

exercise, virtual components will be used for the passives /resistors, capacitors and inductors0

and reals will be used for the active components /transistors, diodes, op amps, etc.0.

Figure 1-2

To illustrate the use and editing of components, drag a D4 voltage source onto the workspace. t

will show up with a default voltage value and label. Double click the s!mbol. A dialog box will

pop up next to it as shown in %igure &'3.

Figure 1-3

ntroduction to Multisim


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%rom this dialog !ou can change a variet! of attributes, the most important of which are the

voltage value and the name. Double clicking an! component will bring up this settings dialogbox although the precise items contained within it will var! from component to component. %or

example, for a resistor there will be a resistance setting instead of a voltage setting. f !ou need

to remove a component, simpl! select it and hit the Delete ke!.

#diting the position and orientation of a component is straight forward. 5nce the item is selected

/shown b! a surrounding dashed line0 it ma! be moved using either the mouse or the cursor ke!s.

f !ou need to move a group of components, the mouse ma! be used to select several items b!clicking and then dragging the mouse over them. #ver! component within the selection box will

be highlighted and will move as a group. Also note that it is possible to select the text labels of

components and just move them. This can be hand! if a label becomes obscured b! a wire.

4omponents ma! also be rotated and flipped. These commands can be accessed from the main

menu, however, it is hand! to remember certain ke!board shortcuts /such as 4T67'60. ou canalso customi(e the toolbars and add these commands as their own buttons for eas! access. The

4ustomi(e dialog is shown in %igure &'8 and is accessed via the 5ptions menu.

Figure 1-4

Along with editing the components and customi(ing the toolbars, !ou ma! also customi(e the

look of the workspace. 9o to the 5ptions menu and select :heet "roperties. %rom here !ou canselect a variet! of color schemes for the components and wiring. ou can also select which

component items /labels, values, etc.0 will be displa!ed. %onts ma! be altered as well. -e fore'warned, it is possible to spend a great deal of time tr!ing to make the workspace look prett!instead of doing trul! productive work. Don;t fall into this trap. -efore we close this dialog, there

is one important setting to note and that is the section labelled *


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a particular workflow and stick to it otherwise the chances of forgetting to change components

from their default values increases.

Figure 1-6

To add the voltmeters /BMM& and BBM2 in %igure &'@0, select a virtual DMM from the top of

the nstruments toolbar along the right edge of the screen. Drag this onto the workspace and wire

it across 6& as shown in %igure &'@. 9rab a second virtual DMM and repeat the process for 62.


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introduction of multisim

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