TINA TI: Importing Devices

[@jthunders]

I downloaded tina just now and there are maybe two dozen op amps in the library, all from the 70s and 80s. Where is all the newer stuff like LMH6639? Thanks for the good video

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

Yes, the existing library appears to be pretty small, but there are many more devices presented as SPICE macros. If you select the "SPICE Macros" tab and then select the Op Amp button (extreme left), you'll see about 700 more (not including instrumentation amps, comparators, etc). Start watching at 4:00 to see this. Basically, you get to add to that list, as explained in this video. As long as the manufacturer has a SPICE model, you should be good to go. Granted, it would be nice if the library had everything from every company, but it is a free simulator after all.

[@jthunders]

@@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore yep, thank you

[@pedrohenrique-dw5fp]

Really nice video, it helped me a lot! But I still have one question. Once that I imported the device, how can I add it to the library to be used in another projects? In my case I used a IRFS7540PBF, followed the video steps, and it worked pretty well, but I can't find the device in any libraries (FETs devices) or in the Spice Macros.

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

I haven't verified this because I haven't had a need to do it, but I assume you'll have to add them to the appropriate .LIB file. For example, if you want to add something to the op amp library, I assume you'll have paste the .cir text file into "OperationalAmplifiers.LIB" (in the TINA "SPICELIB" directory). The .LIB is just a big text file filled with .cir files. It also needs to be added to the appropriate .TLD file (also just text-just a listing of what's in the .LIB file). I'll have to verify this when I have time (or give it try after creating a backup and let us know).

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

It occurs to me that maybe I am making this more complicated than it needs to be. Once you've saved the model, you can reload it for other designs by just using the Insert.Macro menu item. Just navigate to wherever you saved it initially (probably in the Macros directory), select, and you're done. I did a few quick tests using .LIB and .TLD files but they didn't work so it must be a little more involved than I assumed. I also noticed that there are Re-compile Library and Re-build Library commands under the Tools menu. Nothing in the Help file of use, though. I have also noticed that there are .LIB and .TLD files for many individual devices, so it's not like they dumped all of the op amps in one library file, all of the discrete transistors in another, etc. One final thing, TINA might save your macro in your TINA Documents folder but it might bring up the Insert Macro dialog in the general TINA Macros folder. At first glance they might appear to be the same place, and thus you might wonder where your macro went.

[@Jeffrey-sb8dc]

Another BS video. Shortcutting out basic, needed steps. The finding of the on WEB libraries is a major point to the downloading of the files in the first stinking place. You are supposedly teaching rank amateurs the usage of a, them, brand new program environment. you videographers continuously skip out of extremely basic action points that are unknown to your supposed audience but have become subconscious actions.

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

Perhaps, but videos have to start somewhere. I tend to think that students who have come far enough along to need specific SPICE models for integrated circuits or unique semiconductor devices are smart enough to do a web search. I just typed "spice model op amps" into Duck Duck Go and the very first hit is to a page from Analog Devices which lists a number of their devices, each with a link to the associated SPICE model. Click the link, get the model. If someone can't do that much, maybe they're in over their head and should take a few steps back to regroup.