Intersil’s iSim active filter designer solves three tough design challenges

* Best parts recommendations: iSim delivers a ranked list of possible amplifiers that fit specific requirements considering supply voltages, signal swing limits, and dynamic characteristics that are often overlooked in more basic tools.
* Enhanced implementation strategy: iSim’s component calculations account for subtle amplifier and parasitic effect, improving the nominal filter accuracy and adding design margin. Designers can go from simulation to production with high confidence.
* More accurate simulations: iSim’s op amp macromodels include second order effects such as bandwidth vs. gain and loading, input-output impedance, and I/O clipping. These predict physical limitations online before committing to production.
“This tool packs more than 25 years of op amp design expertise into web-based platform that uses the industry’s most powerful algorithms,” said Michael Steffes, iSim filter tool design team leader. “The iSim Active Filter tool gives designers the ability to view the interstage and final output, AC response, noise, and step response, making it easy to see what is going on inside a multi-stage filter design and/or assess the impact of choosing alternate devices.”
The tool enables an engineer to move from concept to design in four easy steps. First a user can match the right product from Intersil’s large portfolio of high-performance operational amplifier ICs to their design needs. Next, a user can perform multiple simulations of a design online or locally using a personal computer. By comparing simulation results, a designer can quickly compare “what-if” scenarios to determine the best product for their application. In step three, they can summarize, document, and share designs with co-workers or customers. And finally a designer can download results to Intersil’s unique iSim PE (Personal Edition) tool for further analysis using a more general Spice simulator platform.

The iSim Active Filter Designer has the flexibility to work with products as diverse as Intersil’s micropower ISL28194 op amp (1.65mW), to the highest-speed current feedback op amp, the EL5167 (>600 MHz using <100mW power). It provides solutions from 5Hz to 50MHz for products requiring 1.8V through 40V operating voltages. Filter designs that provide passband gains from 1 to 125V/V can also be developed using this tool.
The tool currently offers low pass filter designs from second through sixth order, and is being expanded to include high-pass and band-pass options.