AVX upgrades its capacitor simulation software programs

13th January 2009

AVX

ES Admin

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AVX Corporation has launched the latest version of its SpiTanII software that enables designers to view all basic characteristics and parameters for tantalum and Oxicap (niobium oxide) capacitors. The company has also expanded the Pspice simulation software libraries it offers for its tantalum, tantalum polymer and niobium oxide chip parts, as well as introducing V6.0 of its Select-a-Cap software tool. Computer modeling and simulation is an important design resource that can save cost and time to market, and reduce potential quality issues. However, for this approach to be effective, high quality models are necessary, showing realistic behaviour not merely “ideal” performance. These three new tools from AVX will greatly improve the PC-based design-in process for tantalum and niobium oxide capacitors.

SpiTanII enables the designer to choose a desired component by part number or by reference to capacitance, rated voltage, case size or series. For the selected capacitor, all basic parameters such as frequency characteristics of capacitance, ESR, impedance, DF and ripple current and ripple voltage ratings are displayed. The latest version 1.7 of the software includes new parts from TAJ, Oxicap, NOJ, and TLJ series as well as from high temperature THJ and low ESR TPS ranges.
The software can be downloaded from www.avx.com/spiapps/spitan/SpitanIIV1_7.zip.

AVX has also expanded its PSpice simulation software libraries, adding about 500 new models to match the product range covered by SpitanII V1.7. Libraries include all electrical parameters enabling fast simulation of practical circuit designs. AVX’ tantalum and NbO capacitor libraries provide both frequency and transient simulations over the full operating temperature ranges for each device.

Version 6.0 of AVX’ Select-a-Cap software tool helps electrical designers to choose the most suitable tantalum or niobium oxide capacitors for their designs. V6.0 has been extended to cover the latest product ranges OxiCap NOS, NOM, TLJ (high CV tantalum), TAW (fuse tantalum) as well as all series that belong to TACmicrochip design. Several modifications have been includes as a result of customer feedback to make the software more usable for design engineers. For example: additional guidelines are provided for the Ripple current and Failure rate calculations; the reliability calculation is now recorded in %/hours and years as well as in FITs for given PN; temperature selection has been improved; and the data result screen layout has been clarified.