New functionality added to design support software

Murata has added extra functionality to their on-line ‘SimSurfing’ tool for simulation of the company’s capacitor, inductor and filter components. The previous version of the tool enabled visualisation of individual component performance characteristics for impedance, transmission and reflection variation, with frequency and other operating conditions. The new tool provides simulation of the application circuits, particularly DC-DC converters, where selection of components is crucial for efficient and minimal size/cost designs. SimSurfing can now simulate DC-DC converter behaviour at high speed with user-specified variables such as input/output voltages, switching frequency and starting values for filter inductance and capacitance. A particular point is the capability of the software to predict inductor power loss. This is commonly a difficult value to calculate from published data, leaving designers no choice but to measure prototype performance with a choice of components, slowly iterating to an optimum solution. The tool is, however, pre-programmed with a wealth of database information and know-how, acquired by the company over many years of evaluation of their products. This enables designers to rapidly come to a final design using real components from the company range with their latest performance data. Further enhancements to the DC-DC simulation feature are planned such as the inclusion of load transient response, vital for confirmation of converter stability and large signal performance. SimSurfing is continuously kept updated with the latest company component releases and data so that designers can be sure that they are using the most up-to-date information and can design and prove their DC-DC and noise filter circuits from a one-stop source. SimSurfing is available free of charge with the company's DC-DC converter design support tool.