Constraint Browser: Components Section

This topic describes the Components section in the Constraint Browser, in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer. This tab is not available in Constraint Browser for eCADSTAR PCB Editor. In eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, launch Constraint Browser by clicking Design > Browser > Constraint on the ribbon. This section comprises the following tabs.

Basic

Detail

Analysis

SPICE Tab

The Components section, allows you to define the components that are displayed in the Components tree by displaying or hiding types of component, and then further filtering the displayed items using the Filter box. The items that you select in the tree are displayed in the Components table, and can be further filtered using the View list and by clicking <Filter> in each column. Columns that are colored gray cannot be edited.

Components Tree

Displays the specified types of component. You can filter the components that are displayed in this section before selecting the items that are added to the Components table. Select multiple components using the CTRL or Shift keys.

Item	Description
Show/Hide resistors	Displays or hides resistors in the tree.
Show/Hide capacitors	Displays or hides capacitors in the tree.
Show/Hide inductors	Displays or hides inductors in the tree.
Show/Hide diodes	Displays or hides diodes in the tree.
Show/Hide all other items	Displays or hides all other components in the tree.
Filter box	Allows you to display components whose name partially matches the text string that you enter.
Select all items	All items that are currently shown in the tree are displayed in the Components table.
Pin search	For a selected component, enter a pin number and press Return. The specified pin is shown in the Selected column in the Basic tab.

View Settings

Allows you to select the items that are shown in the Components table by filtering the contents of the Components tree.

Item		Description
View list		Define the items that are shown in the Components table by selecting a value from the View list. The contents of the Components tree are filtered using the selected value.
	Selected	Only items that are currently selected in the Components tree are displayed in the Components table. If you click Select all items in the Components tree, all currently-displayed items in the tree are shown in the Components table. To display, in the Parts table, all items in the tree: Select all items in the tree using the CTRL or Shift keys. Right-click in the tree and select Expand All Child Items. Click Select all items.
	Component	For the items selected in the tree, the contents of the Components table are filtered to only display Components.
	Pin	For the items selected in the tree, the contents of the Components table are filtered to only display Pins.

Basic Tab

Displays the component values for the items selected in the Components tree. Values are displayed for each item in the Selected column. These items can be filtered by clicking <Filter> in each column. Columns that are colored gray cannot be edited.

Item		Description
Component		The component that you select in the Components tree. This column is in each tab in the Components table.
Selected		For each selected item in the Components tree, the associated type of item is displayed that is specified in the View list. This column is displayed in each tab in the Components table.
Signal		The signal that is associated with the component.
Part Name		The part name associated with the item that is displayed in the Selected column.
Pin Count		Displays the number of pins on the item displayed in the Selected column.
Value		Displays attributes for a selected component.
Pin Label		Displays the label for each pin on the selected component.
Pin Type		If you select a pin in the Components tree, then the pin direction is displayed.
	INPUT	Indicates that the selected pin is in the input direction.
	OUTPUT	Indicates that the selected pin is in the output direction.
	BIDIRECT	Indicates that the selected pin is bidirectional.
	POWER	Indicates that the selected pin is a power connection.
	GROUND	Indicates that the selected pin is a ground connection.
	NC	Indicates that the selected pin is not connected.
Net		If you select a pin in the Components tree, then the net is displayed that is associated with it on a component.
Comment		Displays the comment that is displayed in the Properties Panel for the selected item.

Detail Tab

Displays details for items that are selected in the Components tree. Values are displayed for each item in the Selected column. You can filter the items that are displayed in this table as follows.

• If <Filter> is displayed below the column header, then type a value in this cell. The contents of the column are filtered using the specified value.
• If a drop-down list is displayed below the column header when you point the cursor at this cell, then select a value from the drop-down list. The contents of the column are filtered using the selected value.

Item		Description
Component		Displays the component that is selected in the Components tree.
Selected		Displays the selected item that is associated with a component in the Components tree.
Part Name		The part name associated with the component that is displayed in the Selected column.
Device Type		Displays whether the part associated with a selected component is either active or passive.
	Active	The part is an active device. Active devices require power for current to flow.
	Passive	The part is a passive device. Passive devices do not require power for current to flow. Examples of passive components are capacitors, resistors, inductors and diodes.
Passive Type		For a selected passive component, the component type is displayed.
	Capacitor	The selected passive component is a capacitor.
	Resistor	The selected passive component is a resistor.
	Inductor	The selected passive component is an inductor.
	Diode	The selected passive component is a diode.
	Other Passive	A passive type that has at least two nodes, and may contain a more or less complex inner circuitry.
	None	Passive series pins in the selected passive component are not considered.
Placement Group		For a selected item, specify the placement group by typing it in this box. See Placing Proximity Components.

Analysis Tab

The Analysis tab allows you to configure the simulation library for a schematic design.

Item		Description
Component		Displays the component that is selected in the Components tree.
Selected		Displays the selected item that is associated with a component in the Components tree.
Part Name		The part name associated with the component that is displayed in the Selected column.
Pin Count		The total number of pins on the component.
Value		Displays attributes for a selected component.
Passive Type		For a selected passive component, the component type is displayed.
	Capacitor	The selected passive component is a capacitor.
	Resistor	The selected passive component is a resistor.
	Inductor	The selected passive component is an inductor.
	Diode	The selected passive component is a diode.
	Other Passive	A passive type that has at least two nodes, and may contain a more or less complex inner circuitry.
	None	Passive series pins in the selected passive component are not considered.
Device Name		Displays the name of the device associated with the assigned model. To select a device, point the cursor in this field, and click the button. Select a device in the displayed dialog.
Vendor		The name of the vendor associated with the assigned model.
Pin Label		Displays the label for each pin on the selected component.

SPICE Tab

Displays the SPICE component values for the items selected in the Components tree. Values are displayed for each item in the Selected column. These items can be filtered by clicking <Filter> in each column. Rows that are colored gray cannot be edited.

Item	Description
Component	Displays the component that is selected in the Components tree.
Selected	Displays the selected item that is associated with a component in the Components tree.
SPICE Element Name	In the SPICE circuit, the prefix of this value represents a specific SPICE element. For example, "IC1" (prefix "I") represents a current source in SPICE.  To represent a subcircuit, change it to "XIC1" (prefix "X"). You can also specify a prefix using the SPICE Element Header attribute. For more information, see Understanding SPICE Controller, Simulation Properties for Components and Pins.
SPICE Simulation Value	Allows you to specify the electrical characteristics of a passive device. For resistors, capacitors and coils, set values for resistance, capacitance and inductance, respectively. The value that you specify overrides the "Value" property for the device.
SPICE Model Name	This is a dedicated LTspice property which defines the electrical characteristics of active elements. It provides the device model name that is used for analyzing active elements such as transistors or various types of IC. To be used in the analog unit, you must add the device model as an include file in the Schematic Editor: Application Settings dialog.
SPICE Element Header	Adds a prefix to the Reference Designator property. In the SPICE circuit, the prefix represents a specific SPICE element. For example, "IC1" (prefix "I") represents a current source in SPICE. See Understanding SPICE Controller, Simulation Properties for Components and Pins.
SPICE Substrate Connection Node	For BJT, JFET, or MOSFET devices, this specifies the net to connect to a substrate pin. Set the net name to specify a substrate (bulk) connection target. You cannot set it for a device model in subcircuit (.SUBCKT) format, even if the device type is BJT, JFET, or MOSFET.
SPICE Parameter 1-10	Allow you to specify additional parameters, such as a temperature dependence for a resistor. These parameters are dependent on the device type. For example, the temperature coefficient for passive devices (up to the second order) is enabled. For active devices, physical information for semiconductors is enabled. The items that are enabled depend on the SPICE type or version. Many of these parameters can be omitted.  For more information, see Understanding SPICE Controller, Simulation Properties for Components and Pins..
SPICE Pin Number	This number is the pin sequence order that is defined in the SPICE model.

 

Item	Description
(Always send selection)	The object you select in a Constraint Browser is selected on the Canvas in both the eCADSTAR PCB Editor and eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and in any instance of Constraint Browser.
Toggle Coupling Analysis	If toggled on, then signals that meet the criteria for being coupled are extracted when you extract a scenario in Constraint Browser. During simulation, this allows you to see the effects of them being in close proximity. Specify coupling criteria in the Extraction Options dialog.
Message	Displays messages that are relevant to the changes that you make in Constraint Browser.
Units	The predefined measurement units are displayed.