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Tina-TI getting started

DavidAnderson65
Intellectual 290 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TINA-TI, TPS54478, TPS56121

A few questions:

  • Can I make it use all 4 cores? On my quad core PC is uses exactly 50% CPU only (although it seems to use 20-80% of all 8 virtual cores, not 100% of some and 0% of some).
  • Can I terminate without losing the data so far?
  • The result can only be saved as a TDR file. Can I open this later? Tina-TI doesn't want to open it.
  • Should I set time step manually or is that automatic?
  • Can I change the library into which it dumps "autosave" files?
  • If I open one schematic, simulate for an hour, save as TDR, then open a different schematic, simulate for an hour, save, then it overwrites the old file without prompting. It should base name on schematic, and prompt before overwriting.
  • For the TPS54478 average model instructions say that if L1 is to be changed then please change it both in the macro and L1. L1 says 1.2uH 20mohms but if i right click and select "Enter Macro" it says 1uH and 10mohms. Shouldn't those be the same?
  • And if I choose "Enter Macro" for the PWM circuit and change 1000K to 800K, it doesn't remember what I wrote (I chose "Save as" that was the only way to save it I could find)
  • The only help file I find has no help on the above subjects. Did I miss something? Webench and LTspice are easier to use and have more help.

Best regards
David

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 39210 points
    David,

    Here are some answers.

    1. You can use all cores on your machine. To set this in TINA-TI, go to Analysis --> Options --> Under 'Performance' choose "Number of threads' as 'Max'.

    2. You can cancel the simulation in the middle and the "partial results" will still show in the diagram window.

    3. Time stepping is automatic. By default max time step is set to 10G to not provide any restrictions. If you notice inaccuracy in the results, you can restrict it to a more reasonable value like a few 100ns or less.

    4. I believe that by default the autosave happens in the same folder as the TSC file. I am not aware of a way to change this. If you want to disable the autosave, there is a way to do this.

    5. Regarding the TDR file, I personally have never used this, but the prompt allows you to rename the file appropriately before saving it.

    6. Regarding the TPS54478 Average model, the values in the subcircuit need not be the same as what is passed from the schematic. The values in the subckt statement are the default values. If the user does not pass any values in the schematic then the defaults are used. If the user passes values in the schematic that the defaults are overridden by this. I would recommend passing values you want in the schematic itself. I would recommend the same thing for the frequency i.e. Double click on the macro --> Click on SubCkt-Parameters --> Click on the "..." button --> Change the value and click Ok.

    Let me know if you have more questions.

    Thanks,
  • 0 in reply to Nikhil Gupta (Product Folder Models)
    Intellectual 290 points
    Thanks. Regarding CPU usage being exactly 50% I tested choosing bot "MAX" and "4 cores" and checked that all 8 virual cores are ticked in task manager and I also tried increasing priority there to one step above normal but still only 50%.

    Regarding TDR I think it didn't prompt because it saved into a different directory so it didn't overwrite I think (can't check 'cause can't open TDR file) but it would be good if TDR was named after schematic and if it was possible to open in Tina or somewhere else.
  • 0 in reply to DavidAnderson65
    Intellectual 290 points
    The TPS56121 has the very cryptic parameter "X" for the capacitors. Does X=3 mean 3 of them in parallel?

    And properties says C=100U ESR=5M X=1 IC=0 but macro has X=2 (as default):

    .SUBCKT CESR IN OUT
    + PARAMs: C=100u ESR=0.01 X=2 IC=0
    C IN 1 {C*X} IC={IC}
    RESR 1 OUT {ESR/X}
    .ENDS CESR

    Is there some help for this specific block or for Tina in general regarding things like X?
  • 0 in reply to DavidAnderson65
    TI__Intellectual 1760 points

    Hi David

    You are correct, X indicated the number of parallel branches of the simple capacitive load with ESR in series. With X=2, we have effectively added the capacitances and divided the ESR by two.

    Since this is a macro block defined by us, and used only in the schematic application, there is not an area you can get such details. You may change the load capacitor to a simple C and R or import another one from a vendor's model.

    Thanks

    Ranjani

  • 0 in reply to ranjanir
    TI__Mastermind 39210 points

    David,

    As explained earlier, the defaults in the SUBCKT are overridden by the ones passed from the schematic under properties. So if you want to change the values, you can change it from the schematic (you do not need to alter the defaults)

    "And properties says C=100U ESR=5M X=1 IC=0 but macro has X=2 (as default)"

    Thanks,