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A BRIEF
HISTORY OF SPICE
A need for a circuit simulation program, some clever
folks with a vision and teams of hard working students and professionals all
contributed to the realization and evolution of SPICE. Below is a brief,
bullet-list history of this powerful simulator organized mainly according to
the different SPICE versions.
CANCER
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Early 1970s, Ron Rohrer hopes to develop a simulation
program for his work on optimization at the University of California Berkley.
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Rohrer's students, including Larry Nagel, create
CANCER (Computer Analysis of Non-Linear Circuits Excluding Radiation).
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Performs DC, AC and Transient Analysis.
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Components include diodes (Shockley
equations) and bipolar transistors (Ebers-Moll equations.)
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Other simulation programs of the day
include IBM's ECAP and Autonetics TRAC.
SPICE1
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In 1972, Nagel and Pederson release
SPICE1 (Simulation Program with IC Emphasis) into the public domain.
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SPICE becomes industry standard simulation
tool.
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Models for bipolar transistors changed
to Gummel-Poon equations.
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JFET and MOSFET devices added.
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Based on Nodal Analysis.
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Written in FORTRAN code running on large main frame computers.
SPICE2
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Nagel's 1975 release offers significant
improvements.
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Modified Nodal Analysis (MNA), replacing
the old analysis, now supports voltage sources and inductors.
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Memory is dynamically allocated to
accommodate growing circuit size and complexity.
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Adjustable time-step control speeds
simulation.
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MOSFET and bipolar models overhauled and
extended.
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Version SPICE2G.6 (1983) is the last
FORTRAN version (still available today from Berkeley.)
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Many commercial simulators today are based
on SPICE2G.6.
SPICE3
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SPICE code rewritten in the C programming
language (1985).
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Features a graphical interface for viewing
results.
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Includes polynomial capacitors, inductors
and voltage controlled sources.
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New version eliminates many convergence
problems.
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Added models: MESFET, lossy transmission
line and non-ideal switch.
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Improved semiconductor models accommodate
smaller transistor geometries.
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Not backward compatible with SPICE2.
1980's AND BEYOND
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Commercial versions released include: HSPICE,
IS_SPICE and MICROCAP.
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MicroSim releases PSPICE, the first PC
version of SPICE.
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SPICE attracts many more users in industry
and academia.
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Companies integrate SPICE versions to their
schematic entry and layout packages.
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