Specifying an operational amplifier (opamp) just became easier, with the latest upgrade to the WEBENCH online design environment from National Semiconductor (Santa Clara, CA). The WEBENCH's Amplifiers Made Simple design and selection tool allows designers to choose from 60 different opamps (from National Semiconductor) in four different application groups to design more than 450 circuits. The free tool is available simply by logging on the company's web site (see below).
According to opamp product-line director Erroll Dietz, "National's new Amplifiers Made Simple design tool is a breakthrough that extends WEBENCH tool capabilities into an entirely new range of solutions, dramatically simplifying product design with amplifiers. In a few keystrokes and mouse clicks, an engineer can now accomplish what used to take hours of work and years of knowledge. The result is the best possible design." The Amplifiers Made Simple tool is designed to work seamlessly with National's other WEBENCH tools, including interactive product-selection tools and online learning functions.
In a related announcement, Intusoft (Gardena, CA) revealed that its client-server product IsSPICE4 Server as been implemented as the simulation kernel for the WEBENCH online design environment. IsSpice4 forms the backbone for the multiprocessor simulation architecture of WEBENCH, with interfaces to the network containing product databases and supporting design tools by means of an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). According to Phil Gibson, Vice-President of National Semiconductor's Web Business group, "Intusoft was selected as our premiere simulation provider, given its history with multiprocessing SPICE simulation technology and superior performance in benchmarks we ran against other simulation vendors." IsSpice4 is licensed to run o a remote server primarily targeted for web-based services (such as WEBENCH). The package includes IsSpice4, the ICAP/4 simulation environment, and associated libraries, and is written for Windows 2000/2003 servers.
National Semi --> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0JtlqC0A07xo0AL
Intusoft --> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0JtlqC0A0BEtV0AC