In semiconductor device test applications, an excellent test solution is usually based on very accurate signal and test circuit description, sometimes a complex circuit requires a lot of circuit analysis and prototyping efforts in the test method design phase. Test engineers who can effectively use circuit simulation not only can obtain a powerful DIB circuit describing tool, but also can quickly complete design verification and shorten project lead time. Thanks to the powerful, flexible, and free LTspice tool provided by Analog Devices Incorporated, this article recommends LTspice as a daily tool for test engineers and introduces the simulation skills for using LTspice.

This paper proposes that effective simulation should focus on modeling problems with the most simplified circuit to understand the circuit behaviors, rather than expecting to get the simulation results closest to the actual circuit responds. Therefore, an example of using a simple circuit to model the maximum operating time of a pulsed V/I source in high current testing is provided. Finally, the common applications related to signal bandwidth and transmission line in DIB circuit design are used to demonstrate the features of LTspice in solving such problems. These examples serve as a starting point for test engineers to better use the LTspice.