CURRENT NEWSLETTERS

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August 2019 - Automotive WCCA Training Class Announced, WCCA Rules to Live By

AEi Systems WCCA Training Course for Automotive Applications provides the perfect opportunity to learn about worst case circuit analysis, its methods, and its processes. The course is designed to provide the participant with the fundamental skills and knowledge required to perform a Worst Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA or WCA). Participants learn the importance of this analysis and the different methods which can be utilized. The course concentrates on Automotive topics.

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PAST NEWSLETTERS

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January 2019 - EDN Blog Post #4 Monte Carlo Gone Wrong, WCCA Rules To Live By

This will likely come as a surprise to most engineers, but the way Monte Carlo analysis is generally performed, and the results assessed, is likely incorrect. Yes, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of design decisions are being made based on results that are misinterpreted. Want to find out why and how to perform this analysis correctly? Read on…This blog will put you on the right path. Monte Carlo analysis is integral to WCCA. Performing this analysis is fraught with pitfalls and challenges. Hurdles that can invalidate the entire analysis. This is one of the reasons why you need AEi System’s help to perform this analysis correctly. This Blog discusses the issues and proper methods for performing Monte Carlo analysis for electronics WCCA. ___________________________________________________________
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December 2018 - Simulating Stability and EMC/ESD Transients for Automotive Power Supplies with PSPICE, EDN Blog Post #3, Part and Circuit Models, Getting Them Right

Stability and EMC/ESD Transient (ISO7637, FMC1278,etc.) analysis is a challenging endeavor. Most people severely underestimate the effort required. First the circuit must be modeled properly. This is a challenge because parts must be modeled AND toleranced. A nominal model is not enough. And most vendor supplied models are deficient in some way. They should be checked, correlated, and adjusted. Then you must run the AC analysis to confirm the supply meets stability. After that comes the pain. A series of EMC and ESD transients must be simulated, and parts checked for stress during the analysis.
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July 2018 - EDN Blog Post #2, Failing to Do A Rigorous Job. New WCCA Service PRE-WCCA Design Review. Book on SMP Simulation Re-released

Rigorousness comes in many forms. It may not be obvious where you are cutting corners and if those are the right cuts to make. Check out the new WCCA Blog post.
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June 2018 - EDN WCCA Blog Post #1, Lessons Learned about Power Integrity

Check out the New Blog on EDN about Worst Case Analysis - Why WCCA is Challenging to Perform. Low power distribution systems are at the heart of virtually everything we build. But the data from manufacturers is often missing. Learn how AEi Systems can help you perform this critically important analysis.
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March 2018 - New SPICE Library for FORD Automotive EMC Transient Sources

Attention WCCA Analysts – AEi Systems has released PSpice Model support for Ford’s FMC1278 Transient EMC sources, signal generators, and loads.
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March 2018 - Pre - WCCA Design Review - Space

AEi Systems performs a unique pre-WCCA design review service. Our experienced ‘grey-beard’ experts look at your design with a worst case ‘eye’. This enables us to see, before the WCCA is started, where you are likely to have findings.
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November 2017 - What is Power Integrity Analysis and Why is it so Critical?

AEi Offers Power Integrity Analysis as a service. Using your boards files, we analyze the design, creating all the necessary VRM, decoupling capacitors, bead, and PDN (power distribution network) impedence models. We generate the PDN impedance and assess regulator Noise and dynamic transient performance.
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January 2015 - Worst Case Analysis - Stress Analysis, Failure Analysis, and Troubleshooting

Why hire a plumber? There are reasons why experts train for years and their experience and tools are so valuable. It enables them to solve problems more quickly and accurately and see the solutions early on. In the end, it’s more cost effective and less time consuming. That’s why we hire plumbers. The same is true for circuit analysis.
Analysis is critical to product performance, quality, and reliability. There are many reasons to perform it. You know you need to do more analysis but there's never enough time, money, resources, or schedule. Let AEi Systems solve your analysis problems.

READ MORE>>

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November 2014 - New Textbook on Power Integrity

Power Integrity provides engineers with expert insight on selecting and implementing appropriate test equipment to effectively measure increasingly higher speed electronics. The book contains field-tested information related to the interpretation of results, common measurement issues and resolutions, and application examples. You’ll learn how to select the appropriate equipment and use effective techniques to reduce production problems, improve performance, and provide a figure of merit for comparing different parts and manufacturers.

  • Teaches how to properly assess electronics from a black box perspective with a minimally invasive approach
  • Covers measurement and troubleshooting techniques for EMI, a particular challenge in tablets and smartphones
  • Discusses the latest devices such as Enhancement Gallium Nitride on Silicon (eGaN)

READ MORE>>

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October 2014 - PDN Video and RTAX SSO Noise Presentation

Power Integrity provides engineers with expert insight on selecting and implementing appropriate test equipment to effectively measure increasingly higher speed electronics. The book contains field-tested information related to the interpretation of results, common measurement issues and resolutions, and application examples. You’ll learn how to select the appropriate equipment and use effective techniques to reduce production problems, improve performance, and provide a figure of merit for comparing different parts and manufacturers.

  • Teaches how to properly assess electronics from a black box perspective with a minimally invasive approach
  • Covers measurement and troubleshooting techniques for EMI, a particular challenge in tablets and smartphones
  • Discusses the latest devices such as Enhancement Gallium Nitride on Silicon (eGaN)

READ MORE>>

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Sep. 2014 Newsletter: Intro to WCCA/New WCCA Techniques

Learn about worst case analysis with this introductory presentation from AEi Systems. READ MORE>>

  • What is WCCA
  • Why and When to Perform Worst Case Analysis
  • Why Stress Analysis Alone Isn’t Sufficient for Validation and Verification
  • Who should perform the analysis and Why Your In-House Resources May Not Be Up to the Task
  • WCCA Successes - Good (and Bad)
  • WCCA Today Under the New Aerospace TOR Guidelines
  • Cost and Schedule Savers and Drivers
  • Improving Your WCCA
  • Future Challenges
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June 2014 - Resolving RTAX FPGA SSN/SSO Issues

For some time, SSO performance has been a source of concern for designers due to poor packaging performance and limited performance data for the space grade devices. Good design practices and guidelines are needed, but without detailed data and models, designs are having real issues. READ MORE>>

  • SSO Noise Effects in RTAX FPGAs Articles
  • Lessons Learned from SPICE -(Downloadable Presentation)
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April 2014 - Specialized Testing and Parts Characterization

  • Specialized Testing and Parts Characterization Articles
  • PDN Basics
  • Measure PDN on a Budget
  • PCB characteristics affect PDN performance
  • Assessing Point-Of-Load Regulators Using Non-Invasive Techniques
  • Definitive Handbook of Transistor Modeling
  • How do I pick the best voltage regulator for my circuit?
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February 2014 - Troubleshooting Distributed Power Systems

  • Troubleshooting Distributed Power Systems - Part 7
  • New Video Parts 1-6
  • Articles
  • Non-Invasively Assess Your Multiple-Loop LDO’s Stability
  • Five Things Every Engineer Should Know About Bode Plots
  • Measure small impedances with Rogowski current probes
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Dec 2013 - Specialized Testing and Parts Characterization

  • Troubleshooting Distributed Power Systems - Part 1
  • Why Stability Matters
  • New Videos Parts 2-6
  • Articles
  • Solving 8 of 10 Design Issues
  • Five things every Engineer should know about PDN
  • How to pick the best voltage regulator for a circuit
  • Why do a Worst Case Analysis?
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Fall 2013 - How to solve 8 of 10 Design Issues

  • How to Solve 8 of 10 Design Issues Articles
  • How do I pick the best voltage regulator for my circuit?
  • Why is PDN measured using a VNA and not an oscilloscope?
  • Common Oscilloscope Usage Mistakes
  • How to measure PSRR of a linear regulator?
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Dec 2012 - Lessons Learned from WCCA Part 2

  • A Simple Method for Stabilizing Regulators Articles
  • High Temp Component Aging in Power Converters
  • Stability Assessment of Fixed Regulators
  • Boeing Recognizes AEi Systems Achievements on GPSIIF Clock WCCA
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Fall 2012 - Lessons Learned from WCCA Part 1

  • AVoltage Regulator Testing and Worst Case Analysis Survey Articles
  • PDN Basics
  • Measure PDN on a Budget
  • PCB characteristics affect PDN performance
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Sep 2011 - Linear Technology teams with AEi Systems to offer WCCA and SPICE Models

  • Linear Technology teams with AEi Systems to offer WCCA\SPICE Modeling Articles
  • Simple Method to Determine Linear Regulator ESR Requirements
  • AEi Systems Completes WCCA of GPSIII Rubidium Atomic Clock
  • AEi makes major breakthrough on Signal Integrity Analysis