Quick start 2: How to setup iterations for a simulation

In the following quick start tutorial, we will setup a basic simulation that runs multiple iterations (each time changing the input parameters for a functional block).

Part 1: Drag and drop the required components onto the design layout

  1. Launch a new application of SystemLab|Design by double left-clicking on the SystemLab-Design.exe executable file.

  2. Go to the Functional block library (left panel of GUI) and hover over the triangle in front of the Waveform generators group (under Electrical).

  3. Left-click mouse to expand the menu.

  4. Left-click select and hold over the Sine Generator component and start moving your mouse towards the design scene for Project_1.

  5. Release the mouse button anywhere over the design layout. [An icon representing a sinusoidal signal generator should appear on the layout].

../_images/Quick_Start_1A.png

Part 2: Setup the functional block script to update its parameters for each iteration

  1. On the design layout (Project_1), double left-click on the Sine functional block. [The Functional block properties dialog will open].

  2. Next to the Script module name click on the Edit Script button. [The Functional block script editor associated with the Sine Generator will open].

../_images/Quick_Start_1B.png

  1. On line 27 of the Sine_Generator script, comment out the current freq parameter definition and add the following new lines of code as shown below.

    [The variable “iteration” is linked to the current iteration for the simulator (an integer value of 1, 2, 3, …n where n is the total number of iterations). For each iteration, the “freq” parameter of the Sine Generator will be increased based on the iteration value times the base frequency of 10 GHz]

    '''==INPUT PARAMETERS=================='''
#freq = float(parameters_input[0][1]) #Hz
freq = iteration*10e9
signal_amp = float(parameters_input[1][1]) #Peak amplitude (crest-to-crest = 2*Peak amplitude)
bias = float(parameters_input[2][1])

  2. On line 46 of the Sine_Generator script, add two new lines of code just below signal_gen_results = [ ] as follows:

    '''==RESULTS===================================================='''
signal_gen_results = []
freq_result = ['Generator frequency', freq*1e-9, 'GHz', ' ', False]
signal_gen_results = [freq_result]

  3. Click on the Save icon in the Tool Bar to save all the changes.

  4. Close the SciTE dialog (File/Exit)

  5. Select OK to close the Functional block properties dialog.

Part 3: Setup the desired number of iterations and run a simulation

  1. Select the Settings icon on the on the Tool bar, and within the Simulation settings tab of the Project settings dialog, change the Number of iterations from 1 to 5 (as shown below).

../_images/Quick_Start_1D.png

  1. Select OK to save and close the Project settings dialog.

  2. From the Tool bar, click on the blue Start button (blue triangle) to launch the simulator. [The Simulation status dialog should indicate that all iterations (in this case five) were successfully completed!].

  3. Double left-click on the output port of the Sine generator to open the Electrical signal data analyzer and select the Frequency data tab.

  4. Within the Iterations group box you will see that the Current iteration spin box is set to “1”. To change the current iteration, click on upper arrow of the spin box to increase the iteration index to “2” and continue until reaching “5”.

    As shown in the images below (showing iteration 1 and 5) the signal data will be refreshed to reflect the current saved iteration for the simulation. As designed, we see that the frequency increases from its start point of 10 GHz all the way to 50 GHz. After a simulation, the signal data for all calculated ports in a design are saved to data dictionaries and can be accessed through via the Iterations spin boxes located within each tab of a port data viewer.

../_images/Quick_Start_1X.png

  1. It is also possible to change iterations by clicking on the spin box located on the upper right of the main application window. Close the Electrical Signal Data Analyzer and set the current index of the main application Iteration spin box to 3 as shown below:

../_images/Quick_Start_1F.png

Note

The Iteration spin box in the main application window is linked to data contained in the functional blocks and data panels - the iteration spin boxes of the signal data viewers operate independently.

  1. Hover your mouse over the Sine functional block to view the component status and results.

    As shown below, the functional block result we created in step 9 is shown for iteration 3 (displaying a frequency of 30 GHz). Using the iteration spin box in the upper right of the main application window, results from functional blocks and data panels can be analyzed quickly over all iterations. Similarly, by hovering over signal ports, signal metrics data can be viewed for the selected iteration (see second figure below)

../_images/Quick_Start_1Y.png