Circuit Design and Simulation: Educator

and Classroom Resources

Overview
National Instruments provides educators and students with a single platform to aid in the transition of complex circuit
theory to the real-world of design and test.

Professors and instructors can now take a graphical approach to teaching, and provide students with a seamlessly
integrated design flow to reduce the learning curve in the laboratory environment.

The Electronics Education Platform is made up of NI Multisim SPICE simulation, NI LabVIEW virtual
instrumentation and the NI ELVIS breadboard prototyping station, and is complemented by academic resources created
specifically to emphasize the fundamentals of electronics design.

Testimonial
?
"At UC Berkeley,
EE100 is the
introduction to
electrical engineering
class for non-EE
majors. The goal of
this course is to serve
as a hands-on
electronics class... We
use Multisim in the
EE100 course because
it is easy-to-use and
abstracts the messy
details of SPICE.
Multisim also provides
very useful features
like the breadboard
tool and instruments
like the multimeter (we
can show students how
to wire an ammeter
without blowing
fuses). Multisim also
integrates with
LabVIEW and this
helps our students
compare simulation
data to experimental
data."
Bharathwaj
Muthuswamy,
Visiting Lecturer,
Summer 2006,
University of

LabVIEW, National Instruments, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade
names of their respective companies. For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Helppatents in your software, the patents.txt file on your
CD, or ni.com/patents.

Copyright 2006 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. Document Version 33
California Berkeley

Resources
Classroom Resources
Software Simulations
Download sample & Examples
courseware, instructor slides
and links to university course
websites Explore example labs,
LabVIEW demos, and
project ideas
Textbooks & Applicable
Courses Hardware Labs &
Exercises
Discover the textbooks that
use LabVIEW to teach
circuit design Perform
hardware-based
experiments to explore
concepts
Case Studies & Conference
Papers Videos & Webcasts
See how other schools use
LabVlEW for circuit design View short video
demonstrations,
webcasts of concepts

Software Licensing Options Recommended Lab

Configurations
Adopt LabVIEW at your
institution with these Outfit your teaching and
licensing options research labs with these
setups

Visit ni.com/academic
for additional teaching
and research resources
?

?Classroom
Resources
Practical Teaching Ideas

Practical Teaching Ideas is a collection of laboratories that implement elements of the NI Electronics
Education?platform. The course was originally developed by Tracy Shields, an electrical?engineer and experienced
instructor from Toronto, Canada.

View the Experiment >>

UC Berkeley Physics 111 Semiconductor Lab

This Basic Semiconductor Circuits Labs developed at UC Berkeley and available on ni.com, contains an introduction
to signal measurement, processing, and graphical programming in the LabVIEW environment. Throughout the labs,
interactive LabVIEW applications (VIs) allow the reader to experimentally gain familiarity with key concepts.

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View the Experiment >>
UC Berkeley EE145 Opamp Filters Lab

This set of pre-lab and lab assignments utilized by lecturer Bharathwaj Muthuswamy at UC Berkeley utilizes NI
Multisim and NI LabVIEW to provide students with a complete experience to understand filter behavior.

View the EE145 Pre-Lab Assignment >>

View the EE145 Lab Assignment >>

Florida International University: Multisim Tutorial

This tutorial utilized by Dr. Subbarao V. Wunnava at the Florida International University is a comprehensive tutorial
on using Multisim for the classroom

View the online tutorial >>

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Software
Simulations and
Examples
The following list of circuits and virtual instruments?demonstrate
complex circuit behavior in?the easy-to-use environments of NI Multisim
and NI LabVIEW.
?
RLC Circuits

These example circuits created in NI Multisim

10?investigate?a number of basic electronics?laws and
passive component designs with interactive SPICE
simulation.
?Download Files

?
?
Diodes

These example circuits created in NI Multisim

10?investigate?a number of diode and Zener diode
circuits. Topics covered include half and full rectifier
circuits as well as voltage regulation.
?Download Files

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?
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Transistors

? These example circuits created in NI Multisim 10?

focusses?on transistor based circuit, and investigates
various PNP and NPN biased transistors
?Download Files

?
?
Amplifiers
?????
These example circuits created in NI Multisim
10?investigate?various amplifier designs with interactive
SPICE simulation and analyses. The amplifier examples
include both single and two stage designs.

?Download Files

?
?
Operational Amplifiers
?
These example circuits created in NI Multisim 10?focus
on operational amplifier circuits with interactive SPICE
simulation. Topics include inverting and non-inverting
designs, as well as peak detectors.
?Download Files

?
?
?Filters
?
These example circuits created in NI Multisim 10?
focusses?on filter designs with interactive SPICE

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 simulation and analyses. Topics include low-pass,
high-pass, butterworth and notch filters.
?Download Files

?
?
Phasor Diagram - Custom Multisim Virtual Instrument

This custom LabVIEW virtual instrument for NI Multisim

uses a phasor diagram representation of AC voltage rather
than a Bode plot. This instrument?has an oscilloscope
projection of the phasors, including phase measurements.
?Download Files

?
?
?Expression Source - Custom Multisim Virtual Instrument

This LabVIEW based expression source allows engineers

to create custom signalforms based on mathematical
expressions. This instrument enables?students and
educators?to extend the source capabilities of SPICE and
NI Multisim?by applying more complex signals to their
circuits.?

?Download Files

?
?
?Elevator Display - Custom Multisim Virtual Instrument

Visualize simulation data in applications investigating

analog, digital, MCU?and controls simulation with this
custom LabVIEW instrument for NI Multisim.

?Download Files

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?
?
PIC16F84 Microcontroller Up-Down Counter

This NI Multisim MCU Module based example utilizes a

PIC16F84 from Microchip to demonstrate a simple up and
down counter.

Download Files

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Hardware Labs and Exercises

Practical Teaching Ideas

Practical Teaching Ideas is a collection of laboratories that

implement elements of the NI Electronics
Education?platform. The course was originally developed
by Tracy Shields, an electrical?engineer and experienced
instructor from Toronto, Canada.
?Learn More

?
?
NI ELVIS Courseware

This courseware contains ten separate experiments that

utilize the many features of NI ELVIS. The experiments

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 are designed to introduce those who are new to the NI
ELVIS platform to the many features and possibilities that
exist in both hardware and software.

View Lab

?
?
Understanding RF Circuits Teaching Resource

The Understanding RF Circuits Teaching Resource,

contains radio frequency (RF) applications to be used with
NI?Multisim. Twenty-one specially designed electronic
communication experiments are provided for use with this
computer controlled environment. These experiments are
meant to supplement the theory students normally obtain
in lectures.

?Learn More

?
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Conducting Experiments Using the NI Electronics Education Platform

The NI Electronics Education Platform is an integrated

tool-chain designed to meet the needs of students and
educators. This platform consists of an ideal mix of ?
hardware and software that guides students through the
engineering and design process. The purpose of a
laboratory experiment is to familiarize students with the
engineering process, and equip them with the tools of an
engineer
?Learn More

?
?
NI Electronics Education Courseware

This?courseware is a resource to connect professors and

educators with courseware, curricula, example labs and
tutorials covering the various elements of the NI
Electronics Education Platform.
?Learn More
?
?
Introduction to Multisim Schematic Capture and Simulation

This course introduces National Instruments Multisim

through instructional modules and hands-on exercises.
Multisim is an interactive, graphical schematic capture
tool and SPICE simulator that allows you to build circuits,
simulate, and instrument them in a virtual environment.

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 Multisim has many enhanced features that enhance the
teaching of circuits and electronics concepts.
?Learn More

?
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Textbooks and Applicable Courses

Textbooks

Microelectronic Circuits, 5th Edition

Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith

Oxford University Press

ISBN10: 0195142519?

ISBN13: 9780195142518

Download Multisim example files direct from

Microelectronics Circuits

Electronics Fundamentals: Circuits, Devices and

Applications, 7th Edition

Thomas L. Floyd

Prentice Hall

ISBN-10: 013219709X?

ISBN-13: 9780132197090

Electric Circuits, 7th Edition

James W. Nilsson, Iowa State University

Susan Riedel, Marquette University

Prentice Hall

ISBN-10: 0131329723?

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 ISBN-13: 9780131329720

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Applicable Course
?

The following list collects the various courses in which the

electronics education platform of NI Multisim, NI ELVIS
and NI LabVIEW can, and have, been applied:
Circuit Theory
Circuit Design
AC Circuits
DC Circuits
Digital Circuit Design
Analog Circuit Design
Electronics Fundamentals
Computer Aided Design of Circuits and Electronics
Electronics Laboratory
Microcontroller
lab
Digital
Logic
Design
Mixed Signal and Circuits Labs
Digital Integrated Circuit Design
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Case Studies and Conference Papers

The NI Electronics Education Platform: A Case Study: This case
study into a typical implementation of the electronics education
platform showcases how an educator can use an integrated
laboratory to enhance their electronics courses.
Integration of Virtual Instrumentation into a Compressed Electricity
and Electronic Curriculum: This paper elaborates on the efforts of
improving the quality of electricity and electronics education with
the help of simulation, virtual instrumentation tools and?the
NI?ELVIS (Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite)
Use of LabVIEW Software to Create a Virtual Electrical Power
Systems Lab: This paper discusses the creation of a Virtual
Electrical Power Systems Laboratory for the University of
Houston?Downtown in Houston, Texas. NI LabVIEW software has
been used to create a cost effective user-friendly electrical power
systems virtual laboratory.

Using Signal Express to Automate Analog Electronics

Experiments: Many analog electronics experiments
can be very time consuming. National Instruments
SignalExpress is an environment dedicated to test and
measurement where the individual can usehigh-level
signal sourcing and measurement blocks to build an

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 automated measurement system that will collect and
present data in a graphical form. SignalExpress has a
very short learning curve so students can rapidly
program their own tests.
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Videos and Webcasts

Webcast: National Instruments Electronics Education Platform
Webcast: What's New in NI Multisim 10? (Educational)
Webcast: Introduction to the NI Multisim MCU Module
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Software Licensing Options

NI Academic Site License
Unlimited seats of NI software for your department, college or
campus
Comprehensive suite of LabVIEW and other circuit sofware
Automatic bi-annual updates with new and upgraded software

?
Student Install Option
Allow your students to install software on their personal laptops and
PCs
Affordable price for your entire student body
Access to all software available in the Academic Site License

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Recommended Lab Configurations

NI Multisim Education
Students can create "what if" scenarios with intuitive schematic
capture and interactive simulation
Advanced SPICE analyses such as Monte Carlo and worst case help
students develop their intuition
A database with thousands of models ensures that most laboratory
circuits can be realized virtually
Teach instrumentation fundamentals with virtual instruments such
as oscilloscopes and current probes

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 NI Multisim MCU Module
Support for Intel/Atmel 8051/8052 and Microchip PIC16F84a
Simulation with external RAM/ROM, LCDs, keypads, and so on
Project possibilities include C, assembly, or hex code
Full integration with the NI Multisim educational platform

NI ELVIS ?
Tight integration with?NI Multisim
Design and prototyping platform for engineering education
Plug-and-play USB interface for easy setup
Virtual instrumentation suite with 12 integrated instruments

Circuit Design Bundle

Capture and simulate circuits in?NI Multisim with advanced
features like the 3D view of the NI ELVIS
Access to integrated suite of instruments and prototyping station in
NI ELVIS
Express VIs for point-and-click configuration in National
Instruments LabVIEW software
Single platform to design, simulate, test, and prototype circuits

NI LabVIEW
?
Tight integration with hardware (data acquisition, instrument
control, motion control)
Automatic code generation using DAQ Assistant and Instrument
I/O Assistant
Highly productive graphical programming
Measurement analysis and digital signal processing

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 NI Circuit Design Suite for Education ?
Easily capture schematics and interactively simulate designs with
NI Multisim
Co-simulate C-code or assembly-based microcontroller designs
with the NI Multisim MCU Module
Transfer designs with the click of a button to NI Ultiboard for PCB
layout and routing
Includes software made with education in mind - Multisim,
Multisim MCU Module, and Ultiboard

NI Circuit Design Suite for Students ?

Capture, simulate, and analyze circuits for homework and prelab
assignments
Breadboard in 3D at home before going to lab sessions
Includes NI Multisim, the NI Multisim MCU Module and NI
Ultiboard
Up to 50 components in designs with nearly 4000 components to
choose from

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