RC laplace debug1 plotting failures PUBLIC

Unrelated signal may fail to plot when using a Laplace block.

If signals fail to plot and a Laplace block is in use, then this may be helpful.

Sometimes in CL, the Laplace block transfer function 1/(s) simulates without problems as an integrator. Then later the same circuit behaves unexpectedly. In these cases adding a small constant may ensure the region of convergence is satisfied with L { 1/(s+1f) }.

[12/24/2013 updated:] Other example CL circuits use the workaround of adding a small constant of 1f (1e-15) or 1p (1e-12). See user: @signality for more Laplace uses. Perhaps more CircuitLab Laplace-Block documentation would help users understand why unrelated signals fail to plot without warnings or errors.

[12/24/2013 updated] A Laplace block with L {1/s} has a region of convergence (ROC) of s > 0 that the L{transfer function} must satisfy. Intuitively this prevents division by 0. While s > 0 is the most common ROC, mathematical references provide ROC for other transfer functions.

[12/24/2013 added] Side effects shown with two examples: (1) In Laplace terminology if f(t) is a constant k. Then the integral of k, in the Laplace domain is the transfer function { k/s }.

(2) In Laplace terminology if f(t) = k * exp(-at). Then the integral in the Laplace domain is the transfer function { k / (s+a) }. Notice this is example (1) multiplied by a negative or "decaying" exponential exp(-at) function. This provides users an insight to the side effects of adding a small constant.

"Decaying" exponential in this sense means that as t increases, the decay (amplitude attenuation) increases. In example (2) k is multiplied by slightly less and less than 1. So "decaying" (amplitude attenuation) describes what is done to the original function. For CL this helps drive circuit simulation to "converge" to a solution.

When the product (-at) is near 0, exp(-at) = 1. For example, exp(-1E-6) = 0.999999, a one part per million (PPM) error compared to 1. Thus, the original f(t) is amplitude distorted by this "decaying" error. This time increasing error is exp(-at), and is why the smallest possible "-a" is often used and CPU dependent. (Varies with simulation tools)

To control errors to under 1 PPM, the product (-at) must be less than -1E-6. Since "1f" represents 1 femto (= E-15). Then if a circuit integrates 31.7 years or 1E9 seconds, the product (-a*t) is (-1f * t) or (-1E-15 * 1E9) or -1E-6 and the "decaying" exponential error is the difference between 1 and exp(-1E-6), the desired 1 PPM error.

Clearly, for shorter simulation time periods than 32 years the error will be less. In my opinion, most users will not notice this amplitude error, and "real" circuits will have much greater sources of error from leakage and parasitics. So this workaround handles most situations.