How Do I Start Designing a Transient Circuit with a 1 ms Time Constant?

[ScottieK00]

Hey,

I know you have a rule requiring an attempt at the problem before posting here. The trouble is, I have a department required simulation project due this Wednesday and my professor is very behind in her lectures and has yet to even mention transient circuits.

I don't expect this problem to be done for me, but I would REALLY appreciate some tips or preliminary help in getting started.

I am tasked to:
Design a 1st-order circuit having a time constant of 1 ms. Simulate the output voltage for a square-wave input voltage. (Using Microcap to simulate)

This is all the info we are given...with this little of information, I am really at a loss on how to proceed.

Thanks in advance,

Scott

 

[skeptic2]

I presume you are talking about a 1st order filter. Is the filter to a high pass or a low pass filter?
Have you studied time constants yet? For instance, given a resistor and capacitor in a filter circuit, can you calculate the time constant.

Can you read ahead to get the information you need or can you ask the professor for help with the problem?

 

[ScottieK00]

I quoted the assignment word for word, so you're guess is as good as mine.

We have not spent one second of class time on time dependent circuit functions. We've covered simplification techniques, node analysis, and amplifiers.

As for asking the professor, she is not very good at responding to emails, so I would have to wait to talk to her tomorrow at class...I would much rather start on it tonight though

any thoughts on how to proceed?

 

[skeptic2]

Can you read ahead in your text? The rules in this forum are rather strict about giving help without some work by the student.

 

[DeeNos]

Hi Scott,

I understand your frustration with your professor's delay in discussing transient circuits. Transient circuits are an important topic in circuit analysis and design, and it's important to have a thorough understanding of them.

To help you get started, let's first define what a transient circuit is. A transient circuit is a circuit that contains energy storage elements, such as capacitors and inductors, and produces a response that changes over time when an input signal is applied. In this case, you are tasked with designing a first-order circuit with a time constant of 1 ms, which means it will have a single energy storage element (either a capacitor or an inductor).

To simulate the output voltage for a square-wave input voltage, you will need to use a simulation software like Microcap. The first step is to draw the circuit using the software, including the energy storage element and any other necessary components such as resistors and voltage sources. Make sure to label your components and connections clearly.

Next, you will need to set up the simulation parameters. This will include the input voltage waveform (in this case, a square wave), the time scale, and the simulation end time. You may also need to specify the component values, such as the capacitance or inductance, depending on the specific circuit design.

Once you have set up the simulation, you can run it and observe the output voltage waveform. Pay attention to the time scale and make sure it is appropriate for your circuit's time constant of 1 ms. You can also adjust the simulation parameters and component values to see how they affect the output waveform.

I hope this helps you get started with your project. Remember to always double check your circuit and simulation setup before running the simulation, and don't hesitate to ask for help from your professor or classmates if you encounter any difficulties. Good luck!