Computer Simulation of Continuous-Time and Switched Circuits: Limitations of SPICE-Family Programs and Pending Issues

The contribution deals with some open problems from the area of transient and AC analyses of large continuous-time and switched circuits with the focus on switched capacitor circuits and switched DC-DC converters. The discussed weak points of SPICE-like and SPICE-compatible simulation programs consist in the absence of finding effectively the steady-state, in an inefficient integration algorithm for the transient analysis of switching phenomena, and in the absence of a direct AC analysis of switched circuits. The paper also describes some new approaches, which could be helpful in overcoming the above limitations.