PSpice - Analyzing Amplifier's Settling Time

The standard simulation methodology to test for settling time of an amplifier is to step the input voltage over the relevant input range and measure the time taken for the output to settle to some defined value close to its steady state value. The defined value depends upon the resolution of the system. For example, a 12 bit system in a range of ten volts will probably need to settle to within 1.2 mV (1/2 lsb) of its final value. During the design of such an amplifier, many parameters are varied to optimize the settling time. It can become extremely tedious moving along the response curves to find the exact settling time. Performance Analysis by means of goal function definition, can facilitate this investigation. In this application note, the settling time of an LF411 in unity gain configuration will be computed as a function of load capacitance by implementing relevant goal functions. 

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