Monte Carlo Analysis

Abstract

Monte Carlo analysis is essentially a statistical analysis that calculates the response of a circuit when devicemodel parameters are randomly varied between specified tolerance limits according to a specified statistical distribution. For example, all the circuits encountered so far have been simulated using fixed component values. However, discrete real components such as resistors, inductors and capacitors all have a specified tolerance, so that when you select, for example, a 10 kU 1% resistor, you can expect the actual measured resistor value to be somewhere between 9900 and 10100U. Other discrete components and semiconductors in a circuitwill also have tolerances and so the combined effect of all the component tolerances may result in a significant deviation from the expected circuit response. This is especially the case in filter designswhere applied component tolerancesmay result in a deviation from the required filter response.