Products - Page: 4 of 6

Added Calculate/Auto Scan

When the Calculate/Auto Scan option is clicked, Design Master will automatically take additional samples when a zero-sensitivity variable is detected. Zero sensitivities can occur when the output changes symmetrically around an average value, such as caused by symmetrical variables (e.g. temperature coefficient = +/- 100ppm), or when the IF-THEN-ELSE statement is used to limit the output. The extra samples allow Design Master to scour the nooks and crannies of design space to help ensure that true min/max values are detected, and to improve the accuracy of sensitivity and optimization values.

When a zero sensitivity condition is detected, a control button will appear on the Calculation progress window that will allow you to terminate the extra calculations, if desired. (An earlier version of this function used to run in the background. Making it user-accessible has been found to increase overall analysis flexibility and efficiency.)

When this option is not selected and zero sensitivities exist, the results will still be accurate enough for non-critical or preliminary analyses.

TIP: This option may noticeably increase computation time for large expressions that contain zero sensitivities, For such cases turn the option off for preliminary work, and turn it back on when you're ready to finalize the analysis.

Other Modifications:

Corrected an error that under some conditions affected the sequencing of Complex Variable and Min/Max records when the Calculate/All Records option was selected; worksheet records can now be cut/pasted without affecting their status labels; added a Graph window message that occurs when the graph of a variable is skipped due to insufficient sample points; Min/Max records are now deleted when the "Mark All Records Incomplete" function is used; corrected a tornado graph image quirk that occurred when a specified Suppressed Sensitivity variable was the only variable in the expression; adjusted the Graphs window to identify the total number of available graphs for the selected worksheet record; standardized the Graphs window height; changed copied and printed graphs such that the Graph select-for-print marker does not appear; updated the overall color scheme for easier viewing and improved the text formatting.

Several tutorial, help, and sample worksheet files (basic and advanced) have been updated, along with related Application Notes. Other updates include the User's Manual and the DM Versus Monte Carlo report.

Thank you to all who have offered suggestions for improving Design Master.