Addding Chip Schematics to Proteus

Question

NOTE: I most probably have lack of information on this topic. So rather than reacting furiously or deleting my post; you can inform me, so I can edit/update my post.

I want to start learning to design MCU (I want to be able to use different brand's ARM chips) boards on programs such as Proteus (I'm open for other program suggestions.).

First; If you can advice me an info source about this, I will be more than happy if you provide them.

My main question is this: I wanted to add schematics of "MKE02Z64VLD4" chip (NXP Brand) that I have under my reach. I reached NXP's website and downloaded a ".bxl" file that they provided and opened in a software (also provided by them). The software does the conversion of that file for various programs (excluding Proteus).

As I mentioned before, I want to be able to work with different brand chips. So I might need to learn to manually add designs to the program.

1. Is there a procedure that you use for such purpose (adding unlisted chip to design)? Or is there a source (other than Google) where you can find libraries?

2. Should I use another program (Such as Altium, Eagle OrCAD etc)?

3. If I manually add a chip to the design program, will I be able to simulate it?

I'm so confused that I might be asking wrong questions. If I do, please correct me.

Thank you,

Answer 1

As far as I know, Proteus is the only electric simulator where you can place a micro-controller, load a compiled program, connect other electrical components to the ports, and see how the system behaves.

Despite being quite frown upon, I chose this way to learn and design my first microcontrolled circuits. And I'm still using it. Because:

• Building a circuit in the simulator is like 100x times easier and faster than in real life.
• You can use the specific compilation tools for the microcontroller, just like in real life.
• In general I found that the digital circuits designed in this way behave quite as in the simulation.
• Even when analogic or power electronics are involved, simulation gives you hints on the difficult problems.
• Anyway Proteus is a great tool to make PCB printing.

Proteus needs to know three aspects of every component:

• Its schematic representation, shown when drawing the schematic. The most important part of it are the number of connectors and their names.
• Its package representation, shown when drawing the PCB. It contains its outer dimensions, the sizes and separations of its connectors, and the relation to its schematic representation.
• Its electrical model, used during the simulation. It describes how the component behaves in term of electrical inputs and outputs.

In Proteus you can edit the first two aspects, but the third is out of your reach. Electrical models of MCU are provided by the manufacturers to Proteus. If the one you need does not exist, then you will not be able to simulate it.

Facing this problem, my advice are:

1. Choose a MCU that you can buy AND does exist in Proteus.
2. Choose a MCU that you can buy AND a similar MCU exist in Proteus. Often a manufacturer offers lots of variations of the same MCU. For example Microchip sells PIC18F23K22, PIC18F24K22, PIC18F25K22, PIC18F26K22 which only differ in the amount of available memory.
3. Think 1 again. MCU are not very expensive.