ROHM Launches Free Web Tool for Power Semiconductor Loss and Thermal Simulation

Why It Matters

The simulator accelerates the component selection process, reducing design cycles and cost for power electronics engineers, while giving ROHM a strategic channel to promote its semiconductor portfolio.

Key Takeaways

• ROHM offers free browser‑based PLECS simulator for its components.
• Tool calculates loss and temperature in seconds, skipping detailed waveforms.
• Enables two‑stage verification: quick PLECS screening then SPICE validation.
• Supports 20 topologies now; roadmap adds SiC MOSFETs, IGBTs, modules.

Pulse Analysis

Power electronics designers have long relied on SPICE simulators to model voltage and current waveforms with high fidelity, but the computational load grows sharply as circuits become more complex. In response, the industry is seeing a shift toward lightweight, purpose‑built tools that can deliver quick insights during the concept phase. ROHM’s new web‑based PLECS simulator fits this niche, offering instant loss and thermal calculations directly from a browser, eliminating the need for costly installations or licensing fees.

The ROHM PLECS platform leverages the proven Plexim engine but restricts the component library to ROHM’s own semiconductors, creating a focused environment for rapid device screening. Engineers can assemble any of the 20 supported topologies, run simulations in seconds, and obtain temperature rise and conduction loss data—key metrics for sizing heat sinks and evaluating efficiency. This fast‑track approach pairs with ROHM’s existing SPICE model, enabling a two‑stage verification workflow: first narrow candidates with PLECS, then validate detailed waveforms with SPICE before finalizing the design. The result is a shorter design cycle, lower prototype costs, and faster time‑to‑market.

From a market perspective, offering a free, cloud‑native tool positions ROHM as both a technology provider and a design partner, potentially steering engineers toward its product line. As the roadmap expands to include SiC MOSFETs, IGBTs and full power modules, the simulator could become a de‑facto hub for early‑stage power‑electronics design. Competitors may follow suit, accelerating the broader industry move toward accessible, web‑based simulation ecosystems that democratize high‑performance design capabilities.