ROHM has unveiled 'ROHM PLECS Simulator,' a web-based simulation tool for power electronics circuit designers. Designed to allow online verification of losses, temperature rise, and waveforms by combining circuit topologies with the company's power semiconductors, it focuses on rapidly identifying component candidates prior to prototyping.

This announcement was made in April 2026. The company announced on its official website that it is providing the tool for free, and along with access to the simulator, it is also providing related materials such as user manuals and application notes.

The need for such tools stems from the burden of the power circuit design process. In particular, since verifying power electronics circuits by fabricating actual hardware is time-consuming and costly, there has been a steady demand to narrow down candidate components through simulation early in the design process.

ROHM has previously operated the 'ROHM Solution Simulator,' which can verify power devices and ICs together. The newly released PLECS-based tool can be seen as having a division of roles, placing emphasis on initial reviews centered on loss and heat calculations, while utilizing existing tools for more detailed waveform verification.

Ultimately, the significance of this release extends beyond the addition of new simulation features. It lies in the separation of the workflow, allowing for the initial component comparison and loss/thermal analysis required during the early design phase to be conducted first in a web environment, followed by detailed verification. Reducing the time required for initial review can also help minimize trial and error throughout the entire circuit design process.