Samir Jafferali Blog

Video Demo -- Increase Simulation Accuracy and Efficiency With SpectreMDL

AMSamirj — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:00:00 GMT

MDL is an immensely powerful feature in our simulators that allows designers to run better simulations quicker. Below is a quick demo to get you started -- and be sure to try out the workshop in your hierarchy under <MMSIM_installation>/tools/spectre/examples/MDL_workshop.

If video fails to play click here.

Below are some solid SpectreMDL examples and tips from our Support knowledgebase that show what else it is capable of:

How to calculate unity gain bandwidth, phase and gain margin using SpectreMDL

SpectreMDL example to measure maximum gm vs. drain current for a MOS device

Optimize MDL performance using the Spectre "save=nooutput" option

Samir Jafferali

Video Demo -- Increase Simulation Accuracy and Efficiency With SpectreMDL

AMSamirj — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:10:00 GMT

Measurement Description Language (MDL) is an immensely powerful feature in our simulators that is frequently overlooked. MDL gives the designer advanced control of our simulators allowing them to run better simulations quicker. Below is a quick demo to get you started. Also, be sure to try out the workshop in your hierarchy under <MMSIM_installation>/tools/spectre/examples/MDL_workshop.

If video fails to play click here.

Here is some information that covers other examples and tips:

How to calculate unity gain bandwidth, phase and gain margin using SpectreMDL

SpectreMDL example to measure maximum gm vs. drain current for a MOS device

Optimize MDL performance using the Spectre "save=nooutput" option

Samir Jafferali

Re: Nesting MC-per-corner simulation

AMSamirj — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 02:19:53 GMT

If you have access to IC6.x you can do this easily with OCEAN-XL. Have ADE-XL generate the script for you.

Or better, just use MDL (works with Spectre and APS). Examples are in MMSIM*/tools/spectre/examples/MDL_workshop.

Regards,

Samir Jafferali

Video Demo: Your Maiden Voyage Across OCEAN

AMSamirj — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:30:00 GMT

I still remember my first encounter with OCEAN. It was 2002 and my co-worker had asked me to run a simple test for him. I sat in my cube, ruffling through our user guides, trying to quickly learn just enough to do the task at hand. The story ended happily, but I sure would have saved some time and frustration had I seen the following video. So for you OCEAN neophytes out there, here’s a nutshell video to get you out of the gates running. I cover the basics of OCEAN and OCEAN-XL and walk through some examples.

If video fails to play click here.

Some additional points:

1. You aren’t required to run a simulation in OCEAN. You can use it to only perform automated netlisting or carry out measurements on existing results.
2. The standalone ocean session equivalent of the .cdsinit is the .oceanrc, so be ready to copy your .cdsinit.

And here are two more excellent solutions that demonstrate some of OCEAN’s capabilities:

How to run parametric analysis over corners using Ocean?
How to print and plot gds after a DC Sweep?

Samir Jafferali

Re: Attach Spectre Assertions to a Schematic

AMSamirj — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:07:22 GMT

One way is to use the cellview state files. Setup your assertions (checklimit) from the ADE->Simulation->Device Checking form and save them to a state in the cell directory. Your assertions will now be part of the cell database and follow your schematic where ever it goes.

Regards,

Samir Jafferali

Re: Slow save statements..

AMSamirj — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:24:51 GMT

Try using a single save statement. In Spectre syntax it's:

save *

Re: Ocean script sample for MonteCarlo simulation

AMSamirj — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:38:14 GMT

If they're in IC6.1...they can't create this simple monteRun script since there's no MC in ADE-L. They can only create a huge Ocean-XL non-monteRun() script.

-Samir

Re: error in virtuoso 6.1.3

AMSamirj — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:13:42 GMT

You're using a distributed setup, what load balancing software are you using? If it's LSF, use something like "bjobs" or "bhist -l" or look at the LSF log file on /tmp of the execution host.

Re: Ocean script sample for MonteCarlo simulation

AMSamirj — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:11:25 GMT

If you don't have access to the MC gui here's an example:

ocnWaveformTool( 'wavescan )
simulator( 'spectre )
design( "/simulation/ampTest/spectre/schematic/netlist/netlist")
resultsDir( "simulation/ampTest/spectre/schematic" )
modelFile(
    '("/Models/InlineModels.scs" "")
)
analysis('tran ?stop "1u" )
desVar(   "CAP" 0.8p    )
envOption(
        'firstRun t
)
converge( 'ic "/vin" "0" )
converge( 'nodeset "/net5" "0" )
temp( 27 )
monteCarlo( ?numIters "100" ?startIter "1"
    ?analysisVariation 'process ?sweptParam "None"
    ?sweptParamVals "27" ?saveData nil
    ?nomRun "yes" ?append nil
    ?saveProcessParams t
)
monteRun()

Re: problems with display settings

AMSamirj — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:05:33 GMT

You can place a file in your CWD called tracecolors.properties. List any Wavescan color in any order and wavescan will follow these.

Regards,

Samir Jafferali