Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S2: Large-Signal Analyses

Digital Badge Available

Course Description

This course is a part of the Spectre^® Simulator Fundamentals series. In this course, you learn how to perform large-signal analyses such as DC and Transient using the Spectre Circuit Simulator from both the command line and the ADE Explorer environment. In one of the core DC analysis modules, you understand how the DC Operating Point (OP) and bias conditions are calculated. You find the solution to a nonlinear equation using the Newton-Raphson iterative method. You set up and run the DC Operating Point and DC Sweep Analysis, learn the use of DC parameters that affects accuracy and convergence of simulations and show how to improve convergence via homotopy. You then learn the use of nodesets and initial conditions. You also explore how to enable Fast DC simulation.
In the other core module Tranient Analysis, you determine what transient analysis does by examining the Convergence Criteria for transient analysis and learn how to set the numerical integration method and identify the issues faced during a transient run. You understand what Local Truncation Error (LTE) means. You will also set up and run the transient analysis, limit the time steps during a transient simulation, control the output data using data reduction and data compression techniques, perform small-signal analysis during a transient analysis, sweep parameters during a transient analysis, recover from transient analysis terminations and print additional information that might help diagnose accuracy and convergence problems using both the command-line and ADE Explorer environments.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Examine the DC Operating Point (OP) algorithm
• Run DC and transient simulations on analog circuits and netlists
• Examine the use of nodesets and initial conditions
• Determine the bias conditions using Spectre DC analysis
• Examine the circuit behavior by performing Spectre transient analysis
• Use the diagnose output option to identify convergence problems

Software Used in This Course

• Spectre Classic Simulator
• Spectre Multimode Simulation
• Cadence^® Design Framework II
• Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis XL
• Virtuoso Schematic Editor L, XL
• Virtuoso ADE Explorer

Software Release(s)

SPECTRE18.1(ISR12) and IC6.1.8(ISR8)

Modules in this Course

• DC Analysis
• Transient Analysis
• Appendix: Spectre Command-Line Options

Audience

• Analog Designers
• Chip Designers
• RF Designers
• IC Designers
• Design Engineers
• Analog and Mixed-Signal IC Designers

Prerequisites

You must have:

• A basic knowledge of analog circuit design
• The ability to read and understand analog circuit netlists

Or you must have completed the following course:

• Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S1: Spectre Basics

Related Courses

Please see course learning maps at this link for a visual representation of courses and course relationships. Regional course catalogs may be viewed here.