Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S4: Measurement Description Language

Length: 1/2 Day (4 hours)

Digital Badge Available

Course Description

For classroom delivery, this course is taught as a half-day session (4 hours).

This course is part of the Spectre^® Simulator Fundamentals series. In this course, you use the Spectre Circuit Simulator Measurement Description Language (MDL), a productivity-enhancing tool for simulation and data analysis. Using alias measurement, a Measurement Description Language (MDL) procedure, you can run an analysis and extract information about the performance of the circuit.

You examine how MDL acts as a controller interacting with a variety of inputs, outputs, and tools. You also learn to create MDL measurements and reuse them, and finally, run Spectre MDL in standalone and batch modes and observe the measured values in the *.measure output file. You also examine how to use an MDL file within the ADE Explorer environment.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Use the Spectre Circuit Simulator Measurement Description Language (MDL) to create a measurement alias
• Interact with a variety of inputs, outputs, and tools using MDL
• Identify the contents of a Spectre MDL file
• Define and use a measurement alias for common measurements in Spectre
• Construct Spectre MDL expressions using its data types, operators, and built-in functions
• Evaluate MDL expressions using looping and control statements
• Set up and run Spectre MDL in standalone and batch modes
• Use the wildcard (\*) in the MDL control file for mapping all signals
• Postprocess MDL measurements 
• Use an MDL file within the ADE Explorer environment 

Software Used in This Course

• Spectre Classic Simulator
• Spectre Multi-Mode Simulation
• Cadence^® Design Framework II
• Virtuoso^® Visualization and Analysis XL

Software Release(s)

SPECTRE 21.1(ISR10) and IC6.1.8(ISR27)

Modules in this Course

• About This Course
• Measurement Description Language
• Course Conclusions
• Next Steps
• 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
• An understanding of DC, Transient, and AC analyses and their measurements

Or you must have completed the following course:

• Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S1: Spectre Basics

It is also recommended to take the Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S2: Large-Signal Analyses course covering DC and transient analysis or have an understanding of DC, Transient, and AC analyses as this course involves measurements after performing these analyses.

Related Courses

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