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Eldo® Platform Eldo Control Language

Student Workbook

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Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language I

Module 1: Introduction to Eldo ........................................................................... 13

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Design New Challenges Due to Nanometer Effects .......................................................................... 15

Simulation New Challenges ............................................................................................................... 16

Eldo Platform Industry Proven Circuit Verification Platform for Analog-Centric ICs .................... 17

Impractical Without Eldo Platform Quality & Reliability Verification Tools ................................... 18

Environment Integrations ................................................................................................................... 19

Course Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 20

Module 2: ECL Presentation ................................................................................ 21

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 22

Eldo Control Language — ECL ......................................................................................................... 23

ECL Use Case Example 1 – Characterization of an OpAmp ............................................................. 24

ECL Use Case Example 2 – Characterization of an ICO ................................................................... 25

Characterization of an ICO – ECL Script Outputs ............................................................................. 26

ECL Use Case Example 3 – Setup Time Measurement ..................................................................... 27

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 28

Some Typical Problems You Can Solve With ECL .......................................................................... 29

More Typical Problems You Can Solve With ECL ........................................................................... 30

ECL - A User Friendly Language ...................................................................................................... 31

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 32

ECL Mains Constructs Overview ...................................................................................................... 33

Where to Start? ................................................................................................................................... 34

Global Structure of an ECL Netlist .................................................................................................... 35

Lab Time ............................................................................................................................................ 36

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language II

Module 3: ECL Essentials .................................................................................... 37

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 38

Testbench Summary ........................................................................................................................... 39

Testbench Definition & Instantiation ................................................................................................. 40

Testbench Definition Example (Without Parameter) ......................................................................... 41

Testbench Definition Example (With a Parameter) ........................................................................... 42

Testbench Definition and Instantiation .............................................................................................. 43

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 44

Task Characteristics ........................................................................................................................... 45

Simulation Tasks Responsibilities ..................................................................................................... 46

Task Definition & Example ............................................................................................................... 47

Task With Parameters ........................................................................................................................ 48

Task With Main Netlist ...................................................................................................................... 49

Task With Main Netlist and Simulation Output ................................................................................. 50

Task Definition and Instantiation – Summary ................................................................................... 51

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 52

Scalar Simulation Results Reusable in a Task ................................................................................... 53

Vector Simulation Results Reusable in a Task .................................................................................. 54

Collecting Simulation Results in a Task ............................................................................................ 55

Collecting Waveform Simulation Results in a Task .......................................................................... 56

Simple Task Example With Scalar Results ........................................................................................ 57

Simple Task Example With Vector Results ....................................................................................... 58

Assembling Base Netlist and Testbenches for Simulation ................................................................. 59

Simple Task Example With Vector Results & Testbench ................................................................. 60

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 61

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language III

Simulation() Default Behavior ........................................................................................................... 62

ECL Management of Temporary Files ............................................................................................... 63

Simulation() Parameters and Return Value ........................................................................................ 64

Simple Task Example ......................................................................................................................... 65

Simulation Return Data Structure ...................................................................................................... 66

Simulation Example ........................................................................................................................... 67

Simple Task Example ......................................................................................................................... 68

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 69

Debugging ECL Tasks ....................................................................................................................... 70

Simulation Options ............................................................................................................................. 72

ECL Limitations ................................................................................................................................. 73

Lab Time ............................................................................................................................................ 74

Module 4: Detailed Task Syntax .......................................................................... 75

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 76

ECL Comments & Line Breaks - Spice Syntax ................................................................................. 77

ECL Comments - Task Syntax ........................................................................................................... 78

ECL Line Breaks - Task Syntax ......................................................................................................... 79

ECL Comments & Line Breaks - Summary ....................................................................................... 80

Writing Easy to Read and Maintain ECL Code ................................................................................. 81

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 83

Variables ............................................................................................................................................. 84

File Output With fprint ....................................................................................................................... 86

fprint – f Format Caveat ..................................................................................................................... 89

Complex Numbers .............................................................................................................................. 90

Strings ................................................................................................................................................. 91

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language IV

Waveforms ......................................................................................................................................... 92

Post-Processing a Waveform ............................................................................................................. 93

Vector ................................................................................................................................................. 94

One-Dimensional Vector .................................................................................................................... 95

Vectors and Memory Management .................................................................................................... 99

Multi-Dimensional Vector ............................................................................................................... 100

Constants .......................................................................................................................................... 101

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 102

Flow Control .................................................................................................................................... 103

Flow Control — While and For Loops ............................................................................................ 104

Flow Control — Incremental Loop .................................................................................................. 105

Flow Control — Linear Step ............................................................................................................ 106

Flow Control — Log Step ................................................................................................................ 107

Flow Control — List Step ................................................................................................................ 108

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 109

Function ............................................................................................................................................ 110

Recursive Function and Task Example ............................................................................................ 111

Library of Built-in Functions ........................................................................................................... 112

System() Function ............................................................................................................................ 113

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 114

Parallelism in ECL ........................................................................................................................... 115

Parallelism in ECL (New in AMS13.1) ........................................................................................... 116

Avoiding Concurrency Issues With ECL ......................................................................................... 117

Parallel Task Example ...................................................................................................................... 118

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 119

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language V

Complete ECL Example ................................................................................................................... 120

With a Drawing… ............................................................................................................................ 121

Measurements ................................................................................................................................... 122

Simplified Flow ................................................................................................................................ 124

Step #1 Uses the run_nominal() Testbench ...................................................................................... 125

Step #2 Uses the run_optim() Testbench ......................................................................................... 126

Complete Run() Task ....................................................................................................................... 127

Global Structure of the Netlist ......................................................................................................... 128

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 129

Module 5: Advanced Topics ............................................................................... 131

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 132

Simulation Dynamic Control – The Need ........................................................................................ 133

Simulation Dynamic Control ........................................................................................................... 134

Simulation Dynamic Control – Callback Mechanism ...................................................................... 135

Simulation Dynamic Control – Callback Call Criteria .................................................................... 136

Simulation Dynamic Control – Callback Definition ........................................................................ 137

Simulation Dynamic Control – Extended Simulation Functions ..................................................... 138

Simulation Dynamic Control – Callback vs. ESF Example ............................................................. 139

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 140

ECL and Monte-Carlo Simulations .................................................................................................. 141

ECL & Monte-Carlo Simulations: Eldo Controls the Loop ............................................................. 142

ECL & .MC Simulations: Eldo Controls the Loop - Example ......................................................... 143

ECL & Monte-Carlo Simulations: ECL Controls the Loop ............................................................. 144

ECL & .MC Simulations: ECL Controls The Loop - Example ....................................................... 145

Controlling Monte-Carlo Simulation With ECL .............................................................................. 146

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language VI

Simple Example of Trimming With Statistical ESF ........................................................................ 147

Trimming With Statistical ESF – Simple example Code (1) ........................................................... 148

Trimming With Statistical ESF – Simple Example Code (2) .......................................................... 149

Monte-Carlo Simulation Fine Control Flow .................................................................................... 150

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 151

Example – PLL Lock Time .............................................................................................................. 152

Eldo Control Language .................................................................................................................... 153

ECL .................................................................................................................................................. 154

ECL Text Output .............................................................................................................................. 157

Build Waveform ............................................................................................................................... 158

ECL Scenario ................................................................................................................................... 159

ECL Code – Load the Netlist ........................................................................................................... 160

ECL Code – Run N Cycles .............................................................................................................. 161

ECL Code – Retrieve the Crossing Times ....................................................................................... 162

ECL Code – Compute the Jitter ....................................................................................................... 163

ECL Code – Decide to Run Another N Cycles, or Stop .................................................................. 164

ECL – Simple Waveform Creation .................................................................................................. 165

ECL Code – wset_values ................................................................................................................. 166

Execution .......................................................................................................................................... 167

Graphical Outputs ............................................................................................................................ 168

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 169

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 172

ILT/ODT Title & Content Slide ....................................................................................................... 173

ODT Title & Content Slide .............................................................................................................. 174

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 175

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language VII

Module 6: Conclusion ......................................................................................... 177

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 178

Eldo Platform Summary ................................................................................................................... 179

Release Conventions ........................................................................................................................ 180

What About the Next Releases? ....................................................................................................... 181

Mentor Graphics Support ................................................................................................................. 182

Documentation ................................................................................................................................. 183

Search Results Example ................................................................................................................... 184

Stemming Support ............................................................................................................................ 185

Appendix A: Multiple Models: Eldo, Spectre, Hspice ..................................... 187

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 188

Model Libraries Introduction ........................................................................................................... 189

Model Library Syntax ...................................................................................................................... 190

MOS Model - Binning ...................................................................................................................... 191

More and More Effects Are Included .............................................................................................. 193

Model File Selection ........................................................................................................................ 194

Library Overview ............................................................................................................................. 195

.INCLUDE Command ...................................................................................................................... 196

.INCLUDE and Monte Carlo ........................................................................................................... 197

Simple Definition With .LIB ............................................................................................................ 198

Library Definition With .LIB KEY ................................................................................................. 200

Delete Library With .DEL ................................................................................................................ 201

Basic Library Encryption ................................................................................................................. 202

Advanced Library Encryption .......................................................................................................... 203

IP Protection for the Foundry ........................................................................................................... 204

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language VIII

IP Protection for the User ................................................................................................................. 205

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 206

Using Behavioral Verilog-A Models Within Eldo ........................................................................... 207

Use of a Verilog-A Model in a Netlist ............................................................................................. 208

Example - Verilog-A Model in a Netlist .......................................................................................... 209

Hierarchical Verilog-A Model Example .......................................................................................... 210

Verilog-A Model Example ............................................................................................................... 211

Generic and Param Usage ................................................................................................................ 212

Compilation ...................................................................................................................................... 213

Case of Compiled Library Not in the Current Directory ................................................................. 214

CommLib QuickStart Verilog-A ...................................................................................................... 215

.HDL Command for VerilogA as X-Statements .............................................................................. 216

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 217

Spectre Compatibility ....................................................................................................................... 218

Spectre Language Support Overview ............................................................................................... 219

Working With Multiple Languages .................................................................................................. 220

Spectre Eldo Hybrid Mode ............................................................................................................... 221

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 222

HSPICE Compatibility Mode ........................................................................................................... 223

Hybrid Compatibility Mode ............................................................................................................. 224

Appendix B: EZwave Essentials ........................................................................ 225

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 226

Quick Reference Card ...................................................................................................................... 227

Basic EZwave Features .................................................................................................................... 229

A True Mixed-Signal and RF Waveform Viewer ............................................................................ 230

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language IX

EZwave Viewer Features at a Glance .............................................................................................. 231

EZwave Graphical Post-Processing ................................................................................................. 232

Getting Started Tutorials .................................................................................................................. 233

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 234

Invoking EZwave ............................................................................................................................. 235

EZwave Integration in Artist Link ................................................................................................... 236

How to Start EZwave in Artist Link ................................................................................................ 237

Joint Waveform Database (JWDB) .................................................................................................. 238

.wdb and .swd Files .......................................................................................................................... 239

Loading Databases ........................................................................................................................... 240

Searching Databases ......................................................................................................................... 241

EZwave - Waveform List Filtering .................................................................................................. 242

Plot ................................................................................................................................................... 243

Windows and Workspaces ............................................................................................................... 244

Zoom ................................................................................................................................................ 245

Strokes .............................................................................................................................................. 246

Various Cursors Types ..................................................................................................................... 247

Cursors Example .............................................................................................................................. 248

Waveform Groups ............................................................................................................................ 249

Grouping Example ........................................................................................................................... 250

Plot Difference ................................................................................................................................. 251

Plotting Wave_1 vs. Wave_2 ........................................................................................................... 252

Plotting Measure vs. Parameter ........................................................................................................ 253

Waveform Representation ................................................................................................................ 256

EZwave Configuration ..................................................................................................................... 257

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language X

Documentation Color Scheme ......................................................................................................... 258

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 259

Pick-Point Tool Presentation ............................................................................................................ 260

Pick-Point Tool Example ................................................................................................................. 261

Pick Points Capabilities .................................................................................................................... 262

Pick Points Default Settings ............................................................................................................. 264

Pick Points Specific Behavior .......................................................................................................... 265

Measurement Tool Presentation ....................................................................................................... 266

How to Use Measurement Tool ....................................................................................................... 267

Measurements Tools Capabilities .................................................................................................... 268

Waveform Calculator Introduction .................................................................................................. 269

Waveform Calculator Layout ........................................................................................................... 270

EZwave Calculator Features ............................................................................................................ 271

Calculator Window .......................................................................................................................... 273

Calculator Mouse and Key Binding ................................................................................................. 274

Appendix C: EZwave Advanced ........................................................................ 275

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 276

Parametric Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 277

Waveform Types .............................................................................................................................. 278

Smith Chart ...................................................................................................................................... 279

Statistical Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 280

Multiple Runs (PVT, MC) ............................................................................................................... 281

Multiple Runs – Multiple Colors ..................................................................................................... 282

Multiple Runs – Filtering a Large Multiple Run Database .............................................................. 283

Eye Diagram ..................................................................................................................................... 284

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Eldo Control Language XI

Jitter .................................................................................................................................................. 286

Waveform Compare Presentation .................................................................................................... 287

Waveform Compare Example .......................................................................................................... 288

Waveform Compare Tool Setting .................................................................................................... 289

Available Comparison Options ........................................................................................................ 290

Navigate to Differences .................................................................................................................... 291

Comparison Text Report .................................................................................................................. 292

Display Tolerance Tube ................................................................................................................... 293

Spectral Waveform Compare ........................................................................................................... 294

Edge Waveform Compare ................................................................................................................ 295

Plotting All the Waveforms With the Same Name .......................................................................... 296

Tandem Mode Example ................................................................................................................... 297

Tandem Mode vs. Iterative Simulation ............................................................................................ 298

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 299

Scripting Environment ..................................................................................................................... 300

TCL Scripts ...................................................................................................................................... 301

EZwave TCL Scripting .................................................................................................................... 302

TCL Scripting ................................................................................................................................... 303

Loading/Saving TCL From UI ......................................................................................................... 304

TCL Scripting With Measurement Tool .......................................................................................... 305

Window and Measurements Saving ................................................................................................. 306

WFC TCL Scripting ......................................................................................................................... 307

User Defined Functions .................................................................................................................... 308