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Contents

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Preface

Licensing

Related Documents for Spectre FX

Typographic and Syntax Conventions

1

Introduction to the Spectre FX Circuit Simulator

Features of Spectre FX

Starting a Spectre FX Simulation Run

Command-Line Options for Spectre FX

Modes Compatible with Spectre FX

Multithreading in Spectre FX

Enabling Distributed Mode with Multithreading

Output Files of a Spectre FX Run

Using the Command-Line Option -outdir to Specify the Output Directory

Using the Command-Line Option -outname to Specify the Names of the Output Files

Managing Output Files Using Predefined Percentage Codes

Creating Filenames by Modifying Input Filenames

Predefined Percent Codes

Creating Filenames from Parts of Input Filenames

Reviewing the Log File

File Reading and Parsing Related Information

Options from the Configuration File and Netlist

Partition Information

Output and IC/Nodeset Related Information

Transient Simulation Information

2

Netlist Compatibility and Support

SPICE Control Statements Supported by Spectre FX

.alter

.connect

.data

.end

.endl

.ends or .eom

.global

.ic

.if and .else

.include

.lib

.malias

.model

.nodeset

.op

.options

.param

.pat

.subckt or .macro

.temp

.tran

SPICE Options Supported by Spectre FX

autostop

geoshrink

gmin

measdgt

parhier

scale

scalm

search

tnom

3

Circuit Components, Models, Stimuli, and Verilog-A Support

Support for Circuit Components and Device Models

Support for Digital Vector File

Spectre Syntax

SPICE Syntax

Arguments

Support for Verilog Value Change Dump Stimuli

Spectre Syntax

SPICE Syntax

Support for Verilog-A Models

Spectre Syntax

SPICE Syntax

4

Analyses Supported in Spectre FX

DC Analysis

Syntax for DC Analysis

AC Analysis

Syntax for AC Analysis

AC Analysis Parameters Supported by Spectre FX

Examples

Transient Analysis

Simulation Interval Parameters for tran

Initial Condition Parameters for tran

Convergence Parameter for tran

State-File Parameters for tran

Strobe Output Parameters for tran

Dynamic Parameters for tran

Monte Carlo Analysis

Monte Carlo Parameters Supported by Spectre FX

Monte Carlo Analysis Parameters

Saving Process Parameters

Saving Mismatch Parameters

Flags

Annotation Parameters

Specifying the First Iteration Number

Specifying Parameter Distributions Using Statistics Blocks

Multiple Statistics Blocks

Specifying Distributions

Distributed Monte Carlo Analysis

Reliability Analysis

Reliability Parameters Supported by Spectre FX

Reliability Models for Spectre FX

Reliability Feature Support Matrix for Spectre FX

5

Spectre FX Simulator Options

Specifying Command-Line Options for Spectre FX

Loading Spectre FX Options from a Configuration File

Specifying Spectre FX Options with the options or .option Argument

Setting the Spectre FX Options Locally

Setting Up Different Speeds for Specific Periods of Transient Simulations

Viewing the Options in Log Files

Spectre FX Options for the options or .option Argument

High-Level Accuracy/Performance Tuning Options

Solver Related Options

RC Tuning Options

Device Model Options

Parsing Options

Probing and Measurement Options

Backannotation Flow Options

Miscellaneous Options

cmi_mosfet

dotprobefmt

duplicate_subckt

duplicateports

duplicatemodel

duplicate_measure

duplicateinstance

duplicate_module

mt_format

mt_separate_sweep_files

output_case

print_section

probe_global_term

probe_level

redefinedparams

sfx_accelerate_model_eval

sfx_ba_bus_delimiter

sfx_ba_ccap_min

sfx_ba_ccap_net

sfx_ba_ccap_net_file

sfx_ba_dspf

sfx_ba_dspf_instance

sfx_ba_dspf_net

sfx_ba_finger_delimiter_string

sfx_ba_gcap_net

sfx_ba_gcap_net_cth

sfx_ba_gcap_net_file

sfx_ba_ground_dangling_ccap

sfx_ba_hier_delimiter

sfx_ba_instance_scale

sfx_ba_probe_node

sfx_ba_probe_node_name

sfx_ba_rc_net

sfx_ba_rc_net_file

sfx_ba_remove_prefix

sfx_ba_rep_pin

sfx_ba_rmin

sfx_ba_skip_net

sfx_ba_skip_net_file

sfx_ba_unrecognized_subckt_action

sfx_ba_use_pre_layout_model

sfx_ccap_cut

sfx_ccap_esv

sfx_compress_waveform

sfx_cshunt

sfx_cut_floating_gate

sfx_dump_floating_gate_node

sfx_fast_mosfet_cap

sfx_floating_gate_gshunt

sfx_floating_node_gshunt

sfx_integ_method

sfx_lprobe_format

sfx_maxstep_window

sfx_optimize

sfx_optimize_power

sfx_optimize_signal

sfx_oscillator_node

sfx_preset

sfx_progress_percentage

sfx_rcr

sfx_rmin

sfx_rmax

sfx_separate_current_waveform

sfx_speed

sfx_speed_signal

sfx_speed_power

sfx_speed_window

sfx_support_nqs

sfx_time_step_errtol_factor

sfx_unit_time

sfx_waveform_flush_percentage

sfx_waveform_flush_minute

skip

soft_bin

6

Probing and Measuring Statements

Defining the Level or Depth Rules for Probing

Defining the Measurement Output Format

Probing Signals in the Backannotation Flow

.probe or.print

Syntax

Description

Arguments

Examples

.lprobe or .lprint

Syntax

Description

Arguments

Examples

save

.measure

Syntax

Description

Functions Supported by .measure in Spectre FX

current and power

Average, RMS, Min, Max, Peak-to-Peak, and Integral

Find and When

Rise, Fall, and Delay

Parameter with Expressions

7

EMIR Analysis and Post-Layout Simulations

EMIR Analysis

Spectre FX EMIR Technology, Product, and Flow Overview

Getting Started with Spectre FX EMIR Analysis

Power Gate Support

Handling the Complexity of DSPF/SPEF files

Advanced Analyses

Spectre FX EMIR Analysis Using Voltus-XFi

Post-layout Simulation Methodologies

The Parasitic Backannotation Flow

Control Options for the Parasitic Backannotation Flow

Guidelines for Parasitic Backannotation Options

Probing Signals for the Parasitic Backannotation Flow

Parasitic Backannotation Report

Example 1: Multiple Small SPF/DPF files

Example 2: A 20GB DSPF File

Example 3: A Small DSPF File with Discarded Nets

8

Circuit Checks

Circuit Check Scoping

Output Format of Circuit Checks

Circuit Check Syntax

Dynamic Checks

Dynamic Active Node Check (dyn_actnode)

Dynamic Capacitor Voltage Check (dyn_capv)

Dynamic DC Leakage Current Path Check (dyn_dcpath)

Dynamic Delay Check (dyn_delay)

Dynamic Diode Voltage Check (dyn_diodev)

Dynamic Excessive Element Current Check (dyn_exi)

Dynamic Excessive Rise and Fall Time Check (dyn_exrf)

Dynamic Glitch Check (dyn_glitch)

Dynamic Float Crosstalk Check (dyn_floatxtalk)

Dynamic Floating Gate Induced Leakage Check (dyn_floatdcpath)

Dynamic High Impedance Node Check (dyn_highz)

Dynamic MOSFET Voltage Check (dyn_mosv)

Dynamic Node Capacitance Check (dyn_nodecap )

Dynamic Pulse Width Check (dyn_pulsewidth)

Dynamic Setup and Hold Check (dyn_setuphold)

Dynamic Subcircuit Port Power Check (dyn_subcktpwr)

Static Checks

Static Always Conducting NMOS/PMOS Check (static_nmosvgs/static_pmosvgs)

Static Capacitor Check (static_capacitor)

Static Capacitor Voltage Check (static_capv)

Static Coupling Impact Check (static_coupling)

Static DC Leakage Path Check (static_dcpath)

Static Diode Voltage Check (static_diodev)

Static ERC Check (static_erc)

Static High Impedance Node Check (static_highz)

Static Highfanout Check (static_highfanout)

Static MOSFET Voltage Check (static_mosv)

Static NMOS to VDD Count Check (static_nmos2vdd)

Static NMOS/PMOS Forward Bias Bulk Check (static_nmosb/static_pmosb)

Static PMOS to GND Count Check (static_pmos2gnd)

Static RC Delay Check (static_rcdelay)

Static Resistor Check (static_resistor)

Static Resistor Voltage Check (static_resv)

Static Subcircuit Port Voltage Check (static_subcktport)

Static Transmission Gate Check (static_tgate)

Static Voltage Domain Device Check (static_voltdomain)

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