Circuit Simulation Grouping for Input Vector Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size and complexity of integrated circuits lead to significantly increased computer time required for circuit simulation, with simulation time growing exponentially with the number of input vectors, making conventional sequential simulation methods inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Simulating multiple input vectors simultaneously by grouping instances with the same DC or transient solutions together, allowing for efficient reuse of subcircuit solutions and reducing total runtime through parallel processing and grouping techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional sequential simulation is used for multiple input vectors, then simulation accuracy is maintained, but total simulation runtime increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple circuit simulation instances with different input vectors into groups based on their DC operating point similarities. Instances that have the same DC operating point are grouped together and simulated simultaneously, allowing reuse of common subcircuit solutions and reducing total computation time while maintaining accuracy for each input vector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary DC operating point analysis for all input vectors before the main transient simulation. By pre-grouping instances based on their DC operating points, the system prepares the simulation structure in advance, enabling efficient transient analysis where only differences need to be computed rather than complete simulations for each input vector.
2Reliability
If the number of input vectors is increased, then circuit verification completeness is improved, but simulation time grows exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple simulation instances corresponding to different input vectors are merged into groups based on identical DC operating points. This allows the system to handle increased numbers of input vectors by processing them in parallel through grouped simulation, maintaining verification completeness while preventing exponential time growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The simulation framework is designed to handle multiple input vectors universally through a single grouped simulation structure. Once instances are grouped by DC operating point, the same simulation infrastructure processes all input vectors simultaneously, making the system scalable to large numbers of verification cases without proportional increase in computation time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If circuit size and complexity are increased, then design capability is improved, but computer time required for simulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the circuit simulation into distinct phases: DC operating point analysis and transient analysis. By separating these phases and using the DC results to group and optimize transient simulations, the system can handle larger and more complex circuits more efficiently, reducing overall simulation time while maintaining the ability to verify complex designs.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides techniques and tools for reducing circuit simulation time when an electronic circuit with multiple input vectors is simulated. Instead of running the simulation for each input vector one at a time, the circuit-simulation application runs the simulation of the circuit for all input vectors simultaneously. Efficiencies in the simulation are obtained during each iteration of a transient analysis by grouping circuit instances with different input vectors based on a predetermined criteria, and producing a combined solution for circuit instances within each group.