Subcircuit Wrapper Parameter Inheritance for Circuit Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current circuit simulation tools face challenges in managing component model parameters, especially when using subcircuits, as they require explicit declaration of many parameters and lack flexibility in handling unspecified values, leading to complex interdependencies and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an inline subcircuit with an inheritance designator allows the circuit simulator to assign default values to unspecified parameters based on built-in component model defaulting rules, enabling flexible parameter management and reducing the need for explicit declaration of all parameter values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all parameters are explicitly declared in subcircuits, then parameter specification is complete and reliable, but device complexity and time to create designs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The subcircuit wrapper automatically manages unspecified parameters by retrieving default values from the built-in device model, eliminating the need for manual specification of all parameters. The system serves itself by automatically filling in missing parameter values through the model's defaulting rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of parameter specification from requiring explicit values to allowing unspecified values that are automatically resolved. The parameter management approach shifts from explicit declaration to implicit inheritance, where defaults are automatically applied when parameters are not specified.
2Reliability
If all parameters are explicitly declared in subcircuits, then parameter specification is complete, but the time required to create and modify designs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The subcircuit wrapper automatically manages unspecified parameters by retrieving default values from the built-in device model, eliminating the need for manual specification of all parameters. The system serves itself by automatically filling in missing parameter values through the model's defaulting rules.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complete parameter specification, the system accepts partial specification where only necessary parameters are explicitly declared. The remaining parameters are automatically filled from defaults, reducing the burden on designers while maintaining complete parameter coverage.
3Ease of operation
If parameters are left unspecified in subcircuits, then ease of design is improved, but incorrect default values may be used leading to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by automatically resolving unspecified parameters through the built-in device model's defaulting rules. This feedback mechanism ensures that default values are consistently applied according to the model's established rules, maintaining reliability while simplifying the design process.
Solution Approach 2:
The built-in device model acts as an intermediary that supplies default parameter values when parameters are unspecified in subcircuits. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between ease of design (not specifying all parameters) and reliability (using correct default values).
4Measurement precision
If subcircuits use built-in devices with many parameters, then modeling precision is improved, but the number of parameters to manage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the parameter management burden from the subcircuit definition by allowing parameters to be inherited from the built-in device model. Only the parameters that need customization are explicitly declared in the subcircuit, while the rest are automatically provided by the model.
Solution Approach 2:
The built-in device model serves multiple functions: it provides the core device behavior and simultaneously supplies default parameter values for subcircuit instances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate parameter specification in subcircuits while maintaining modeling precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product for extending device model parameter specification flexibility when using a subcircuit wrapper. Embodiments facilitate device modeling by allowing a modeling engineer to eliminate the explicit specification of a large set of wrapped device instance parameters as parameters to the subcircuit wrapper itself. A circuit designer may now use the subcircuit wrapper to specify an instance of the subcircuit without having to explicitly provide values for all such parameters. The simulator program's built-in device model calculates its default parameter values, which are often the result of complex expressions involving the other parameters, resulting in more accurate simulations. Subcircuit wrappers no longer need to be explicitly regenerated when a new version of the wrapped device model becomes available for the simulator (e.g., one that supports additional instance parameters that were not present on the earlier version when the subcircuit wrapper was created).