Magma Software Enhances Characterisation System

ARM has utilised Magma Design Automation's Siliconsmart characterisation and modelling software suite to enhance and expand ARM's production characterisation system for Physical IP products. This characterisation system will assist ARM in delivering standard cell and I/O libraries. ARM Physical IP products provide a wide range of building blocks to create optimised system-on-chip (SoC) designs without compromising silicon area and performance.

To enable designers to incorporate this IP into today's implementation and sign-off flows, ARM must provide qualified, accurate electrical models such as composite current source (CCS) and effective current source models (ECSM) for timing, power and noise. Accurate IBIS models for I/Os are also required to support board-level electrical analysis. To ensure these libraries work across a wide range of applications and SoC design flows, these models must be generated across numerous process points, supply voltages and junction temperatures.

Siliconsmart is a fast and accurate component of the ARM characterisation system that generates and validates these models, increasing predictability of silicon and improving designer productivity. 'The Physical IP solutions made available via our process-optimised, high-performance and high-density standard-cell libraries and general-purpose and specialty I/Os provide our customers with the ability to meet the most demanding design requirements,' said Brent Dichter, ARM vice-president of design automation, Physical IP division.

'Our customers' requirements continually evolve over time and Siliconsmart has helped us develop the automation, performance and reliability we need to rapidly characterise our standard-cell and I/O products,' he added. 'There are significant challenges associated with designing IP libraries for a wide range of design applications, as well as setting up a process for generating accurate timing, power and noise model libraries that will work in different EDA flows,' said Anirudh Devgan, general manager of Magma's custom design business unit.

'Given the volume of characterisation ARM requires, setting up a process and generating the necessary models in a timely fashion is enhanced by the characterisation flow based on Magma's Siliconsmart,' he added. Siliconsmart provides standard cell and I/O characterisation and modelling for all popular design flows and supports advanced timing and power modelling. It is a comprehensive library characterisation system that produces production-ready models with minimal setup effort, according to Magma.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Class I Division 2?

Image
A Class I Division 2 is a location: (1) In which volatile flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, or combustible liquid-produced vapors are handled, processed, or used, but in which the liquids, vapors, or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems or in case of abnormal operation of equipment, or (2) In which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, or combustible liquid-produced vapors are normally prevented by positive mechanical ventilation, and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation of the ventilating equipment. Class I Division 2 Classification Class I Division 2 refers to the ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 standard. This standard was previously UL1604 until UL recommended the newer ANSI/ISA standard be used and that all hazardous location products be certified under this standa
Read more

FUSE SIZING CONSIDERATIONS FOR HIGHER EFFICIENCY MOTORS

Image
When selecting the proper fuse for short circuit protection in motor starting applications, it is important to not only ensure that the fuse will not nuisance open during motor start up times, but also that the fuse will coordinate as required with overload relays. When sizing fuses between 125% and 150% of the motor nameplate current, several advantages, including ease of coordination with an overload device, a smaller disconnect, and increased short circuit protection from a lower fuse rating, can be achieved. However, if sizing at this level prevents the motor from starting, it may then be necessary to increase the fuse ampere rating and it then becomes important to know the NEC sizing limitations. As of June 1, 2016, the US Department of Energy has mandated that newly manufactured electric motors will need to meet NEMA Premium® efficiency standards. As motor efficiencies increase, motor locked rotor currents can also be expected to increase. In addition to this, with across-the-lin
Read more

7/8 16UN Connectors that Provide 600 Volts and 15 Amps

TURCK announces new A-Size 3 and 4-pin 7/8 16UN powerfast™ connectors that provide up to 600 Volts and 15 Amps of power. These IP67 rated connectors provide a modular wiring system designed to handle high current applications for machine power distribution, while providing resistance to vibration commonly associated with conveyors, motors and material handling applications. The cordsets are available with a tray rated, exposed run PVC flexlife ® cable, with or without STOOW rating, and 14 AWG wires that allow you to replace hard wiring with a robust, quick disconnect system that saves the time and money spent installing a conduit system. The A-Size powerfast line offers male and female, straight connectors, standard and custom lengths, and pigtails or extensions. To make the system complete, fully encapsulated mating receptacles, with 1/2”-14 NPT mounting threads are available.
Read more