Patent · US Active

Method for testing the validity of initial-condition statements in circuit simulation, and correcting inconsistencies thereof

US7441213B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 2006
Grant dateOct 21, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/367
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and a system for validating initial conditions (ICs) generally provided by a user when simulating a VLSI circuit are described. Inconsistent ICs sets are detected and replaced by consistent subsets thereof. The method selects the resistance and source values in a Norton or Thevenin circuit used to enforce the IC, and detects when specified ICs are inconsistent while preserving critical or fragile ICs when a two DC-pass approach is used. It further correlates the set of consistent ICs thus obtained with an equivalent circuit and simultaneously provides an input for future use. This allows a user to be notified and given a measure of how bad the inconsistencies are. Detecting inconsistencies is achieved either by measuring the holding current or by measuring the voltage drift if the two DC-pass approach is used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.