2016-2018 Mentor Graphics Corporation

All rights reserved.

This document contains information that is trade secret and proprietary to Mentor Graphics Corporation or its licensors and

is subject to license terms. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, translated, distributed, disclosed or

provided to third parties without the prior written consent of Mentor Graphics.

Eldo Platform Basic

Student Workbook

This document is for information and instruction purposes. Mentor Graphics reserves the right to make

changes in specifications and other information contained in this publication without prior notice, and the reader

should, in all cases, consult Mentor Graphics to determine whether any changes have been made.

The terms and conditions governing the sale and licensing of Mentor Graphics products are set forth in written

agreements between Mentor Graphics and its customers. No representation or other affirmation of fact

contained in this publication shall be deemed to be a warranty or give rise to any liability of Mentor Graphics whatsoever.

MENTOR GRAPHICS MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS

FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

MENTOR GRAPHICS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS)

ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS PUBLICATION OR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, EVEN

IF MENTOR GRAPHICS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

U.S. GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS: The software and documentation were developed entirely at private

expense and are commercial computer software and commercial computer software documentation within the

meaning of the applicable acquisition regulations. Accordingly, pursuant to FAR 48 CFR 12.212 and DFARS

48 CFR 227.7202, use, duplication and disclosure by or for the U.S. Government or a U.S. Government

subcontractor is subject solely to the terms and conditions set forth in the license agreement provided with the

software, except for provisions which are contrary to applicable mandatory federal laws.

TRADEMARKS: The trademarks, logos and service marks ("Marks") used herein are the property of Mentor

Graphics Corporation or other parties. No one is permitted to use these Marks without the prior written consent of Mentor Graphics or the owner of the Mark, as applicable. The use herein of a third- party Mark is not an

attempt to indicate Mentor Graphics as a source of a product, but is intended to indicate a product from, or

associated with, a particular third party. A current list of Mentor Graphics’ trademarks may be viewed at:

www.mentor.com/trademarks.

The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from LMI, the exclusive licensee of Linus

Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis.

End-User License Agreement: You can print a copy of the End-User License Agreement from:

www.mentor.com/eula.

Mentor Graphics Corporation

8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777

Telephone: 503.685.7000

Toll-Free Telephone: 800.592.2210

Website: www.mentor.com

SupportNet: supportnet.mentor.com/

Send Feedback on Documentation: supportnet.mentor.com/doc_feedback_form

Part Number: 073733

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic I

Module 1: Introduction to Eldo .............................................................................. 15

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 16

Design New Challenges Due to Nanometer Effects .......................................................................... 17

Simulation New Challenges ............................................................................................................... 18

Eldo Platform Industry Proven Circuit Verification Platform for Analog-Centric ICs .................... 19

Impractical Without Eldo Platform Quality & Reliability Verification Tools ................................... 20

Environment Integrations ................................................................................................................... 21

Course Objectives............................................................................................................................... 22

Module 2: Eldo Basics .............................................................................................. 23

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 24

Basic Environment Setup ................................................................................................................... 25

How to Start Eldo ............................................................................................................................... 26

Netlist Content.................................................................................................................................... 29

Definitions .......................................................................................................................................... 30

Eldo Example of a .cir File ................................................................................................................ 32

Troubleshooting Hints ........................................................................................................................ 34

.OPTION Command........................................................................................................................... 35

How to Find an Option ....................................................................................................................... 36

Example of a .chi file ......................................................................................................................... 37

ELDO Example of a .chi File ............................................................................................................ 38

Optional Command Lines .................................................................................................................. 46

Online Help ........................................................................................................................................ 48

Design Flow ....................................................................................................................................... 49

Framework for Standalone Usage ...................................................................................................... 50

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic II

Module 3: EZwave Basic Features ......................................................................... 51

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 52

Basic EZwave Features ...................................................................................................................... 53

Elements of the Interface .................................................................................................................... 54

Joint Waveform Database (JWDB) .................................................................................................... 55

.wdb and .swd Files ............................................................................................................................ 56

Invoke EZwave in Standalone Mode ................................................................................................ 57

EZwave Integration in Artist Link ..................................................................................................... 58

How to Start EZwave in Artist Link .................................................................................................. 59

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 60

Toolbar ............................................................................................................................................... 61

Mouse Strokes .................................................................................................................................... 62

Find Button ......................................................................................................................................... 63

The Find Capability for Plotted Waveforms ...................................................................................... 64

Waveform List.................................................................................................................................... 65

EZwave Additional Tools .................................................................................................................. 66

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 67

Measurement Tool.............................................................................................................................. 68

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 70

Waveform Compare Tool ................................................................................................................... 71

Waveform Compare Wizard .............................................................................................................. 72

Waveform Comparison Results.......................................................................................................... 73

How the Tolerance Tube is Built ....................................................................................................... 74

Waveform Compare Options.............................................................................................................. 75

EZwave Quiz ...................................................................................................................................... 76

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic III

Lab Time ............................................................................................................................................ 77

Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 78

Module 4: Eldo Devices and Sub_Circuits ............................................................ 79

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 80

Device Instance Syntax ...................................................................................................................... 81

Resistor R ........................................................................................................................................... 82

R: Value Functional Description: VALUE={EXPR} ........................................................................ 83

R: Other Value Description ................................................................................................................ 84

R: Temperature and Temperature Dependent Parameters ................................................................ 85

R: Other Optional Instance Parameters .............................................................................................. 86

Capacitor C ......................................................................................................................................... 87

Inductor L ........................................................................................................................................... 88

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 89

Junction Diode D ................................................................................................................................ 90

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) Q ................................................................................................. 91

Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) M ................................................. 92

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 94

Sub Circuit Definition .SUBCKT ..................................................................................................... 95

Sub Circuit Instantiation X ................................................................................................................ 96

Netlist Example .................................................................................................................................. 97

Automatic Merging of Devices in Parallel ......................................................................................... 98

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 99

List of Available Macromodels ........................................................................................................ 100

Example of Macromodel Usage in Eldo VSWITCH ....................................................................... 101

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 102

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic IV

Using Behavioral Verilog A Models Within Eldo ........................................................................... 103

Use of a Verilog A Model in a Netlist.............................................................................................. 104

Example Verilog-A Model in a Netlist ........................................................................................... 105

Hierarchical Verilog-A Model Example .......................................................................................... 106

Verilog-A Model Example ............................................................................................................... 107

Generic and Param Usage ................................................................................................................ 108

Compilation ...................................................................................................................................... 109

Case of Pre Compiled Library Not in the Current Directory ........................................................... 110

Starting with Verilog-A .................................................................................................................... 111

.HDL Command for Verilog as X Statements ................................................................................. 112

Devices Quiz ................................................................................................................................... 113

Quiz Netlist (Devices Only) ............................................................................................................. 114

Module 5: Basic Analyses....................................................................................... 115

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 116

.DC Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 117

DC Operating Point (.chi) ................................................................................................................ 118

.OP Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 119

Operating Point Information (.chi) ................................................................................................... 120

Differences Between DC and OP Analyses ..................................................................................... 121

.TRAN Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 122

.AC Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 123

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 124

.DC Sweeping................................................................................................................................... 125

.OP During .DC Sweep or .TRAN ................................................................................................... 126

.TRAN Syntax .................................................................................................................................. 127

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic V

.AC Syntax ....................................................................................................................................... 128

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 129

.PLOT and .PRINT........................................................................................................................... 130

.PROBE ............................................................................................................................................ 132

Quizz DC .......................................................................................................................................... 134

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 135

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 136

Module 6: Practical Tips ........................................................................................ 137

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 138

Documentation ................................................................................................................................. 139

What is In InfoHub V3? ................................................................................................................... 140

Improved Organization..................................................................................................................... 141

Improved Search Results .................................................................................................................. 142

Stemming Support ............................................................................................................................ 143

Mentor Graphics Support ................................................................................................................. 144

On Line Support Site ........................................................................................................................ 145

Module 7: Eldo Devices Models ............................................................................ 147

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 148

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 149

Simple Model Definition .................................................................................................................. 150

.chi Lines Associated to Default Model Definition .......................................................................... 151

.Model Syntax .................................................................................................................................. 152

More and More Effects are Included ................................................................................................ 153

Model Libraries Documentation ...................................................................................................... 154

Parameter Instantiation in the Instance Line .................................................................................... 155

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic VI

MOS Model Binning ....................................................................................................................... 156

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 157

Library Overview ............................................................................................................................. 158

.INCLUDE Syntax ........................................................................................................................... 159

.LIB Syntax ...................................................................................................................................... 160

.LIB LIBTYPE Syntax ..................................................................................................................... 161

.LIB KEY Syntax ............................................................................................................................ 162

.ADDLIB Syntax .............................................................................................................................. 163

.ADDLIB Example........................................................................................................................... 164

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 165

Module 8: Eldo Sources and Stimuli .................................................................... 167

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 168

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 169

First Letter Used to Instantiate a Source .......................................................................................... 170

Eldo Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 171

Independent Sources V, I ................................................................................................................ 172

Time Dependent Functions PULSE ................................................................................................ 173

Time Dependent Functions PATTERN .......................................................................................... 174

Time Dependent Functions PWL (Piece Wise Linear) ................................................................... 176

Time Dependent Functions PWL .................................................................................................... 177

Time Dependent Functions SIN (Sine Function) ............................................................................ 178

Time Dependent Functions EXP (Exponential) .............................................................................. 179

Time/Frequency Dependent Functions FOUR (Fourier) ................................................................ 180

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 181

Piecewise Linear Source .CHRENT Command .............................................................................. 182

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic VII

Trapezoidal Pulse With Bit Pattern Function PBIT ........................................................................ 183

Exponential Pulse With Bit Pattern Function EBIT ........................................................................ 185

Time Dependent Functions — AM (Amplitude Modulation).......................................................... 187

Time Dependent Functions SFFM (Single Frequency FM) ............................................................ 188

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 189

Linear Voltage Controlled Sources E, G ......................................................................................... 190

Linear Current Controlled Sources F, H ......................................................................................... 191

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 192

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 193

Module 9: Multiple-Run Simulations .................................................................. 195

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 196

.PARAM Syntax............................................................................................................................... 197

.PARAM Examples .......................................................................................................................... 198

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 200

.STEP Syntax ................................................................................................................................... 201

.STEP Extensions ............................................................................................................................. 203

.STEP LIB Example ......................................................................................................................... 204

Vector and Nested Sweeps Examples .............................................................................................. 205

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 206

.ALTER Syntax ................................................................................................................................ 207

.ALTER Effect in EZwave ............................................................................................................... 208

.DEL LIB Syntax............................................................................................................................. 209

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 210

Working With Buses ........................................................................................................................ 211

Creating Buses With .SETBUS ........................................................................................................ 212

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic VIII

Driving Bus Values With .SIGBUS ................................................................................................. 213

Plotting Buses With .PLOTBUS ...................................................................................................... 214

Verifying Buses With .CHECKBUS................................................................................................ 215

Working With Buses Example ........................................................................................................ 216

Quiz Multiple Run Analyses ........................................................................................................... 217

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 218

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 219

Module 10: Basic Post-Processing ........................................................................ 221

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 222

Eldo Post Processing Capabilities ................................................................................................... 223

Simple Wave Expression.................................................................................................................. 224

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 225

Measurements in Eldo ...................................................................................................................... 226

EXTRACT Definition Expression .................................................................................................. 227

.EXTRACT With Wildcards ............................................................................................................ 228

EXTRACT Outputs .......................................................................................................................... 229

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 231

DC Extract Generalities.................................................................................................................... 232

Plot and Print Quantities................................................................................................................... 233

PVAL Extracting Global Parameter Value ..................................................................................... 234

EVAL Extracting Instance Parameter Value................................................................................... 235

MODPAR Extracting Model Parameter Value ............................................................................... 236

OPMODE, POW and POWER Example ......................................................................................... 237

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 238

Transient Extraction Language (TEL) Functions ............................................................................. 239

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic IX

General Extraction Language Functions (GEL) ............................................................................... 240

TEL versus GEL Summary .............................................................................................................. 241

GEL: MIN and MAX Argument Usage ........................................................................................... 242

XUP, XDOWN, XTHRES Usage .................................................................................................... 243

YVAL Usage .................................................................................................................................... 244

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 245

Errors in Extract Statements ............................................................................................................. 246

Flow Without Eldo -extract Command ............................................................................................ 247

Eldo extract Syntax .......................................................................................................................... 248

Quiz Basic Post Processing ............................................................................................................. 249

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 250

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 251

Module 11: DC Operating Point and Transient Analysis ................................. 253

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 254

Simulator Analyses........................................................................................................................... 255

DC Operating Point Convergence Algorithms ................................................................................. 257

Newton Raphson Algorithm............................................................................................................ 258

Newton Raphson Convergence ........................................................................................................ 260

Convergence Problems ..................................................................................................................... 261

Performing DC ................................................................................................................................. 262

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 263

To Aid DC Convergence .................................................................................................................. 264

DC Convergence Aid Mechanisms .................................................................................................. 265

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 266

Improve Convergence ...................................................................................................................... 267

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic X

.GUESS Command........................................................................................................................... 268

.NODESET Command ..................................................................................................................... 269

.IC Command ................................................................................................................................... 270

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 271

Solve DC Convergence Problems .................................................................................................... 272

Check for Circuit Connectivity Problems ........................................................................................ 274

To Keep in Mind .............................................................................................................................. 275

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 276

Different Algorithms ........................................................................................................................ 277

Integration Algorithms When Using Newton .................................................................................. 278

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 279

Global Accuracy Control Parameters ............................................................................................... 280

More Accuracy Control Parameters ................................................................................................. 281

Lab Time .......................................................................................................................................... 282

Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 283

Module 12: Overview of Eldo Advanced Features ............................................ 285

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 286

Eldo Premier Accelerated SPICE-Accurate Simulations ................................................................. 287

Premier Use Model Allows Quick Adoption ................................................................................... 288

Eldo Premier Accelerated SPICE-Accurate Simulations ................................................................. 289

Eldo Multi-Threading ....................................................................................................................... 290

.MPRUN Mechanism ....................................................................................................................... 291

.MPRUN HOST ............................................................................................................................... 292

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 293

Parasitic Extraction in the Verification Flow ................................................................................... 294

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic XI

Why is Reduction of Parasitic Elements Important?........................................................................ 295

Advantages With Reduction ............................................................................................................. 296

.REDUCE Command ....................................................................................................................... 297

DSPF File Overview ........................................................................................................................ 298

DSPF File Net Parasitic Section....................................................................................................... 299

Schematic Mode Summary .............................................................................................................. 300

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 302

Monte Carlo Simulation Principles .................................................................................................. 303

Statistical Sensitivity ........................................................................................................................ 304

Important Parameters During Statistical Analysis ........................................................................... 305

Sensitivity Analysis Concept............................................................................................................ 306

Nothing is as Easy as it Looks.......................................................................................................... 307

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 308

Eldo Noise Analyses ........................................................................................................................ 309

Three Different Noise Analyses ....................................................................................................... 310

Noise Sources ................................................................................................................................... 311

Noise Models.................................................................................................................................... 312

General Overview of NOISE ........................................................................................................... 313

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 314

Eldo Optimization ............................................................................................................................ 315

Netlist Example ................................................................................................................................ 316

How to Start With Optimization ...................................................................................................... 317

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 318

Electro Thermal Simulation ............................................................................................................. 319

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 320

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic XII

Aging Reliability: Industry Wide Issue ........................................................................................... 321

What Is Aging?................................................................................................................................. 322

What Does the Analysis Provide? .................................................................................................... 323

Module 13: Major Questa ADMS and Eldo RF Capabilities ........................... 325

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 326

Analog Mixed Signal Verification .................................................................................................. 327

Overview of Questa ADMS ............................................................................................................. 328

Overview of Questa ADMS Integration ........................................................................................... 331

First Run Examples .......................................................................................................................... 332

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 333

Overview of ELDO RF .................................................................................................................... 334

First Run Examples .......................................................................................................................... 335

Module 14: Conclusion ........................................................................................... 337

Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 338

Eldo Platform Summary ................................................................................................................... 339

Release Conventions ........................................................................................................................ 340

What About the Next Releases? ....................................................................................................... 341

Mentor Graphics Support ................................................................................................................. 342

Documentation ................................................................................................................................. 343

Search Results Example ................................................................................................................... 344

Stemming Support ............................................................................................................................ 345

Available DSM Courses ................................................................................................................... 346

Table of Contents

Eldo Platform Basic XIII