The four-day training course, Virtuoso RF Solution Electromagnetic Analysis of ICs Using EMX Solver, begins with a review of Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs) and an introduction to the Virtuoso RF Solution. In the course, you will explore the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant within the Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL, with a particular focus on performing the simulations using the EMX Solver. You will learn how to describe the ports in the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant to run simulations using the EMX Solver in the Virtuoso RF Solution. The course will then cover the three models utilized in the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant for running EMX Solver simulations: Full Cellview, XL-based, and LVS-based. Additionally, you will explore techniques to simplify layout shapes in the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant for the EMX Solver within the Virtuoso RF Solution. You will also learn how to use the Currents Assistant in the Virtuoso 3D Viewer to visualize 3D current distributions. The course concludes with a comparison of the post-layout simulation results for the three models used with the EMX Solver in the Virtuoso RF Solution.
Course Details
The course covers the following:
- You will first be introduced to Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs) and the various parameters that impact RFIC design. Additionally, you will learn about the Virtuoso RF Solution Flow and the solvers available to perform the electromagnetic simulations in this solution.
- After being introduced to RFICs and electromagnetic simulations using the Virtuoso RF Solution, you will learn about the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant in the Virtuoso Layout EXL, available within the Virtuoso Studio Suite. The GUI of the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant is shown here. The GUI components of this Assistant will be covered in detail. You will also explore various files and settings necessary for performing the simulations. Additionally, there will be a brief overview of the features of the Virtuoso 3D Viewer. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the different models available in the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant. The GUI of the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant is shown here:
- Next, you get an overview of the ports available for running Electromagnetic Simulations with the EMX Solver in the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant. Additionally, you will learn about different methods to create and manipulate ports in the Electromagnetic Solver.
- This training covers simulations using the EMX Solver in the following three models within the Virtuoso RF Solution.
Full Cellview Model
- In this model, the complete layout in the Virtuoso Layout EXL is sent to the Electromagnetic Solver for performing simulations.
- The final output of a Full Cellview model is a simulation schematic that can be used for running the simulations using the Spectre RF Option in ADE.
- This model doesn’t require the design to be XL-compliant (i.e., it doesn’t require the correct correspondence between the instances and pins of the schematic and the layout).
- A typical flowchart of the Full Cellview model is shown below.
XL-Based Model
- In this model, the selected nets and instances in the Virtuoso Layout EXL are sent to the Electromagnetic Solver to perform simulations.
- The final Electromagnetic-extracted model can be stitched into a schematic for running the simulations using the Spectre RF Option in ADE.
- This model essentially requires the XL-compliance of the target nets and instances (i.e., a correct correspondence is required between the target nets and instances of the schematic and the layout).
LVS-Based Model
- In this model, the selected nets and instances in the Virtuoso Layout EXL are sent to the Electromagnetic Solver to perform simulations. However, the XL-compliance is not required for this model.
- A view, called SmartView, is generated from the parasitic extraction software (Quantus Extraction Solution, which is accessible from within Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL) and is stitched to the EMX-extracted S-Parameter model through the Electromagnetic Solver Assistant.
After covering the models available for simulations with the Virtuoso RF Solution, this course focuses on simplifying shapes for simulating the models with the EMX Solver in the Virtuoso RF Solution. The techniques for simplifying the shapes (such as merging, striping, etc.) and removing fill shapes are covered.
Next, you have a module on the 3D Current Density Visualization using the Currents Assistant in the Virtuoso 3D Viewer. This module covers the information on the Currents Assistant for viewing the Currents Density for your model.
This course concludes by comparing the post-layout simulation results using the EMX Solver for the Full Cellview, XL-Based, and LVS-Based Models in Virtuoso RF Solution.
For more details, kindly navigate to the training: Virtuoso RF Solution Electromagnetic Analysis of ICs Using EMX Solver
How to Enroll
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This course includes slides, audio instruction, and downloadable lab exercises in line with the lecture content.
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