superluminal
Joined: 31 Jan 2002
Posts: 95
Helped: 1
Location: Inside a quantum well
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 12 May 2003 15:07 |
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You are partially right , partially not .
Almost all engineers now use BSIM models , which are levels 49 , 52 depend on your program. Only small fraction of students now use levels like 1 & 3 , that because they use *almost* the hand calculation equations used in books , so they can check their initial design. But come to silicon , you need really sophisticated models for such a job .
If you are talking about SPICE simulators , most enhancements come from added new models or new model upgrades. Also some includes new mathematical algorithms for better convergence & faster operation , which may be VERY critical for some designers.
For me , I don't search for a new version before I see that I can not get what I want from the old one with a reasonable efforts.
Many upgrades indeed are done for bug fixing in GUI & some other issues that will not affect your design if you are smart enough , & some may only exist to renew the old strings that were used to generate a license for elder version !!!
The fab only provides you with a model card ( model parameters) ( or a whole design kit) that don't contain a software of course. But they provide you a kit suitable for YOUR program (HSPICE , ELDO , Cadence...etc) that will generate a simulation that is very close to silicon in their fab. If you want to design an SOI chip & you don't have program contains an SOI model , you must find one .
Hope that helps
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