Magma and STARC provides FineSim SPICE support for the HiSIM model

Magma Design Automation Inc--a provider of semiconductor design software, and the Semiconductor Technology Academic Research Center (STARC), a research consortium co-founded by 11 major Japanese semiconductor companies--announced FineSim SPICE support for the HiSIM model. STARC leveraged the FineSim SPICE proprietary Native Parallel Technology to implement the model, achieving 20x faster circuit simulation on STARC's 90-nanometer (nm) Star Shuttle analog intellectual property (IP) and nearly exact correlation to silicon. STARC's will contribute to the growth of the Japanese semiconductor industry by developing system-on-a-chip (SoC) design technologies.

Yoshiharu Furui, deputy general manager of STARC, said, "STARC's goal is to seek out new and effective technologies and FineSim's breakthrough in Native Parallel Technology captured our attention. FineSim SPICE has impressed us by rapidly implementing our latest HiSIM model while achieving over 20x faster circuit simulation of our analog IP. Also we verified that FineSim SPICE accurately correlated with our analog IP in silicon manufactured by our 90-nm Star Shuttle."

HiSIM (Hiroshima-University STARC IGFET Model) is a surface-potential-based circuit simulation model for MOSFETs which Hiroshima University developed in collaboration with STARC. The Star Shuttle is the first standard 90-nm process-based prototype manufacturing service in Japan to develop low-power SoC design technologies. Star Shuttle was established as a result of the ASUKA Project run jointly by Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA).

FineSim SPICE is a SPICE-level simulation analysis tool that incorporates transistor-level simulation analysis capabilities for mixed digital and analog designs. It contains a full SPICE simulation engine with distributed processing that enables customers to simulate large-scale, mixed-signal SoCs at the transistor level. By providing increased speed and capacity while maintaining full SPICE accuracy, FineSim SPICE enables designers to simulate advanced circuits.

Suk Lee, general manager of custom design business unit, said, "With the latest HiSIM model and FineSim SPICE’s significant speed, capacity and silicon-accuracy advantages, STARC and Magma provide advanced design technologies that reduce time to market. We’re pleased to partner with STARC to support the growth of the semiconductor industry in Japan."

Magma