AWE macromodels of VLSI interconnect for circuit simulation

The results of linear asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) and of nonlinear circuit simulation are combined for the purpose of efficiently incorporating accurate interconnect information in the overall circuit description. A simple macromodel based on the y-parameter description of a complex interconnect network is discussed. The model makes possible the reduction of large, stiff interconnect configurations into compact representations that pose minimal problems to conventional circuit simulation techniques. The macromodel can be incorporated directly into a conventional circuit simulation with no modification of the original simulation software. The techniques are suitable for development as a software library that can be used to enhance existing simulators so that they can handle large VLSI interconnect configurations very efficiently. In addition, the ability to handle elements at the port level makes approach extremely attractive for any linear(ized) macromodels or for application such as mixed-mode simulation.<>