Nascentric Offers New Generation of Fast SPICE Simulation

February 17, 2005

Nascentric, Inc. has just introduced AuSIM, the next generation in fast-SPICE simulation technology. Ten times faster than the current generation of fast-SPICE simulators, AuSIM is the first in a series of advanced simulation and analysis products being developed by Nascentric. The entire suite of products will focus on addressing the transient nature of the physical and electrical effects that negatively impact the timing, power and signal integrity of today’s nanometer designs.

The transient, current-based nature of nanometer effects such as IR drop, leakage currents, electro-migration, and cross-coupling are driving leading-edge semiconductor companies to use current-based approaches to modeling and analysis. Pioneering this approach, AuSIM’s current-based transistor models accurately reflect the actual current flow and current density in CMOS circuitry, thus enhancing overall accuracy when simulating and analyzing nanometer effects.

"Simulating and analyzing current-based nanometer effects has become a critical factor in producing successful silicon," said Vess Johnson, president and CEO of Nascentric. "The transient and interdependent nature of these effects requires a transistor-level simulator like AuSIM that is accurate and fast enough to make dynamic, full-chip simulation of nanometer effects possible."

Architected from the ground up to address the needs of advanced semiconductor design flows, AuSIM delivers the speed, capacity, and SPICE-level accuracy needed to quickly evaluate and optimize designs across multiple constraints. Its patent-pending approach to simulation includes the intelligent use of multiple evaluation engines, accurate current-based measurement, and efficient storage and transformation of data.

Nascentric’s approach to simulation includes the use of multiple engines for device-, topology-, and application-specific evaluations. Optimized for each type of design entity within the circuit (transistor-, interconnect-, cell-, and block-level analysis) the engine-based architecture enables the simulation of nanometer effects with a much finer level of granularity. AuSIM takes advantage of the topology of each circuit it analyzes to maximize runtime performance, accuracy, and capacity.

While producing SPICE-level results, AuSIM runs ten times faster than existing solutions, out-performing all other fast-SPICE simulators, says the company. This speedup enables a more comprehensive analysis of large nanometer designs in less time, ultimately reducing the risks associated with complex designs. Delivering transistor-level accuracy in full-chip simulation requires efficient memory and data management to store and represent the large blocks of random logic, complex memory structures, as well as the analog blocks contained in mixed-signal design. AuSIM’s patent-pending technology intelligently and efficient manages, stores, manipulates, and retrieves billions of transactions related to the transistors and complex interconnect that comprise these design structures. The proprietary memory management routines allow design teams to simulate and analyze larger designs substantially faster than previously possible.

The initial release of AuSIM is suited to addressing the needs of large blocks of random digital logic and memory circuits. Subsequent releases will provide enhancements geared toward expanding design coverage to include analog blocks within mixed-signal applications.

About Nascentric

Nascentric is a privately held company that develops and markets a patented, next-generation Fast-SPICE simulator for analysis and functional verification of complex nanometer designs. Nascentric products allow designers to quickly simulate, analyze and verify larger and more complex circuits, improve design quality, and facilitate higher yields. The Nascentric management team brings decades of combined electrical engineering and electronic design automation experience to bear on the challenge of delivering full-chip simulation and analysis focused on eliminating silicon re-spins due to nanometer effects.

Nascentric, the Nascentric logo, and AuSIM are trademarks and registered trademarks of Nascentric, Inc. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners. For more information call 1-512-225-8800, or visit us on the web at www.nascentric.com.