Out in Front: August 15, 1996

The HspiceHDLA simulator lets you simulate advanced analog devices and systems. Meta-Software based the tool on Verilog-A, an analog-language extension of Verilog that Open Verilog International has proposed. Because the Verilog-A specification covers both devices and systems, device and system designers can share a system-level description and validation methodology.

With HspiceHDLA, you can create accurate models for complex structures such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), thin-film-transistor, ferroelectric, and self-heating devices and devices in programmable and flash memories. Models you build with Verilog-A provide results approaching what you can achieve with Spice, but, because the Verilog-A models are on a behavioral level, they simulate much faster than do Spice models. HspiceHDLA supports primitives and models in Hspice, Meta-Software's circuit simulator.

HspiceHDLA includes a sample library of analog and mixed-signal functions, including op amps, A/D converters, and reference amplifiers. The simulator runs on Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sun Unix platforms. Prices start at $35,000.

—by Jim Lipman

Meta-Software, Campbell, CA. (408) 369-5400, fax (408) 371-5638, http://www.metasw.com.