News and New Products

Tool adds high-caliber resistance and capacitance engines

By Gabe Moretti -- EDN, 9/16/2004

Shrinking geometries in ICs require greater predictability in device modeling. Nanometer effects can cause an entire chip to fail and can impact the yield unless you use postlayout and simulation technologies to isolate and identify the problem. One such technology is now available from Mentor Graphics, which has enhanced its Calibre product by adding a resistance engine that also supports hierarchical netlisting and back annotation.

The resistance engine provides better fracturing, including precise width and resistor location for electromigration analysis. It also supports the extraction of inductance and improved pin handling, improved gate pin placement, and user control over gate-region extraction. The new capacitance engine incorporates models for vias, contacts, and polysilicon-to-contact area.

Mentor Graphics has also improved the integration between Calibre and Nassda’s HSIM simulator. Price for Calibre cRC starts at $148,000 for an annual license. Calibre xRC runs on Solaris, HP, and Linux platforms.

Mentor Graphics Corp, 1-503-685-8000, www.mentor.com.