Santa Clara, CA – February 2, 2012 – Signal Integrity Software, Inc. (SiSoft™) will present a paper with IBM at the IBIS Summit meeting today. The paper is entitled “IBM IBIS-AMI 15G Chip to Chip Cu032 model using Dependency Tables” and discusses extensions to the IBIS-AMI specification that reduce the size and complexity of IBIS-AMI models to simplify the system designer’s task of running design simulations. In one of the examples presented, dependency tables reduce the number of different models needed from 192 down to 1 without sacrificing accuracy. Dependency tables also permit models to be created that support more than the three operating corners defined in the IBIS specification.
“IBIS-AMI models have become the standard way for semiconductor vendors to provide simulation models of their SerDes cores,” noted Dr. Walter Katz, SiSoft’s Chief Scientist. “As we were working with semiconductor vendors developing 15G and 28G models, we came across cases where device behavior depended on a number of variables, which were themselves inter-related. The conventional approach would have been to create an independent model for each possible case. When we realized that some models would have more than 100 cases, we worked with IBM to refine dependency tables. These tables make the model more compact and simplify the user’s task of configuring the model for simulation. With a dependency table, different device parameters are presented to the user as drop-down menus. The user selects each parameter corresponding to how the silicon will be programmed and the dependency table supplies the detailed information the simulator needs to configure the model automatically.”
SiSoft has been working with IBM since 2008 to validate IBIS-AMI models and create QCD Design Kits with ready-to-run simulation setups. SiSoft and IBM presented “Creating Broadband Analog Models for SerDes Applications” at the February 2009 IBIS Summit and “Predicting BER with IBIS-AMI: Experiences Correlating SerDes Simulations and Measurement” at the DesignCon 2010 conference.
SiSoft provides IBIS-AMI model development and validation services in addition to tools and training enabling semiconductor vendors to develop IBIS-AMI models internally. SiSoft has been a driving force in IBIS-AMI since its inception in 2006. Unique SiSoft contributions to IBIS-AMI include:
- First public simulation toolkit & reference models
- First IBIS-AMI models developed & delivered under contract
- First to publish IBIS-AMI performance & correlation data
- First commercial release of a fully IBIS-AMI compliant channel simulator
- First to support both Statistical & Time-Domain simulation using IBIS-AMI models
About SiSoft™
SiSoft™ collaborates with system designers and their suppliers to create full solutions for System-Level High-speed design, providing a combination of award-winning EDA tools, methodology development, model validation and consulting services. Quantum Channel Designer® is the Industry’s Premier Channel Simulator for the design and analysis of multi-Gigabit serial links and a DesignVision 2009 Award Winner. Quantum-SI™ is the leading solution for integrated signal integrity, timing and crosstalk analysis of high-speed parallel interfaces. SiSoft’s software products automate comprehensive pre- and post-route analysis of high-speed interfaces, detailing a design’s operating voltage and timing margins. Design Space Exploration lets designers explore hundreds of design tradeoffs automatically, quickly optimizing designs for cost, reliability and performance.
SiSoft’s staff of recognized industry experts keeps SiSoft’s products at the forefront of high-speed design by using them every day to perform state-of-the-art design and analysis. SiSoft provides a full range of model development, design analysis and methodology training services.
More information on SiSoft can be found at www.sisoft.com. More information about IBIS-AMI may be found at http://www.sisoft.com/elearning-secure/ibis-ami.html.
