Cadence Academic Network Blogs

Let’s continue exploring the training courses related to Custom IC, Analog, and RF Design. We’re going to be introducing some new courses and some new tools in these training recommendations. It is recommended that you start with Custom IC, Analog, and RF Design Part 1 before diving into these courses, but if you want to start here, we suggest first taking Virtuoso Schematic Editor and Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis.

We’ll continue exploring the Virtuoso tools and how they provide the basis of your design and all its needed testing. The tool’s integration across other Cadence tools allow for seamless information sharing leading to continuous verification throughout the entire analog, RF, or mixed-signal design cycle. These Online Training courses will also take a closer look at Spectre Simulation, which contains multiple solvers to allow a designer to move easily and seamlessly between circuit-, block-, and system-level simulation tasks.

We’re pulling the recommended training flow from the Learning Maps, which structure the Cadence Online Training courses into technical areas and difficulty levels. Some of the below courses offer a Digital Badge, once earned, you can showcase that you’re Cadence Certified on your resume, email signature, and across social channels like LinkedIn.

Summary

	1.	Virtuoso Analog Design Environment*
	2.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S1: Spectre Basics
	3.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S2: Large-Signal Analyses
	4.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S3: Small-signal Analyses
	5.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S4: Measurement Description Language

*One of the top courses among students and professors

Virtuoso Analog Design Environment

In this course, you use the Virtuoso Analog Design Environment L software to set up and control analog and mixed-signal simulations. You run analog simulations using the Spectre simulator and explore running the simulations with the Virtuoso Accelerated Parallel Simulator (APS) and analyze the simulation results displayed in the Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis XL waveform display tool.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Simulate circuits using the Virtuoso Analog Design Environment with the Spectre Circuit simulator and the Accelerated Parallel Simulator
• Perform:
  • DC, AC, and Transient analyses effectively
  • Circuit checks to determine violations after the simulation
• Use:
  • Direct Plot utility
  • Dependent expressions to create and set output
  • Component Description Format (CDF) to modify component parameters and control result annotation on the schematic
• And more!

Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S1: Spectre Basics

In this course, you identify the Spectre^® Netlist language syntax and use the Spectre Classic Simulator to run fast and accurate analog simulations from the command line and the ADE Explorer environment. You also explore the Spectre command-line options for specifying output formats and encrypting a netlist to protect its proprietary information. Additionally, you’ll explore the compatibility of the Spectre Classic Simulator with popular SPICE simulation languages and use SPICE-based netlists to simulate in the Spectre command-line environment.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Use the Spectre Classic Simulator from the command line in a standalone environment
• Set the Spectre simulator settings by identifying its language syntax
• Run Spectre simulations on analog circuits and netlists
• Perform Spectre simulation on SPICE netlists
• Set up and run a Spectre simulation in the Virtuoso ADE Explorer
• Learn more!

Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S2: Large-Signal Analyses

In this course, you learn how to perform large-signal analyses such as DC and Transient using the Spectre Circuit Simulator from both the command line and the ADE Explorer environment. In one of the core DC analysis modules, you understand how the DC Operating Point (OP) and bias conditions are calculated. In the other core module Transient Analysis, you determine what transient analysis does by examining the Convergence Criteria for transient analysis and learn how to set the numerical integration method and identify the issues faced during a transient run.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Examine:
  • DC Operating Point (OP) algorithm
  • Use of nodesets and initial conditions
  • Circuit behavior by performing Spectre transient analysis
• And more!

Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S3: Small-Signal Analyses

You use the Spectre Circuit Simulator and its corresponding options to analyze results from AC, transfer function (XF), Noise, Stability (STB), Loopfinder(LF), Pole-Zero (PZ), S-Parameter (SP), DCmatch, ACmatch, Fourier, Sensitivity and Sweep analyses. You use both the command-line and ADE Explorer environments to set up and run simulations on circuit examples. All of the simulation results are analyzed and plotted using the Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis XL tool.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Set up and run a family of small-signal and its associated analyses
• Identify hidden loops causing potential stability problems using Loopfinder analysis
• Measure the Fourier coefficients by performing Fourier Analysis
• Determine the sensitivity of output variables to input design parameters by performing Sensitivity analysis
• Perform mismatch analysis using dcmatch, acmatch analyses
• Process multiple analyses for each value of the parameter using sweep analysis
• Learn more!

Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S4: Measurement Description Language

In this course, you use the Spectre Circuit Simulator Measurement Description Language (MDL), a productivity-enhancing tool for simulation and data analysis. You examine how MDL acts as a controller interacting with a variety of inputs, outputs, and tools.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Use the Spectre Circuit Simulator Measurement Description Language (MDL) to create a measurement alias
• Interact with a variety of inputs, outputs, and tools using MDL
• Identify the contents of a Spectre MDL file
• Define and use a measurement alias for common measurements in Spectre
• Construct Spectre MDL expressions using its data types, operators and built-in functions
• Evaluate MDL expressions using looping and control statements
• Learn more!

These Online Training courses will prepare you to be a more advanced user of Virtuoso tools and Spectre Simulation. We’re now half way through the deep dive into Custom IC, Analog, and RF Design Online Training courses, stay tuned for part 3 and part 4.

How to enroll in Online Training:

All Online Training courses are available for self-enrollment on the Cadence Learning and Support system, located under the “Learning” tab.

To get a Learning and Support account:

• Cadence University Program and CMC Microsystems, please reach out to universityprogram@cadence.com
• Europractice, please reach out to MicroelectronicsCentre@stfc.ac.uk

Wrap-up

Part 1 introduces some Online Training courses that’ll help provide more context to the courses introduced in this part. If you already have experience using Virtuoso tools, then feel free to jump right into part 2. If starting here and you’re new to Virtuoso, you should add Virtuoso Schematic Editor and Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis in the below order:

	1.	Virtuoso Schematic Editor*
	2.	Virtuoso Visualization and Analysis
	3.	Virtuoso Analog Design Environment*
	4.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S1: Spectre Basics
	5.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S2: Large-Signal Analyses
	6.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S3: Small-signal Analyses
	7.	Spectre Simulator Fundamentals S4: Measurement Description Language

*One of the top courses among students and professors