SPECTRE 23.1 Release Now Available

The SPECTRE 23.1 release is now available for download at Cadence Downloads. For information on supported platforms and other release compatibility information, see the README.txt file in the installation hierarchy.

SPECTRE 23.1

Here is a listing of some of the important updates made in the SPECTRE 23.1 release.

• Using GPU with Spectre X

Spectre X now supports NVIDIA's GPU platform. Target applications are long transient simulations of large, advanced nodes and post-layout designs that require high accuracy. The solution is expected to provide the same accuracy as Spectre X on CPU only. Since the Spectre X GPU solution is limited release in Spectre 23.1, contact your Cadence Customer Support team to evaluate the GPU solution. 

• Spectre FMC

This release introduces Spectre FMC Analysis (Fast Monte Carlo Analysis), a technology to perform high sigma monte carlo analysis for design space exploration. Spectre FMC Analysis deploys an advanced ML-based algorithm to accelerate high-sigma yield estimation and finding of worst samples. It targets 3-6 sigma analyses of analog, RF, and memory blocks as well as I/O and standard cells. It identifies the worst-case monte carlo samples for a user-specified sigma and provides yield information. Compared to the brute-force monte carlo analysis, Spectre FMC Analysis provides a significant speed boost since much fewer samples need to be analyzed. The Spectre FMC solution is available in Spectre, Virtuoso ADE Suite, Liberate MX Trio, and Tempus flows.

• Enhancements in Spectre RF
  
  
  • Distributed Processing Support for RF Shooting Analysis: Distributed single shooting PSS simulation is now supported. This feature is useful for designs that need large memory and cannot be run on a single machine as it lets you use cores from different machines when the required number of cores is not available on one machine. It supports PSS and small-signal analyses pac, pnoise, pxf, and pstb for both driven, and oscillator circuits.
  • Distributed Processing Support for Aging Analysis: In addition to the performance and memory enhancements, the aging analysis has been enhanced to support distributed XDP simulation by using the +xdp option.

• Enhancements in Legato Fault Simulation
  
  
  • Layout-based Fault Simulation: A new parameter, faultlayer, has been added to info analysis to enable layout-based fault generation.
  • Functional safety diagnostic metrics report generation: A new command-line option, +fsa, has been added to automatically save the functional safety report.
    
    
• Spectre FX Enhancements
  
  
  • Integration with AMS Designer (Xcelium AMS flow): The Spectre FX simulator can be enabled in Cadence's Xcelium AMS Designer by using a command-line option or through the Virtuoso ADE Suite.
  • Support for EMIR analysis and reliability aging analysis: The Spectre FX simulator now supports EM-IR analysis in direct and iterated modes. It also supports reliability aging analysis.
    
    
• Spectre EM-IR with Voltus-XFi 

The Spectre EM-IR Voltus-XFi technology is enabled with the +emirpreset command-line option that predefines all the first- and second-stage EM-IR settings. It provides a simplified iterated method use model and allows a tradeoff between accuracy and performance.

• New Help Viewer

Spectre 23.1 introduces a new help viewer, Doc Assistant, which is a cloud-based, smart document viewer.

Doc Assistant provides: 

• Easy-to-browse wide range of content
• Intelligent topic-based search capabilities
• Quick access to related search result information
• User experience personalization features
• Content updates independent of release vehicles

Doc Assistant can be used in two network modes, Online and Offline. If you are connected to the Internet and have a valid Cadence license, Doc Assistant is automatically launched in Online mode. If you are not connected to the Internet, the tool is launched in Offline mode.

To access the product documentation using Doc Assistant, navigate to the <spectre_install_directory>/bin directory and type 'cda' in the command line to launch Doc Assistant. When you launch Doc Assistant in standalone mode, the home page of Doc Assistant is displayed. The home page lists multiple tiles that indicate various topic types or document categories, for example concept, task, and reference topics. You can also search for specific documents by typing relevant keywords in the search bar.

Please send questions and feedback to spectre_rm@cadence.com.

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Spectre Team