Library Characterization Tidbits: Basics of Standard Cell Characterization and More

Hey, it’s Thursday! Time to keep the promise of bringing to your Inbox some quick bit about an existing or newly introduced library characterization feature, news, or related update through this Library Characterization Tidbits blog series.

So, let’s get started, and focus on how you can use the Cadence® Liberate^TM Characterization solution for characterizing standard cell libraries.

The Liberate characterization solution is an ultra-fast standard cell, I/O, and complex multi-bit-cell library characterization solution that generates electrical cellviews for timing, power, and signal integrity, including advanced current source models (CCS and ECSM).

Characterization of standard cell libraries is broadly divided into the following five stages:

1. Define settings and templates of the required cells and models, and the related Process, Voltage, Temperature (PVT) conditions for the characterization session.
2. Read SPICE netlist into Liberate to process the standard cells and models for Inside-View functional recognition and vector generation.
3. Run pre-processing checks on the standard cell information from the SPICE netlist to automatically identify paths where pins and related pins statically interact.
4. Run characterization using a full SPICE solver like Spectre® APS. Characterization covers all the arcs for all slews and loads.
5. Generate the model files. In this stage, after the completion of the characterization run for all the arcs, the results are merged and a final Liberty (.lib) file is written out.

To assist you in understanding the process from tool installation and configuration to all five stages mentioned above, we have a Rapid Adoption Kit (RAK) available on the Cadence Support portal. This RAK provides a walk through of the Tcl command interface of Liberate characterization and instructs the new users step-by-step to characterize standard cell libraries. 

To download the RAK and the related tutorial, click Using Liberate to Characterize Standard Cells. You can also search for this RAK on the page displayed from the Resources – Rapid Adoption Kits menu of the Cadence Support portal.

Related Resources

For more information about working with the Liberate Characterization solution, see the following references:

• Liberate Characterization Reference Manual
• Liberate Characterization Portfolio Command and Parameter Support Matrix

For more information on Cadence circuit design products and services, visit www.cadence.com.

About Library Characterization Tidbits

Library Characterization Tidbits is a blog series aimed at providing insight into the useful software and documentation enhancements in the LIBERATE release. In addition, this series would broadcast the voice of different bloggers and experts, who would share their knowledge and experience about all the  tools in Liberate Characterization Portfolio. To receive notifications about new blogs in this series, click Subscribe and submit your email ID in the Subscriptions box.

Happy Reading!

Abha Rawat