SIMPL (SIMulated Profiles from the Layout)

M.A. Grimm

EECS Department
University of California, Berkeley
Technical Report No. UCB/ERL M83/79
December 1983

http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1983/ERL-m-83-79.pdf

Often times it is necessary to visualize an IC profile from looking at the layout. The transformation from the planar view to the cross-sectional view is difficult, especially with complex mask sets. SIMPL (SIMulated Profiles from the Layout) is a new CAD tool which automatically generates the cross-section of an integrated circuit from the layout. SIMPL has several uses. First, it provides the designer visual feedback on the structures which will be fabricated. Second, it provides information about critical design rules. Finally, since SIMPL can give visual feed-back at every step in the process, it is an aid to process development.

SIMPL uses simplified models and rectangular approximation to the structures in order the run very quickly. The models are not analytic as in other rigorous two dimensional simulators such as SAMPLE or SUPRA, but this allows SIMPL to run much faster. Research is continuing on a second version of SIMPL which will automatically give more detailed topographical and electrical information from the layout. This will be accomplished by linking other process simulators such as SAMPLE, SUPRA and MINIMOS.

SIMPL is written in 1600 lines of C code. Typical CPU time for the final profile of a CMOS inverter or a bipolar transistor in approximately 5 seconds on a VAX-11/780.


BibTeX citation:

@techreport{Grimm:M83/79,
    Author = {Grimm, M.A.},
    Title = {SIMPL (SIMulated Profiles from the Layout)},
    Institution = {EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley},
    Year = {1983},
    Month = {Dec},
    URL = {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1983/238.html},
    Number = {UCB/ERL M83/79},
    Abstract = {Often times it is necessary to visualize an IC profile from
looking at the layout. The transformation from the planar view to
the cross-sectional view is difficult, especially with complex
mask sets. SIMPL (SIMulated Profiles from the Layout) is a new
CAD tool which automatically generates the cross-section of an
integrated circuit from the layout.  SIMPL has several uses.  First,
it provides the designer visual feedback on the structures which
will be fabricated. Second, it provides information about critical
design rules. Finally, since SIMPL can give visual feed-back at
every step in the process, it is an aid to process development.

SIMPL uses simplified models and rectangular approximation to
the structures in order the run very quickly. The models are not
analytic as in other rigorous two dimensional simulators such as
SAMPLE or SUPRA, but this allows SIMPL to run much faster.
Research is continuing on a second version of SIMPL which will
automatically give more detailed topographical and electrical
information from the layout. This will be accomplished by
linking other process simulators such as SAMPLE, SUPRA
and MINIMOS.

SIMPL is written in 1600 lines of C code. Typical CPU time
for the final profile of a CMOS inverter or a bipolar transistor
in approximately 5 seconds on a VAX-11/780.}
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Report
%A Grimm, M.A.
%T SIMPL (SIMulated Profiles from the Layout)
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 1983
%@ UCB/ERL M83/79
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/1983/238.html
%F Grimm:M83/79