[ Overview | Pre-/Post-Layout Analysis | Analysis Results | Configurations | New in 2007.08 ]

New post-route design flow  

Quantum-SI 2007.08 includes a new flow for importing and setting up PCB/package databases for simulation. This process is driven entirely from the GUI, allowing users to build a "library" of PCB databases that are ready to simulate.  These databases can quickly be included in projects, linked to other PCB databases and simulated.

Setting up a PCB database in Quantum-SI 2007.08 involves four steps:

Step 1: Translating a PCB database into Quantum-SI's format

Quantum-SI 2007.08 allows the user to "browse" to the PCB database or file set and then run the translation process from the GUI.  The user indicates the database type to be translated, and Quantum-SI invokes the proper translation sequence automatically.

Step 2: Verifying stackup information

Quantum-SI's stackup editor displays information extracted from the PCB database for verification.  Users can modify any stackup properties if required, and use a "what-if" impedance calculator to verify target trace impedances and widths.

Quantum-SI stackup editor

Step 3: Verifying voltage net information

Quantum-SI's voltage editor displays voltage information extracted from the PCB database for verification.  If voltage properties are present in the PCB database, the associated properties are set in the Quantum-SI database automatically.  If voltage properties are not present in the PCB database, Quantum-SI uses its own heuristics to identify suspected voltage nets, coloring those voltages yellow in the voltage dialog.  Users can accept Quantum-SI's assessments, enter their own voltage values, or tell Quantum-SI to treat the net as a logical net.

Voltage assignment dialog

Step 4: Part assignments

Quantum-SI's part assignment editor displays all the devices in the PCB database along with their device type and value properties.  Quantum-SI generates simulation models for discrete devices automatically when value properties are present.  Active devices (IC's) will be mapped to SiSoft parts automatically when CAD part number data is present in the PCB database and corresponds to data in the Quantum-SI part library.  When active device assignments cannot be made automatically, Quantum-SI highlights the part field in yellow, users can then browse to select models interactively.  If no simulation models are available for a specific part, users can generate IBIS device models using the standard buffer models in Quantum-SI's technology library.

Quantum-SI part assignment editor

At each stage of the process, Quantum-SI records any changes the user makes to information extracted from the PCB database, so that the same changes can be automatically applied to any subsequent imports of that board.

Once a PCB database has been imported into Quantum-SI and set up for simulation, it can be simulated standalone or linked with other boards for a system-level analysis.  Users set up a system level analysis by instantiating one or more copies of each board type, then defining where the boards connect together and which models to use for the different connectors.  Once the board databases are linked, Quantum-SI runs it "assignment" process, automatically nets in the PCB databases to the different pre-route Transfer Nets (net classes) defined in Quantum-SI.

Quantum-SI Board Connections Editor

Design kit support

Design reuse is easier than ever with Quantum-SI 2007.08!  Quantum-SI Design Kits can now be installed into a central library and used as the basis for new Quantum-SI projects.  The master copies of the kits reside in a central library - "New Project From Kit" makes a local copy of the data for project use.  Users can modify kit data to suit their specific design and use kits to drive both pre- and post-route analyses.

Creating a new project from the Quantum-SI Design Kit Library

SiViewer enhancements

SiViewer includes many enhancements for the 2007.08 release and is also available as a separate, standalone product.

SiViewer makes it easy to cross-correlate behavior between the eye diagram and waveform display modes with the EyeWinder.  This allows the user to mark a specific point in a selected waveform in the eye diagram mode, and have the corresponding point(s) in the waveform display identified automatically.

SiViewer can display any of the data included in Quantum-SI's Results Spreadsheet as a scatter plot.  SiViewer's "results" display tab is automatically loaded with all the data in the Results Spreadsheet, and users can choose whatever information they wish to plot.  A plot of the distribution of setup and hold times across a wide parallel bus interface is shown below.

FFT and Frequency Display

SiViewer now supports a frequency-display mode and can perform a Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) on a signal to display its harmonic content.  Frequency-domain data can be displayed using either linear or logarithmic axes.

SiViewer now provides a "bus view" where all the signals are displayed side by side.

Modeling enhancements

Enhanced via modeling

Trapezoidal etch models