Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication

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STEP BY STEP

CADANCE MANUAL AND EXAMPLES

Schematic

Ing. Ahmad Khateb, Ph.D.

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Contents
1 Starting Cadence and Making a new Working Library ................................................... 2
2 Creating a New Cell......................................................................................................... 7
3 Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 15
3.1 AC Small-Signal Analysis................................................................................... 16
3.2 S-Parameter Analysis ......................................................................................... 18
3.3 DC Analysis .......................................................................................................... 20
3.4 Transfer Function Analysis ................................................................................ 21
3.5 Noise Analysis...................................................................................................... 23
3.6 Sensitivity Analysis.............................................................................................. 24
3.7 Parametric Analysis ............................................................................................ 26
3.8 Corners Analysis.................................................................................................. 27
3.9 Other Analysiss ................................................................................................... 28
4 About the Saved, Plotted, and Marched Sets of Outputs............................................... 29
5 About the Calculator ...................................................................................................... 32
6 Examples........................................................................................................................ 37
6.1 Simple Current mirror Simulation...................................................................... 37
6.2 Single-ended Operational Transconductance Amplifier................................ 50
7 Reference ....................................................................................................................... 54

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Virtuoso schematic composer

The Virtuoso schematic composer is a design entry tool that supports the work
of logic and circuit design engineers. Physical layout designers and printed circuit
board designers can use the information as background material to support their
work.

1 Starting Cadence and Making a new Working Library

In order to organize your new circuits, you need to start the Common Desktop
Environment and create a new library using the Cadence library manager to
hold your design files. Carry out the following steps:
1. Enter your user name

2. Enter your password

3. Common Desktop Environment will appear

1. Click on the terminal icon
2. Write amiArtist then click Enter
3. Select your project number then click Enter
4. Select the version number then click Enter

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2- Write amiArtist

3- Select your project number

4- Select the version number

1- Click on the
Terminal icon

4. Click Enter then you should get a window (called the Command Information
Window - CIW). The CIW is the control window for the Cadence software. The
following figure shows the parts of the CIW.
Window title
Menu banner
Output area

Input line
Mouse
bindings line
Prompt line

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Window title displays the Cadence executable name and the path to the
log file that records your current editing session. The log file appears in
your home directory.
Menu banner lets you display command menus to access all the
Cadence design framework II tools.
Output area displays a running history of the commands you execute and
their results. For example, it displays a status message when you open a
library. The area enlarges when you enlarge the CIW vertically.
Input line is where you type in Cadence SKILL language expressions or
type numeric values for commands instead of clicking on points.
Mouse bindings line displays the current mouse button settings. These
settings change as you move the mouse in and out of windows and start
and stop commands.
Prompt line reminds you of the next step during a command.

Recommendation:
Keep the Command Information Window - CIW in sight, from the CIW, you can
access all Cadence tolls and functionalities

view prompts,

view error and informational messages,

start specific tools,

run SKILL command

5. Library Manager will automatically be opened. If not, in the CIW, select Tools
Library Manager... You should get the following window, with the following list
of libraries.

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3. In order to build your own schematics, youll need to define your own library to
keep your own circuits in. To create a new working library in the library manager,
select File New Library. In the Create Library window that appears fill in
the Name field as Current_mirror (or whatever youd like to call your library) then
click Apply, a Technology File for New Library appear, select Attach to an
existing techfile then click OK. Select the ADS_TECH_LIB from Technology
Library and press OK.

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Now the working library has been created. All the project cells (components) that
you generate should end up in this library. When you start up the Library
Manager to begin working on your circuits, make sure you select your own library
to work in.

2 Creating a New Cell

When you create a new cell (component in the library), you actually create a view
of the cell. For now well be creating schematic views, but eventually youll have
other different views of the same cell. For example a layout view of the same
cell will have the composite layout information in it. Its a different file, but it
should represent the same circuit. This will be discussed later in more details.
For now, were creating a schematic view. To create a cell view, carry out the
following steps:

2.1 Creating the Schematic View of an Current_mirror

1. Select File New Cell View... from the Library Manager menu or to the
CIW menu. The Create New File window appears. The Library Name field
is Current_mirror. Fill in the Cell Name field as Current_mirror. Choose
Composer-Schematic from the Tool list and the view name is
automatically filled as Schematic. The library path file is automatically set.
Click OK.

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2. A blank window called Virtuoso Schematic Editing: Current_mirror
Current_mirror Schematic appears.

Check & Save

Save
Zoom In By 2
Zoom Out By 2
Stretch
Copy
Delete
Undo
Property
Instance
Wire (narrow)
Wire (wide)
Wire Name
Pin
Cmd Options
Repeat

3. Adding Instances: An instance (either a gate from the standard cell library
or a cell that youve designed earlier) can be placed in the schematic by
selecting Add Instance... or by pressing i, and the following Add
Instance window appears.

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4. For this example, we need to add the following components: two identical
NMOS transistors of W/L= 20/3 um and one resistor of 15K ohm. To add
the NMOS transistors, press Browse then select the transistorLib Library
M_NMOS Cell symbol View, This opens the Add Instance window

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Now, enter the M_NMOS transistor value of W/L= 20/3 um and hit Hide. Place
the first M_NMOS in the schematic window then press G key from the keyboard
for Horizontal Mirror of the second M_NMOS. Other instances can be added in
the similar fashion as above.
To come out of the instance command mode, press Esc. (This is a good
command to know about in general. Whenever you want to exit an editing mode
that youre in, use Esc.
Recommendation:
Hit a bunch of Escs whenever you are not doing something else just to make
sure you dont still in a strange mode from the last command.
5. Command Functions
Some common command modes and functions are available under Add and
Edit menus, the most used command are mentioned in the following table:
Keyboard shortcut

Function

Remark

Instance

to add instance to schematic

Property

select the instance you want to edit first

Wire

Move

select the instance you want to move first

Copy

select the instance you want to copy first

Mirror

select the instance, press M first then G

Shift + G

Mirror

select the instance, press M first then G

Ctrl + W

Rotate

select the instance, press M first then G

Pin

Select

Ctrl + A

Select All

Deselect
Deselect
All
Undo

Shift + U

Redo

Fit

Zoom in

Ctrl + D

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Shift + X
Shift + S
S
N
V
Ctrl + X

Zoom out
Check and
Save
Stretch
gravity
Edit in
place
return

select the instance or wire first then S

To edit the symbol in place or to see the
internal schematic of the symbol

6. Connecting Instances with Wires

To connect the different instances with wires we select Add Wire
(narrow) or press w to activate the wire command. Now go to the node
of the instance and left-click on it to draw the wire and left-click on another
node to make the connection. If you need to end the wire at any point other
than a node (i.e. to add a pin later on), double left-click at that point. To
come out of the wire command mode, press Esc.
7. Adding Pins
Pins can be added by going to Add Pin or pressing p For
example, to put two input pins In & gnd, we can fill in the Pin Names field
as In gnd (with a space) and the Direction list as input.

Now go to the wire where you need to place the pin and left-click on it.
Also, add the output pin Out in a similar way.
8. Checking and Saving the Design
The design can be checked and saved by selecting Design Check and
Save. For an error free schematic, you should get the following message in
the CIW,
Extracting Current_mirror schematic
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Schematic check completed with no errors.
Current_mirror Current_mirror schematic saved.

Note: The CIW should not show any warnings or errors when you check and
save.
9. Using all the commands given above the schematic of a Current_mirror
can be constructed as shown below.

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10. After saving the design with no errors, select Window Close.

2.2 Creating a Symbol View of the Current_mirror

You have now created a schematic view of your Current_mirror. Now you need
to create a symbol view if you want to use that circuit in a different schematic.
1. In the Virtuoso schematic window of the schematic you have created
above, select Design Create Cellview From CellView... A Cell
View from Cell View window appears, press OK.

2. In the Symbol Generation Options window you can define which Pins
are Left, Right, Top or Bottom, then press OK.

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2. In the Virtuoso Symbol Editing window that appears, make modifications
to make the symbol look as below. Replace [@partname] with the name
Current_mirror. You may delete [@instanceName]. Save the symbol and
exit using Window Close.

3. Now the Current_mirror is ready to be used in other schematics.

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3 Analysis
In the Schematic Editor, select Tools Analog Environment. In the
Cadence@ Analog Design Environment Simulation Window that appears.

In the Cadence@ Analog Design Environment Window select Analyses a

Choosing Analyses appear, there are many kinds of simulators and analysis
methods. So all that you need to do in this window is to select the type of
analysis you need and then select the nodes at which you want to observe the
waveforms. You are encouraged to play around with the various menus and
figure out how they make can your analysis easy and interesting.

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3.1 AC Small-Signal Analysis

AC small-signal analysis linearizes the circuit about the DC operating point and
computes the response to a given small sinusoidal stimulus. Spectre can perform
the analysis while sweeping a parameter.
The parameter can be a frequency, a design variable, temperature, a component
instance parameter, or a component model parameter. If changing a parameter
affects the DC operating point, the operating point is recomputed on each step.
To set up an AC small-signal analysis,

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1. Choose AC from the Choosing Analyses form to display the appropriate
options.

2. Choose a sweep variable option and specify any necessary parameters.

o If you do not sweep the frequency, specify the frequency at which to
sweep the variable.
o If you sweep a design variable, fill out the name of the design variable, or
select from the list box after hitting the select button.
o If you sweep a component, specify the parameter to sweep. Click Select
Component to click in the Schematic window and select the component.
o If you sweep a model parameter, enter the model and parameter names.
3. Specify the sweep range and type.
Enter the start and stop points of the range or the center and span of the
range.
The sweep type options are mapped to Spectre statements:
o Linear + Step Size = step
o Linear + Total Points = lin
o Logarithmic + Points Per Decade = dec
o Logarithmic + Total Points = log
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o Add Specific Points = values=[]
4. Click Options to select the Spectre options controlling the simulation.
5. Click Enable and Apply.

3.2 S-Parameter Analysis

The S-parameter analysis linearizes the circuit about the DC operating point and
computes S-parameters of the circuit taken as an N-port. The psin instances
(netlist-to-Spectre port statements) define the ports of the circuit. Each active port
is turned on sequentially, and a linear small-signal analysis is performed. The
Spectre simulator converts the response of the circuit at each active port into Sparameters and prints these parameters. There must be at least one active port
(analogLib psin instance) in the circuit.
The parameter can be a frequency, a design variable, temperature, a component
instance parameter, or a component model parameter. If changing a parameter
affects the DC operating point, the operating point is recomputed on each step.
To set up an S-parameter analysis,
1. Choose sp from the Choosing Analyses form to display the appropriate
options.
2. Choose a sweep variable option and specify any necessary parameters.
o If you do not sweep the frequency, specify the frequency at which to
sweep the variable.
o If you sweep a design variable, fill out the name of the design variable, or
select from the list box after hitting the select button.
o If you sweep a component, specify the parameter to sweep. Click Select
Component to select the component in the Schematic window.
o If you sweep a model parameter, enter the model and parameter names.

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3. Specify the sweep range and type.

Enter the start and stop points of the range or the center and span of the range.
The sweep type options are mapped to Spectre statements:
o Linear + Step Size = step
o Linear + Total Points = lin
o Logarithmic + Points Per Decade = dec
o Logarithmic + Total Points = log
o Add Specific Points = values=[]
4. Click Options to select the Spectre options controlling the simulation.
5. Click the Noise radio button to perform noise analysis.

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6. Click Enabled and Apply

3.3 DC Analysis
The DC analysis finds the DC operating point or DC transfer curves of the circuit.
To generate transfer curves, specify a parameter and a sweep range. The
parameter can be a temperature, a device instance parameter, or a device model
parameter.

To save the DC operating point,

Click Save DC Operating Point, click Enabled, and click Apply
Sweeping a Variable
To run a DC transfer curve analysis and sweep a variable,
1. Choose a sweep variable.
The Choosing Analyses form redisplays to show additional fields.
2. Specify the necessary parameters.
o If you sweep a design variable, fill out the name of the design variable, or
choose from the list box after pressing the select button.
o To sweep a component, specify the component name and the parameter
to sweep.
o Use the select componentcommand to click in the Schematic window to
select the component.
o To sweep a model parameter, enter the model and parameter names.
3. Specify the sweep range and type.
The sweep type options are mapped to Spectre statements:

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o Linear + Step Size = step
o Linear + Total Points = lin
o Logarithmic + Points Per Decade = dec
o Logarithmic + Total Points = log
o Add Specific Points = values=[]
4. Click Options to set the spectreS options controlling DC simulation.
5. Click Apply.

3.4 Transfer Function Analysis

The transfer function, or xf, analysis linearizes the circuit about the DC operating
point and performs a small-signal analysis that calculates the transfer function
from every independent source or instance terminal in the circuit to a
designated output. The variable of interest at the output can be voltage or
current.
1. Select a sweep variable option and specify any necessary parameters.

o If you do not sweep the frequency, specify the frequency at which to

sweep the variable.
o If you sweep a design variable, fill out the name of the design variable, or
select from the list box after hitting the select button.
o If you sweep a component, specify the analysis frequency, component
name, and the parameter to sweep. Use the select component command
to click in the Schematic window to select the component.
o If you sweep a model parameter, enter the model and parameter names.
2. Specify the sweep range and type.
The sweep type options are mapped to Spectre statements:
o Linear + Step Size = step

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o
o
o
o

Linear + Total Points = lin

Logarithmic + Points Per Decade = dec
Logarithmic + Total Points = log
Add Specific Points = values=[]

3. Choose voltage or current for Output.

o To measure the output voltage, click Select opposite Positive Output
Node and click a net in the schematic.
o To measure the output current, click current, click Select opposite
Negative Output Node, and click an instance in the schematic.

4. Click Options to set the spectreS options controlling transfer function

simulation.
5. Click Apply.

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3.5 Noise Analysis

The noise analysis linearizes the circuit about the DC operating point and
computes the totalnoise spectral density at the output. If you specify an input
probe, the transfer function and the input-referred noise for an equivalent noisefree network is computed. To set up a noise analysis,
1. Choose a sweep variable option and specify any necessary parameters.

o If you do not sweep the frequency, specify the frequency at which to

sweep the variable.
o If you sweep a design variable, fill out the name of the design variable, or
choose from the list box after pressing the select button.
o If you sweep a component, specify the analysis frequency, component
name, and the parameter to sweep. Use the select component command
to click in the Schematic window to select the component.
o If you sweep a model parameter, enter the model and parameter names.
2. Specify the sweep range and type.

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The sweep type options are mapped to Spectre statements:
o Linear + Step Size = step
o Linear + Total Points = lin
o Logarithmic + Points Per Decade = dec
o Logarithmic + Total Points = log
o Add Specific Points = values=[]
3. Choose an Output Noise option.

To measure the output noise voltage, click Select opposite Positive

Output Node and click a net in the schematic.
o To measure the output noise current, click current, click Select opposite
Negative Output Node, and click a voltage source in the schematic.

4. Optionally, choose an Input Noise option.

o Choose voltage, current, or port.
o Click Select Input.
o Click a source or port in the schematic.
o Click Apply.
5. Click Options to set the spectreS options controlling noise simulation.
6. Click Apply.

3.6 Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis lets a designer see which parameters in a circuit most affect
the specified outputs. It is typically used to tune a design to increase or decrease
certain design goals. You might run a sensitivity analysis to determine which
parameters to optimize using the optimizer.
1. Choose the sens radio button on the Choosing Analyses form. The form
redraws:

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2. Choose which types of sensitivities you want to calculate.

In the For base field, choose any of the analyses on which you want to
perform a sensitivity analysis. The available analyses are dcOp(DC operating
point), dc, and ac.
Before you run a sensitivity analysis, you must run the corresponding base
analysis.
3. Click Select to select the outputs you want to measure.
Select prompts you to select outputs by clicking on their instance in the
schematic.
Outputs can be any nets or ports. When you click Select, the Schematic
window moves to the front of the screen. The Schematic window must be
open before you can select any outputs. Use the Esc key to end selection.
4. (Optional) In the Simulation window, choose Simulation Options to open the
Simulator Options form. Scroll down in the form to find the sensitivity options.
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Type a filename in the sensfile field to specify a filename for the Spectre
sensitivity results. This file is in ASCII format, and is generated in the psf
directory. If you do not specify a value, the file is named sens.output by default.
5. View your results.
From the simulation window, choose Results Print Sensitivity. The
results display in a print window.

3.7 Parametric Analysis

The parametric analysis feature (parametric plotting) lets you assign values to
components and other parameters in a circuit and sweep the circuit over the
ranges of specified values. You can display the results of the analysis as charts
or different types of curves, depending on the values assigned to the axis and
plotting parameters.
After running a parametric analysis, you can plot a group of curves for any
waveform object in the netlist in a single display window. Each curve represents
the results for a particular value in the sweep range, and you can compare the
different curves to choose the best value.
From the Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment Simulation Window, you
can use the following procedure to call up the Parametric Analysis window:
Choose Tools Parametric Analysis in the Affirma analog circuit
simulation window.

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The Parametric Analysis window appears. You use this window to specify values
for the parametric analysis. You can enter many specifications, and you can
choose options from three main menus at the top of the window. These menus
are Tool, Setup, and Analysis.

3.8 Corners Analysis

The corners tool provides a convenient way to measure circuit performance while
simulating a circuit with sets of parameter values that represent the most extreme
variations in a manufacturing process.
With the tool, you can compare the results for each set of parameter values with
the range of acceptable values. By revising the circuit, if necessary, so that all
the sets of parameters produce acceptable results, you can ensure the largest
possible yield of circuits at the end of the manufacturing process.
To prepare for a corners analysis,
Ensure that the design you use is simulatable with nominal design
parameter values.
Set up a simulation in the Virtuoso Analog Design Environment window
to run the analysis you want to use.
Ensure that all design variables in the circuit have an initial value.
In the Virtuoso Analog Design Environment window, choose Tools
ADS Cornertool

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3.9 Other Analysiss

The SpectreRF analyses add several kinds of functionality to Spectre simulation.
o Periodic Steady-State (PSS) analysis
o Periodic Small-Signal analyses
Periodic AC (PAC) analysis
Periodic S-Parameter (PSP) analysis
Periodic Transfer Function (PXF) analysis
Periodic Noise (Pnoise) analysis
o Periodic Distortion (Pdisto) analysis
o Quasi-Periodic Noise (QPnoise) analysis
o Envelope Following analysis
Periodic Steady-State (PSS) analysis is a large-signal analysis that directly
computes the periodic steady-state response of a circuit. With PSS, simulation
times are independent of the time constants of the circuit, so PSS can quickly
compute the steady-state response of circuits with long time constants, such as
high-Q filters and oscillators. You can perform sweeps using PSS; you can
sweep frequency, a time period, or a variable.
After completing a PSS analysis, the SpectreRF simulator can model frequency
conversion effects by performing one or more Periodic Small-Signal analyses
(PAC, PSP, PXF, and Pnoise). The periodic small-signal analyses, Periodic AC
analysis (PAC), Periodic SParameter analysis (PSP), Periodic Transfer Function
analysis (PXF) and Periodic Noise analysis (Pnoise), are similar to the Spectre
AC, SP, XF, and Noise analyses, but you can apply them to periodically driven
circuits that exhibit frequency conversion. Examples of important frequency
conversion effects include conversion gain in mixers, noise in oscillators, and
filtering using switched-capacitors.
Therefore, with Periodic Small-Signal analyses you apply a small signal at a
frequency that may not be harmonically related (noncommensurate) to the
periodic response of the undriven system, the clock. This small signal is
assumed to be small enough so that it is not distorted by the circuit.
Periodic Distortion (Pdisto) analysis, a large-signal analysis, is used for circuits
with multiple large tones. With Pdisto, you can model periodic distortion and
include harmonic effects.
(Periodic small-signal analyses assume the small signal you specify generates
no harmonics). Pdisto computes both a large signal, the periodic steady-state
response of the circuit, and also the distortion effects of a specified number of
moderate signals, including the distortion effects of the number of harmonics that
you choose.
With Pdisto, you can apply one or two additional signals at frequencies not
harmonically related to the large signal, and these signals can be large enough to
create distortion. This analysis is also called Quasi-Periodic Steady-State
analysis.

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4 About the Saved, Plotted, and Marched Sets of

Outputs
The Affirma analog circuit design environment keeps track of three sets of nets
and terminals:
The saved set, for which simulation data is written to disk
The plotted set, which is automatically plotted after simulation in the
Waveform window the plotted set can also contain expressions.
The marched set, which is plotted in the Marching Waveform window
during simulation
In the figure below, all five signals will be plotted and two will be saved after
simulation. None will be marched during simulation.

Opening the Setting Outputs Form

You set up the saved, plotted, and marched sets of outputs with the Setting
Outputs form.
In the Simulation window, choose Outputs Setup, or from the
Schematic window, choose Setup Outputs.

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Saving All Voltages or Currents

To save all of the node voltages and terminal currents,
1. In the Simulation window, choose Outputs Save All, or in the
Schematic window, choose Setup Save All.
2. Select the values you want to save and click OK.
Note: When you set up a noise analysis with cdsSpice only, the system turns
these options off. If you later deactivate the noise analysis, the system
reactivates the Select all options.
Saving Selected Voltages or Currents
To save the simulation data for particular nodes and terminals,
1. In the Simulation window, choose Outputs To Be Saved Select on
Schematic, or in the Schematic window, choose Setup Select on
Schematic Outputs to be Saved.
2. In the Schematic window, choose one or more nodes or terminals. The
system circles pins when you choose a current and highlights wires when
you choose a net.
Click on an instance to choose all instance terminals.
Click on the square pin symbols to choose currents.
Click on wires to choose voltages.
Click and drag to choose voltages by area.

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3. Press the Esc key when you finish.

Removing Nodes and Terminals from a Set
To remove a node or terminal from the saved, plotted, or marched set,
3. In the Simulation window, choose Outputs Setup, or in the Schematic
window, choose Setup Outputs.
4. Double-click on the node or terminal in the Table Of Outputs list box.
5. Click to deselect the appropriate Will Be boxes.
6. Click Change.
Note: To remove a node from all three sets (delete it), highlight the node in the
Simulation window and choose Outputs Delete.

Showing DC Properties
Except node voltages, DC currents, transconductance (gm) etc. are also of
concern. To see these parameters, from the Affirma Analog Circuit Design
Environment Simulation Window choose Results Print DC Operating
Points, and then click on the Instance in the Virtuoso Schematic Editing
window. A new window shows the DC properties will pop up.

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5 About the Calculator

In the Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment Simulation Window choose
Tool Calculator. The calculator has several kinds of buttons.

Selecting Data
There are three ways to bring simulation results into the calculator. You can
o Use the schematic expression keys to click nets and pins in the schematic
and select their results
o Use the Results Browser to select results out of the UNIX file system
hierarchy
o Use the wave command to select a curve in the Waveform Window

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Selecting Data in a Schematic Window

The schematic expression keys let you enter data into the calculator buffer by
selecting objects in the Schematic window.
Note: To use the vn, var, op, opt, or mp functions, you must either select results
or have just run a simulation.
vt transient voltage

it transient current

vf frequency voltage

if frequency current

vs source sweep voltage

is source sweep current (I vs V curves)

vdc DC voltage

op DC operating point

vn noise voltage

opt transient operating point

var design variable

mp model parameter

1. Click a schematic expression key.

2. Click the appropriate object in the schematic.
If more than one parameter is available for the expression and instance
you picked, a form appears. Select the parameter you want from the List
field and click OK.
3. When you have finished selecting objects, press the Esc key while the
cursor is in the Schematic window.

Choosing Parameters from Schematic Data

To select a parameter in the schematic with a schematic expression key

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1. Click an instance in the schematic.

2. Choose the parameter you want from the List field.

Note: When you use the op, opt, mp, vn, or var functions, you must have just run
a simulation, or you must choose select results from the Results menu in the
Simulation window. Otherwise, the system does not know what to display.
Choosing Voltages or Currents
To select voltages in the schematic
Click wires.
To select currents
Click square pin symbols, not wires.

You can use the Selection Filter form to restrict selection to either pins or wires.
Press F3 if the Selection Filter form did not appear.

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Selecting Curves in the Waveform Window

Use the wave key to create an expression from a curve in the Waveform Window
and place the expression into the calculator buffer.
1. Click wave in the calculator.
2. Click a curve in a Waveform Window.
The waveform expression that the system enters in the calculator is the
expression on the Waveform Window status banner at the tracking cursor
location.

Plotting or Printing Results

You can plot or print the value of the calculator buffer expression against an
independent variable.
You can plot or print only the expressions that are in the buffer, not the
memories. You must recall memory expressions into the buffer to plot or print
them.

Plotting Expressions
To erase the Waveform Window and plot the buffer expression
Click erplot in the calculator.
To plot the buffer expression without first erasing the Waveform Window
Click plot in the calculator.
For example, to plot the I vs. V curve after a DC source-sweep analysis
1. In the calculator, click IS.
2. In the schematic, click the output terminal of the device.
Terminals are the square symbols at the end of the wire stub.
Now you have an expression in the buffer for the IV curve.
3. Click erplot in the calculator.
The system opens a Waveform Window (unless one is already open) and draws
the curve.

Single-Expression Functions
These functions operate on only a single expression in the buffer.

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Key
mag
phase
real
imag
ln
log10
dB10

dB20

Function
magnitude
phase
real component
imaginary
component
base-e (natural)
logarithm
base-10 logarithm
dB magnitude for
a power
expression
dB magnitude for
a
voltage or current

Key
exp
10**x
y**x
x**2

Function
ex
10x
yx
x2

abs

|x| (absolute
value)
integer value
inverse

int
1/x

sqrt

Example: Plotting the Magnitude of a Signal

To plot the dB magnitude of a signal after an AC analysis
1. Click vf on the calculator.
2. On the schematic, click the net you want to plot.
3. With the cursor in the Schematic window, press the Esc key.
This cancels the vf function. Otherwise, the command stays active.
4. Click dB20 on the calculator.
The calculator buffer now contains the expression you want to plot.
5. Click plot to show the curve.

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6 Examples
6.1 Simple Current mirror Simulation
Create a new cell Current_mirror_Simulation. The schematic is shown below:

Insert the following instances I:

Current_mirror symbol what we have done before
res from the AnalogLib Library
vdc from the AnalogLib Library
gnda from the AnalogLib Library
connect the instances with wire W then press Check & Save.

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Notice:
The most used libraries are:
AnalogLib for instances used for simulation purpose such: resistor, capacitor,
voltage and current supply,
TransistorLib for instances related to the used technology as: transistors,
resistors (type: hipo, nwell, Rdummy, poly,..), capacitors (typ: Cdummy, cpp,..)

Printing your Schematic

Now that the schematic is complete, you could print it out. To do this, in the
Virtuoso Schematic Editing window, choose Design Plot Submit... The
submit plot window appear.

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Click Plot Options... The Plot Options subwindow appears.

Check the "Send Plot Only To File" and type in a descriptive name about the
plot. Be sure to end the name with the ".ps" or ".eps" extension, as seen above.
What you are plotting is a postscript file. When the machine is done creating the
file, it will send you mail telling you that it completed successfully. To prevent this,
you can uncheck "Mail Log To".
Press Ok at Plot Options window and then press OK at submit plot window.
Now the plot of your schematic is done.

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Simulator Setup
In Virtuoso Schematic Editing window, choose Tools Analog Environment
to start the simulation tool Analog Design Environment

DC Simulation
In the Analog Design Environment window, choose Analyses Choose, In
the pop-up window, click on dc analysis and choose to Save DC Operating
Point, select the Component Parameter then click on Select Component then
you can choose the component you want to sweep directly from the schematic, in
our case the dc parameter of V1, then click OK.

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In the Analog Design Environment window, choose Outputs To Be Plotted
Select On Schematic. In the Schematic Editing window click on the
terminals In and Out of the Current mirror, then click Esc. In the Outputs of the
Cadence Analog Design Environment on appears I1/In and I1/Out.

Choose Design

Choose Analyses
Edit Variables
Setup Outputs
Delete
Netlist & Run
Run

Plot Outputs

Now you can run the simulation: Simulation Netlist and Run or press
a Warning message to save the outputs before simulating, click Yes.

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Delete
Move
Undo
Crosshair marker A
Crosshair marker B
Calculator
Switch Axis mode
Add Subwindow

You can split the wave form by pressing Switch Axis mode
To display Grid to Waveform Window, press Axes Options and check
Grid then press OK.
To read some value on the Waveform Window choose Croohair marker A
eventually B.

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Printing out your waveform:
At Waveform Window press Windows Hardcopy , enable Send Plot Only
To File, and type in a descriptive name about the plot. Be sure to end the name
with the ".ps" or ".eps" extension. Later you can see the plot with ps browser
tools.

DC operating points:
Except node voltages, DC currents, transconductance (gm) etc. are also of
concern. To see these parameters, from the Analog Design Environment
window, choose Results Print DC Operating Points, and then click on the
instance in the Schematic Editing window. A new window as below will pop up.

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To see the DC operating point of the M_NMOS transistor of the current_mirror symbol,
first click on it and then press V Now you choose in the same way: Results Print
DC Operating Points, and then click on the instance in the Schematic
Editing window. A new window as below will pop up

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Corners Analyses:
In the Virtuoso Analog Design Environment window, choose Tools ADS
Cornertool, Start Corner Analysis window appears, click Save and chooce
the File Name where you want to save the corner analyses result (usally copy

the path and paste it on the File Name).

Press OK on the Save Ocean Script to File window then Ok on the Start
Corner Anlysis window.

Choose Add Variable to add temperuter then press Generat Corners.

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Now you can select one or more cases for each device and the temperature sweep then
press Generat Corners.

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Press Simulation Run then OK.

Parametric Analysis:
In Virtuoso Schematic Editing window, choose the instance for parametric
analysis, for example R0, select R0 press Q to open the Edit Object
Properties window, on the Resistance filed type Rvar for example, press OK
then Check and Save.

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From the Cadence Analog Design Environment Simulation Window, Choose

Variable Edit
In the Editing Design Variable window, type the name of the variable Rvar,
press OK.

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Now from the Cadence Analog Design Environment Simulation Window,
Choose Tools Parametric Analysis, Parametric Analysis window appears.
You use this window to specify values for the parametric analysis. You can enter
many specifications, and you can choose options from three main menus at the
top of the window. These menus are Tool, Setup, and Analysis.

From the Parametric Analysis Window, Choose Analysis Start.

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6.2
Single-ended
Amplifier

Operational

Transconductance

Signal source connection: Vdc=1V in series with a vsin, whose AC magnitude is

1V. Two vcvs are connected to the vsin. The gains are set to be 0.5 and -0.5 for
vinp and vinn respectively.

DC Simulation
Run DC simulation and check the operating points (node voltage, branch current,
transistor parameters). Fine tune the transistor size to meet the design
specifications.

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AC Simulation
Set the AC simulation then run the simulation. When the simulation is
successfully done, choose Results Direct Plot AC Magnitude & Phase in
the Analog Design Environment. Then click on the wire connected to the top
plate of the capacitor and press Esc. A Bode plot will show the AC response of
the amplifier. Click on the Switch Axis Mode button to separate the plots.

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Transient Response
Transient response is used to analyze the SR of the OTA. Connect the OTA as a
voltage buffer. Apply a vpulse (0.9 -1.8V). The pulse period is set to be 10us and
width is 5us. Run transient simulation, plot the output and measure the SR of
both rising edge and falling edge.

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7 Reference
[1] Cadence Design Systems, Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment User
Guide
[2] Cadence Design Systems, Analog IC Design Tutorial for Schematic Design
and Analysis using Spectre
[3] Cadence Design Systems, Waveform Calculator User Guide
[4] Cadence Design Systems, Virtuoso Schematic Composer Tutorial
[5] Cadence Design Systems, Virtuoso Advanced Analysis Tools User Guide
[6] Cadence Design Systems, Cadence SPICE Reference Manual
[7] Cadence Design Systems, Affirma RF Simulator User Guide
[8] Cadence Design Systems, Affirma Verilog-A Language Reference
[9] AMS CMOS IC Design, Dr. Sameer Sonkusale

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