What This Document Is
This document outlines Project 1 for Introduction to Digital Integrated Circuits (ELENG 141) at UC Berkeley. It’s a practical assignment focused on analyzing the fundamental characteristics of digital circuits, specifically inverters, using industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software. The project requires students to apply theoretical concepts learned in class to a real-world simulation environment. It’s designed to build proficiency in circuit analysis and simulation techniques essential for designing integrated circuits.
Why This Document Matters
This project is crucial for students taking ELENG 141 who want to solidify their understanding of inverter behavior and its impact on circuit performance. It’s particularly valuable for those planning to specialize in digital VLSI design, as it introduces key concepts like delay and energy capacitance. Students will benefit from working through this project to gain hands-on experience with HSPICE, a widely used circuit simulator, and to develop skills in interpreting simulation results. This assignment will prepare you for more complex circuit design challenges later in the course.
Topics Covered
* Inverter Characteristics and Modeling
* Capacitance Extraction and Analysis
* Propagation Delay Measurement
* Energy Consumption Analysis
* HSPICE Simulation Setup and Execution
* Process Variation Considerations (TT corner)
* Linear Equivalent Circuit Modeling
* Pulse Voltage and Timing Parameters
What This Document Provides
* Detailed project problem statements requiring simulation and analysis.
* Guidance on setting up simulations using HSPICE.
* Information on transistor modeling parameters.
* A sample HSPICE netlist as a starting point for your simulations.
* Descriptions of key measurement techniques within HSPICE.
* Instructions for analyzing simulation data to extract relevant circuit parameters.
* A framework for comparing simulation results with theoretical expectations.