There is a very strong requirement for high level mixed-signal simulation in the design of complex mixed-signal ASICs, for design verification, design analysis and system level modelling. The key issues in such simulations are high level analogue modelling, and compatibility between analogue and digital simulation. The two main alternative approaches are to link together a circuit simulator and a logic simulator, providing some method of high level analogue modelling in the circuit simulator, or to develop high level event-driven models of analogue functions in the context of a digital simulator. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach.

Inspec keywords: circuit simulation; high level synthesis; application specific integrated circuits; hardware description languages

Other keywords: analogue simulation; logic simulator; circuit simulator; high level analogue modelling; digital simulator; high level simulation; hardware description languages; high level mixed-signal simulation; high level event-driven model; design analysis; system level modelling; design verification; analogue function; complex mixed-signal ASIC; digital simulation

Subjects: Computer-aided circuit analysis and design