Advanced computer-based techniques for simulation and design of high-speed microelectronic systems

当前的趋势是更高的运行速度和更复杂的设计要求在模拟和优化高速微电子系统和模块的本质变化。高速互连引入了大量的信号退化，这是目前公认的限制微电子系统整体性能的主要因素之一。此外，低功耗的趋势和模拟电路与数字模块集成的增加使设计和分析过程进一步复杂化。此外，电气、热学和机械等不同设计学科之间的传统和人工界限正在迅速消失。此外，在设计的早期阶段，必须模拟系统在标准和极端操作条件下的性能，以便选择设计策略和解决方案，从而产生具有成本效益和可靠的产品。为了应对这些新的需求，提出了跨不同设计领域的协调研究活动，目标是开发新一代先进的计算机辅助设计方法和算法，以管理高速微电子系统快速增长的复杂性。研究目标集中在大多数高速应用中常见的通用策略问题上。具体而言，以下三个相互关联的子项目将是拟议研究活动的主要重点：a)高速电路和互连的建模和仿真。b)并行算法和高性能计算。c)混合域应用。拟议的多学科工具和方法针对广泛的实际实施水平。此外，将特别强调发展有效的战略，以便将新的设计技术和工具转让给工业用户社区。

The current trend towards higher operating speeds and more complex designs demands essential changes in simulation and optimization of high-speed microelectronic systems and modules.  High-speed interconnects introduce numerous signal degradations which are currently recognized to be among the dominant factors limiting the overall performance of microelectronic systems.  In addition, the trend towards low power consumption and increased integration of analog circuits with digital blocks has further complicated the design and analysis process. Also, traditional and artificial boundaries between different design disciplines such as electrical, thermal and mechanical are fast vanishing.  Furthermore, the system performance both in nominal and in extreme operating conditions must be simulated at an early stage of the design, in order to choose design strategies and solutions that lead to cost-effective and reliable products. To cope with these new requirements, coordinated research activities spanning various design domains are proposed with the goal of developing a new generation of advanced computer-aided design methodologies and algorithms to manage the fast growing complexity of high-speed microelectronic systems. The research objectives are focused on generic strategic issues that are common to the majority of high-speed applications. Specifically, the following three interrelated subprojects will be the main focus of the proposed research activities:   a) Modeling and simulation of high-speed circuits and interconnects.   b) Parallel algorithms and high-performance computing.   c) Mixed-domain applications. The proposed multidisciplinary tools and methodologies are targeted towards a wide range of physical implementation levels. In addition, particular emphasis will be given to development of efficient strategies for transferring the new design techniques and tools to the industrial user community.