[Magic-dev] Free ATPG Simulation Tool

[R. Timothy Edwards]

Dear Dean,

 > This is a follow-up to my previous email (thanks for all the responses).
 > Can anyone recommend a good tool for test simulation (i.e. generating the
 > test patterns and calculating test time and coverage)?

For *digital* simulation, or rather circuits that are primarily digital,
IRSIM is an excellent tool for simulation.  It is a digital simulator
in the sense that it expects all signals to resolve to GND or VDD, but
takes a transistor-level netlist and models transistors as resistive
switches.  IRSIM version 9.7 is based on Tcl/Tk, and I have found it
very easy to write test patterns in Tcl scripts.  As far as methodical
ways to ensure 100% coverage, though, it doesn't do that.  For a way
to quickly write massively complicated test benches for digital circuits,
I know of no better tool.  I use it to verify all the digital standard
cell blocks I design for MultiGiG.

						---Tim

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| Dr. R. Timothy Edwards (Tim)   | email: tim.edwards at multigig.com     |
| MultiGiG, Inc.                 | web:   http://www.multigig.com      |
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