Environment Migrates Mixed-Signal Designs

The Design Rule Enforcement and Migration (DREAM) tool, when combined with the Accent Migration Flow (AMF) tool from Accent Electronic Design and Consulting Services, Milan, Italy, results in an environment for migration and optimization of analog and mixed-signal designs. The combination of the tools ensures that designs are parametrically correct and accurately migrated from one process technology to another. For example, a 10-bit a/d converter has been successfully migrated using AMF and DREAM. The approach made it possible to define device-specific compaction rules and sizing equations for each of the seven basic elements used in the design.DREAM is well-suited for the reuse and optimization of analog and mixed-signal design because it can correctly migrate various devices- resistors and capacitors, for example- and rigorously enforce their symmetry requirements.