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337see733

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Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ?
Sep 13^th, 2006, 1:51am

Dear ALL,

This may sound a bit stupid. I'm trying to look for a simple guide to start to code a model using verilog A.

How should i go about doing it?

1.Which compiler is easy to use? Anyone that is free/window-based?
2.There are quite a number of models available for download(a good starting point), how to view it in Cadence or Mentor's tool?

That's to help me to kick start the learning curve. Thanks.

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Geoffrey_Coram

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Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ?
Reply #1 - Sep 13^th, 2006, 5:15am

Best starting point is an existing model. Find something close to what you need to build.

Are you doing a device model, like a diode? Or a gate-level model?

I've never used anything but a text editor to view the model ... not quite sure what you want to see. There is a company (Lynguent) that is developing a GUI for model development.

What simulator are you going to run it in? The question about a compiler is probably not relevant - you don't really want to see the C code produced by the compiler, you want the compiled object to run in your simulator. Spectre comes with a compiler; last I heard, Eldo's compiler required a special license.

There is an open-source, Win32-based compiler called ADMS, but you need special scripts to convert the output for your favorite simulator, and then you need the license for the C modeling interface. So, I don't think this is what you want.

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If at first you do succeed, STOP, raise your standards, and stop wasting your time.

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jbdavid Community Fellow Offline Posts: 378 Silicon Valley	Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ? Reply #2 - Sep 13^th, 2006, 10:41am I'd suggest looking at Papers on the BMAS website www.bmas-conf.org.. but if you want the EASY way - signup for the Cadence class. by the end you'll have written 3 or four models. jbd
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337see733

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Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ?
Reply #3 - Sep 14^th, 2006, 4:25am

Quote:

Are you doing a device model

Yes, i'm doing a MOSFET model similar to the one of MOS11.

Quote:

What simulator are you going to run it in? The question about a compiler is probably not relevant - you don't really want to see the C code produced by the compiler, you want the compiled object to run in your simulator. Spectre comes with a compiler; last I heard, Eldo's compiler required a special license.

At this point of time, i have access to Cadence's product. Therefore, i assume i will run in spectre. But, before i finished all my coding(/my model), i would like to view some of the (intermediate)results for debugging...like checking whether the internal function behaviors are right or not....

I'm looking some software/tool that allows me to probe the internal function behavior for debugging purposes. I have all the equations ready in Matlab, but now need to code it in Verilog-A so that i can connect to simulator.

I should check the ADMS up, till then...Thanks....

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Mighty Mouse Community Member Offline Here I come to save the day! Posts: 75 Fantasyland	Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ? Reply #4 - Sep 14^th, 2006, 7:35am Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but there is also Ken's book on Verilog-AMS: http://www.designers-guide.org/Books/dg-vams/index.html. It has a whole chapter dedicated to introducing and teaching Verilog-A. - MM -
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337see733 Community Member Offline Posts: 39 Singapore	Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ? Reply #5 - Sep 14^th, 2006, 7:51pm Yes..reading that book. ;D
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lrc Junior Member Offline Grrr.... Posts: 11 U.S.A	Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ? Reply #6 - Oct 18^th, 2006, 7:23am You can find plenty examples of verilog-A in: $CDSHOME/dfII/samples/artist/spectreHDL/Verilog-A The reference doc in CDSDOC is useful material. Good Luck.
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Geoffrey_Coram

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Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ?
Reply #7 - Oct 19^th, 2006, 4:24am

337see733 wrote on Sep 14^th, 2006, 4:25am:

Yes, i'm doing a MOSFET model similar to the one of MOS11.

Then you should look at the MOS11 Verilog-A code on this web site (click on the Verilog-AMS link in the upper right).

Quote:

At this point of time, i have access to Cadence's product. Therefore, i assume i will run in spectre. But, before i finished all my coding(/my model), i would like to view some of the (intermediate)results for debugging...like checking whether the internal function behaviors are right or not....

I'm looking some software/tool that allows me to probe the internal function behavior for debugging purposes. I have all the equations ready in Matlab, but now need to code it in Verilog-A so that i can connect to simulator.

In spectre, any variables at module scope are available for plotting with "save M1:all" (assuming M1 is the instance name of your Verilog-A model). Also, spectre supports the $debug() system task so you can print out values of internal variables during the iterations.

-Geoffrey

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If at first you do succeed, STOP, raise your standards, and stop wasting your time.

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jbdavid Community Fellow Offline Posts: 378 Silicon Valley	Re: Any Guide for Dummy in Coding Verilog A ? Reply #8 - Oct 22^nd, 2006, 10:17am Also don't forget that cadence ADE has the AHDL Debugger - so you can step thru the operation of your model. For AMS - the simvision Gui can be used the same way. I'm still looking for a free simulator that supports verilogA/AMS specifically for student use. Jonathan
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