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Tucson, AZ

gmin or gdev in model using $simparam()
Jan 08^th, 2013, 2:17pm

Does anyone have any experience using $simparam(gmin) or $simparam(gdev) in their models? I am wondering exactly how these work in the case of gmin ramping homotopy and how much computational overhead they cost. Should they be used in an initial_step or should they be used directly in a contribution statement? Any help would be very welcome.

Thanks, Bob.

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Geoffrey_Coram

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Re: gmin or gdev in model using $simparam()
Reply #1 - Jan 9^th, 2013, 6:56am

I've used $simparam(gmin, 1p), but usually in models where the look-up cost of this variable ought to be significantly less than the cost of the other expressions (exp).

Do you find that initial_step makes a difference? I expect a good simulator to build a dependency tree and determine for itself what can be done during initialization.

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Bob Atwell

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Re: gmin or gdev in model using $simparam()
Reply #2 - Jan 10^th, 2013, 5:57am

Thanks, but that doesn't really address my question. Let me try to rephrase it.

I am trying to create a conductance branch inside a veriloga model that replicates or mimics the GMIN conductance used in the simulator primitives for both normal simulations and during a GMIN ramp homotopy. This is the code that I think will do the job.

@(initial_step) begin
gmin = $simparam("gmin", 1e-12);
gwiz = $simparam("gdev", gmin);
end
I(p, n) <+ gwiz*V(p, n);

I have two questions:

1. Will this code work correctly during GMIN ramping homotopy?
2. Is there any sensible way that I can test it?

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Geoffrey_Coram

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Re: gmin or gdev in model using $simparam()
Reply #3 - Jan 11^th, 2013, 7:48am

Since gmin ramping falls in to the black art area of convergence tricks, I don't think you'll have any simulator vendors posting clear answers in a public forum. There's no guarantee, either, that the variable the simulator uses in that homotopy will be available for the user. I think the LRM only says something like, if the variable is available/provided, then the simulator should use the recommended name.

However, you might be able to use $debug to print the value of gwiz during every iteration, and then stick your module in a circuit that requires the gmin homotopy.

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Bob Atwell New Member Offline Posts: 9 Tucson, AZ	Re: gmin or gdev in model using $simparam() Reply #4 - Jan 11^th, 2013, 11:34am Thanks, the gmin seems to work everywhere I need it to and I'll try the $debug idea to check the gdev piece. Thanks again. Bob.
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