Todd,
Regarding the reasons you brought up for fixing these analog problems
in the .ami file's specification take me out a few thousand feet to
look at the broader picture of IBIS.
For years, we have mentioned every once and a while the need to give
the IBIS specification a complete overhaul. The reasons are quite
obvious, there are many problems and limitations in the existing
specification which needs to be fixed. The interaction between these
issues is huge. The longer we wait, the worse the situation will get.
If we don't do anything, the entire spec may collapse under its own
weight.
On the other hand, if we keep diverting everything from the original
IBIS specification into other new specifications (such as the IBIS-ISS
proposal, and this suggestion of describing analog buffer behaviors in
the AMI specification), the IBIS specification could also die from
becoming a useless empty balloon.
So I would like to raise the question: Are we (consciously or
unknowingly)
leaving IBIS behind gradually, allowing it to die because we never have
enough time to fix the real causes and reasons of the problems? Does
this mean that there is no more value in having an IBIS specification?
Thanks,
Arpad
================================================== ======================
________________________________
From: Todd Westerhoff [mailto:twesterh (AT) sisoft (DOT) com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 10:32 AM
To: Ken Willis
Cc: Muranyi, Arpad; si-list (AT) freelists (DOT) org
Subject: Re: [SI-LIST] Re: IBIS-AMI Vendor Support Help
Ken,
We are already talking about using the on-die S-parameter data as part
of the analog model - in fact, we're talking about using S-parameter
data as pretty much the entire analog model, as shown in slide 10 of the
presentation Arpad referenced.
I think confusion may come from conversations in the IBIS-ATM working
group, where we've been talking about referencing on-die S-param data
(used for the analog model) from the .ami file instead of the .ibs file.
Walter is welcome to comment on the reasons for this, but I'll share my
view - this is a purely pragmatic decision, designed to move SerDes
modeling forward as fast as possible. We proposed syntax for including
on-die S-params in the .ibs file at the Feb 2009 IBIS Summit, and the
working group soon realized there were issues for single-ended,
non-SerDes I/O that needed significant discussion. We've been looking
for a way to limit scope and move forward faster - using the .ami file
is one way to clearly indicate this is targeted for SerDes use and not
intended as part of a broader, more general purpose solution.
Todd.
Todd Westerhoff
VP, Software Products
SiSoft
6 Clock Tower Place, Suite 250
Maynard, MA 01754
(978) 461-0449 x24
twesterh (AT) sisoft (DOT) com
www.sisoft.com
Ken Willis wrote:
Hi Todd,
On #1, it makes sense to incorporate S-parameters into IO
models, especially
since some major IP suppliers have this data today. I think the
item that
brings some uncertainty is why this would be pushed into the
algorithmic
(AMI) portion of the model, especially if new syntax/API has to
be invented
and supported. The intent of AMI was to capture the adaptive
filtering
behavior of these advanced Serdes devices, which you couldn't
really model
well in a circuit model. If the S-parameters are largely
parasitic data, it
seems more straightforward to include them in the analog circuit
part of the
model.
I understand that there is no standard "IBIS" syntax for
S-params right now,
but I would agree with Arpad that Touchstone is widely
supported. Maybe we
should be looking at [External Model] > Touchstone or something
like that.
But we can continue the discussion in the IBIS forum.
Thanks,
Ken Willis
Sigrity, Inc.
860-871-7070
kwillis (AT) sigrity (DOT) com
-----Original Message-----
From: si-list-bounce (AT) freelists (DOT) org
[mailto:si-list-bounce (AT) freelists (DOT) org] On
Behalf Of Todd Westerhoff
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 9:29 AM
To: Muranyi, Arpad
Cc: si-list (AT) freelists (DOT) org
Subject: [SI-LIST] Re: IBIS-AMI Vendor Support Help
Arpad,
Two points worthy of note:
1) I think there's a balance between adapting models to fit the
current
standard and extending the standard to improve the way we
utilize vendor
data. One of the goals we had for IBIS-AMI was to utilize model
data
vendors already have, S-parameter characterizations of on-die
behavior
being the obvious case. This should legitimately be considered
part of
the device model and IBIS-AMI should accommodate it as such.
Telling
people to include on-die S-parameters as part of the channel may
comply
with the current spec, but I don't think that's the way
semiconductor
vendors or users want to manage that data ... it just creates
more
opportunity for error.
2) A clear and unambiguous definition of on-die S-parameter
syntax was
presented at the Feb 2009 IBIS Summit, for exactly the reasons
you
mentioned.
Thanks,
Todd.
Todd Westerhoff
VP, Software Products
SiSoft
6 Clock Tower Place, Suite 250
Maynard, MA 01754
(978) 461-0449 x24
twesterh (AT) sisoft (DOT) com
www.sisoft.com
Muranyi, Arpad wrote:
Sanjeev,
I would recommend the following:
Zero out the package related stuff in the .ibs file to
basically turn package modeling off in it.
Provide an S-parameter package file separately the same
way as the channel's S-parameter file would be
distributed.
This could be documented in the .ibs file behind
comments.
The customer will use whatever method to include this in
their favorite EDA tool.
If there is a need for on-die interconnect parasitic
modeling,
it could be done the same way as the package model
described
in the previous paragraph. The two might even be
combined into
a single S-parameter file if that is more convenient or
practical.
I would NOT provide a speculated IBIS syntax or any tool
specific syntax in the .ibs file for anything, unless a
clear and unambiguous description is given, so that
another
EDA vendor could reproduce the same results with their
products.
For the rest of the buffer description I would encourage
everyone to use existing IBIS constructs as far as
possible.
And again, if certain features cannot be described that
way,
I would encourage everyone to provide a detailed
description
for what needs to be modeled so that anyone could make
their
own model implementations using their favorite EDA tools
based on that description.
Thanks for asking the question.
Arpad
================================================== =============
-----Original Message-----
From: sanjeev_gupta (AT) agilent (DOT) com
[mailto:sanjeev_gupta (AT) agilent (DOT) com]
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 5:29 PM
To: Muranyi, Arpad; si-list (AT) freelists (DOT) org
Cc: sanjeev_gupta (AT) agilent (DOT) com
Subject: RE: [SI-LIST] Re: IBIS-AMI Vendor Support Help
Hello Arpad,
What will be your advice to companies who are ramping up
on AMI? Should
they include some non-AMI syntax for package modeling
assuming that IBIS
AMI standard will support these keywords in near future
or provide these
package model as a separate Touchstone file which can be
integrated
within simulation environment?
Best regards
Sanjeev
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