Summary of Stanford's TCAD Tools
Computational Prototyping
The integration and encapsulation of information to support
computational prototyping are demonstrated.
Libraries of process and
device simulation results and other supporting data bases are key to
encapsulation. The use of
solid-geometry modeling to manipulate 3D
objects is a powerful complement to computationally more expensive full
3D (grid-based) simulations.
Circuit behavior such as timing
constraints and signal noise can be directly linked to layout and
technology variables.
Next Generation Tools
The modeling of advanced device structures using a fully-coupled carrier
and lattice temperature model, based on
dual energy transport
formulation (2ET), is demonstrated. A
toolbox of utilities provide
support in creating "virtual instruments" that allow "curve tracing"
(used for ESD and latchup analysis) and "spectrum analysis" (in support
of high-frequency design), Process Modeling based on integration of a
heterogeneous
set of simulators is demonstrated using a "agent-based"
methodology (OO7). Conventional simulators such as SUPREM and SPEEDIE
are efficiently linked to another differential equation (PDE) "engines"
which support alternative model formulations and even support utilities
(gridding, error estimation and grid adaptation).
Further Internet Access
The Internet can be used to see many aspect of these demonstrations from
remote sites. The available data is Static (interactive simulation is
not supported at this time), however, the documents are made interactive
by means of hypertext. Namely, underlined words are active and when
clicked-on automatically move the user to further explanations and/or
demonstrations of capabilities. For example, the words underlined above
and others throughout this "preview" are all active pointers to further
information within the web pages. The internet address is
http://www-ee.stanford.edu/tcad/demo.html and Mosaic can be used as the
viewing window.