Parametric Analysis in Cadence Analog

Environment

Version 1.0

UCSN-0800-ZBT-14

August 2000

Z. Tao and M. Keramat

Analog & Mixed-Signal Laboratory

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
Storrs, CT 06269-2157

E-mail: keramat@engr.uconn.edu
URL: http://www.engr.uconn.edu/~keramat/
Phone: (860) 486-5047
Fax: (860) 486-2447
 Parametric Analysis in Cadence Analog
Environment

1. Introduction

This short tutorial aims at learning how to run parametric analysis with Cadence
Analog Circuit Design Environment. As an example, a simple common source amplifier
circuit is presented.

2. Procedures for Parametric Analysis

Step 1: > type “icms &” command to run Cadence under your working directory
“~\cadence”. (For details, please refer to [1])

Step 2: open the cell named “CE_Amp” created in [2]. The circuit is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. The completed common source amplifier schematic.

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Step 3: highlight the component Vsin, and then go to Edit…Å Properties…Å
Objects… set parameter “Am” for Amplitude property, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Properties of vsin.

Step 4: In “Virtuoso Schematic Editing” window, go to Tools…Å Analog

Environment, an Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment options form
appears as Fig. 3.

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 Fig. 3. Analog Artist Simulation window.

Step 5: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to Setup… Å

Model Libraries…, a Model Library Setup window appears. Choosing the
model path in your home directory by clicking Browse…, then click Add, as
Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Adding model path.

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Step 6: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to Analysis…Å
Choose…, and fill out the form according to Fig. 5, click Apply button.

Fig. 5. Transient analysis options form.

Step 7: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to Variables …Å

Edit… an Editing Design Variable options form appears as Fig. 6. Type “Am”
in the Name space, and click OK button.

Fig. 6. Editing design variables form.

Step 8: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to Outputs…Å

To be Plotted… Å Select On Schematic. Then going back to the schematic
window and selecting the wires attached to the In and Out. Note, the wires

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 should change the color, and the signals should be added into the outputs
window. The final Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment option form
should be as Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. Analog artist ready for parametric analysis.

Step 9: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to Tools…Å

Parametric Analysis... a form is popped up as Fig. 8. Fill out the form
according to Fig. 8.

Fig. 8. Magnitude response of CE_Amp circuit.

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Step 10: In Parametric Analysis window, go to Analysis…Å Start. The simulation will
be run automatically, and the result is shown in Fig. 9. It is seen that when the
input signal amplitude is about 140 mV, the output will have a distortion.

Fig. 9. Transient response of CE_Amp circuit with different input amplitude.

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Step 11: In Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, go to
Session…ÅSave State…, then select OK.
Step 12: Exit the Affirma Analog Circuit Design Environment window, and exit the
Virtuoso Schematic Editing window.
Step 13: In the CIW window, go to File…Å Exit.

3. Conclusions

Parametric analysis is a very important tool for circuit analysis, and it can help you to
find and compare the effect of different parameter values on the circuit performance. For
simplicity, a short tutorial on how to run parametric analysis with Cadence Affirma
Analog Circuit Design Environment is presented. We try to include an example of a
simple common source amplifier circuit and the effect of input signal amplitude on
output distortion in this short tutorial, and it is helpful for beginners to further their jobs
at a short time.

References

[1] Z. Tao and M. Keramat, “Short tutorial on cadence,” University of Connecticut,

CT. No. UCSN-0300-ZBT-03, March 2000.

[2] Z. Tao and M. Keramat, “AC analysis in Cadence analog environment,” University
of Connecticut, CT, No. UCSN-0800-ZBT-13, August 2000.

[3] Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Analog Artist Mixed-Signal Simulation and Analysis,
1999.

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