5.1.1 The Simulation Environment

As described above, by using MINIMOS with MINISIM a link between a device simulator and a circuit simulator without the traditional accuracy problems of compact device models is established. The device simulator is fully integrated in the process flow controller of VISTA (SFC - see Section 3.2), which in turn can read layout data (after applying a cut-line). A direct link between layout, process simulation, device simulation and circuit simulation is opened and a global optimization can be performed, as depicted in Figure 5.2.

Figure 5.2: New technology/circuit optimization.

Thereupon, it is possible to investigate the influence of technology parameters directly in the circuit performance. This is of high importance in low-voltage, low-power circuit design, as the results of this optimization can be much better than those following the approach of Figure 5.1.