Standard SPICE Models, API, and Language Foundational to Industry
AUSTIN, Texas — (BUSINESS WIRE) — May 31, 2013 — The Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) has announced the acquisition of the Compact Model Council (CMC). The CMC, formed in 1996, develops and standardizes compact models of electronic devices used within commercial circuit simulators across the electronics industry, including virtually all SPICE-class simulation. The CMC will be renamed the Compact Model Coalition to blend with Si2’s organizational structure. The CMC, represented by 37 member companies, supports 20 active subcommittees and has produced over a dozen widely-used standard device models, modeling API, and SPICE language standard.
Details of the transfer and future plans will be presented at the Design Automation Conference (DAC) to be held in Austin, TX from June 2-6. The first presentation will be at the Si2 25th Anniversary Luncheon Celebration on June 3, 12-1:30 PM in Room 9ABC in the Austin Convention Center. The luncheon is free of charge. Other presentations are scheduled in the Si2 Booth #1427 on the DAC exhibit floor at: June 4 - 10:30AM and 4:30PM, and June 5 - 1:30PM. More information on this and other Si2 events can be found at this link: http://www.si2.org/?page=1544.
“I am very excited about the move to Si2 and what it means for the future of the Compact Model Council,” said Keith Green, Ph.D., Compact Model Council Chairman and Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Texas Instruments Incorporated. “As an EDA-focused standards organization, Si2 will provide a more effective infrastructure for the development of SPICE model standards. I expect the CMC to expand both in membership and in diversity of standards.”
“Si2’s extensive experience in various standardization efforts will be a perfect match for the Compact Model Council’s efforts in establishing world-wide standards for semiconductor models and related technologies,” said Peter M. Lee, Ph.D., Compact Model Council Vice Chairman and EDA manager at Elpida Memory, Incorporated. “The resulting increase in operational efficiency and interactions with the other Si2 coalitions will stimulate our efforts and help the CMC work aggressively to meet the needs of next generation technologies and simulation methodologies.”
“I extend a very warm welcome to all CMC member companies into the Si2 organization,” says Steve Schulz, President and CEO of Si2. “The CMC’s SPICE-class models, modeling API, and language standards are critical to the entire semiconductor supply chain, and are an excellent fit with Si2’s mission and scope. We anticipate strong technical leverage with Si2’s other six standardization projects, as well as improved economies of scale. The addition of the CMC further strengthens the Si2 organization, where our corporate membership now represents 19 of the top 20 semiconductor companies.”
The CMC released the BSIM6 model to the industry on May 5th, which uses charge conservation to improve accuracy in all regions of operation, and features model symmetry especially useful for analog and RF applications. This model has been extensively tested by CMC members. Standards now in development include models for ET-SOI and GaN FET, and a reliability modeling API. Membership in the CMC is open to all interested parties.
About Si2
Si2 is the largest organization of industry-leading semiconductor, systems, EDA and manufacturing companies focused on the development and adoption of standards to improve the way integrated circuits are designed and manufactured. Now in its 25th year, Si2 is uniquely positioned to enable timely collaboration through dedicated staff and a strong implementation focus driven by its member companies. Si2 represents over 80 companies involved in all parts of the silicon supply chain throughout the world. See www.si2.org.
Contact:
Silicon Integration Initiative
William Bayer, 512-342-2244, ext. 304