Open-source tool for mixed signal simulation.

[Chiranka K]

Hello guys,
I have a project to build a LDO regulator, designing in the transistor level. Our mentor asked us to use Cadence Spectre Custom version. However i dont have the license nor does my organisation. Could you all suggest some open source tools which can be used for Mixed signal circuit simulation and verification.

 

[Kripton2035]

LTSpice

 

[dpaul]

Our mentor asked us to use Cadence Spectre Custom version.

Sorry a bit off track, but.....
Technically your mentor must be aware of the tools that you or your org have access to. Else he/she must make arrangements to provide you with the necessary tools. It is not your job to get/buy tools and take additional headaches such as managing licenses. That's the job of your manager/mentor/whowever-gave-you-this-task!

 

[Chiranka K]

Sorry a bit off track, but.....
Technically your mentor must be aware of the tools that you or your org have access to. Else he/she must make arrangements to provide you with the necessary tools. It is not your job to get/buy tools and take additional headaches such as managing licenses.

Hey, the mentor is from an other organisation. However, he came up with a method to do this on LtSpice by downloading other PDK.
I wanted to know if there are anything thats open-source other from Ltspice.

--- Updated Sep 3, 2024 ---

LTSpice

This software requires use of external PDK which we need to setup. Is there any other softwares?

 

[FvM]

You say transistor level circuit design and simulation, not IC layout. Then LTspice is fine, it can import PDK transistor SPICE models.

 

[Chiranka K]

You say transistor level circuit design and simulation, not IC layout. Then LTspice is fine, it can import PDK transistor SPICE models.

Thank you Sir

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

Some use microcap-12 free
If you can choose a model that matches your specs

 

[dick_freebird]

Xschem and ngspice.

I don't see the need for mixed signal or behavioral capability but ngspice will let you do veriloga.

 

[Chiranka K]

Xschem and ngspice.

I don't see the need for mixed signal or behavioral capability but ngspice will let you do veriloga.

thank you.

--- Updated Sep 3, 2024 ---

Some use microcap-12 free
If you can choose a model that matches your specs

View attachment 193606

Hello sir,
This looks very promising; thanks for sharing this.

 

[BigBoss]

This software requires use of external PDK which we need to setup. Is there any other softwares?

If that PDK is not compatible with LTSpice, you cannot use this simulator.
You have to use compulsorily Cadence Spectre.
If this is a non-commercial,educational purposed project, Cadence is willing to help you to supply a time limited license.

 

[Chiranka K]

If that PDK is not compatible with LTSpice, you cannot use this simulator.
You have to use compulsorily Cadence Spectre.
If this is a non-commercial,educational purposed project, Cadence is willing to help you to supply a time limited license.

how can i approach cadence for a time limited license, will it be free or subsidised?
Thank you

 

[dick_freebird]

A lot of this is untrue. Many Cadence PDKs use industry standard models and there is no difference between Berkeley BSIMSOI for SPICEs and Cadence Spectre's in the params.

Now the way modern PDKs are built, you may have to get through some layers of abstraction to get a directly digestible SPICE model for commercial PCB oriented SPICEs. It's doable and it is tedious, far from impossible. Good idea, or not, if it's all you've got then may as well get going.

 

[Chiranka K]

A lot of this is untrue. Many Cadence PDKs use industry standard models and there is no difference between Berkeley BSIMSOI for SPICEs and Cadence Spectre's in the params.

Now the way modern PDKs are built, you may have to get through some layers of abstraction to get a directly digestible SPICE model for commercial PCB oriented SPICEs. It's doable and it is tedious, far from impossible. Good idea, or not, if it's all you've got then may as well get going.

Thank you sir.