Технический документ

Finding missing level shifters between power domains with Insight Analyzer

A screenshot from the Insight Analyzer tool showing missing level shifters between power domains.

Missing level shifters between power domains pose a critical reliability risk in mixed-signal IC designs. Despite the importance of identifying these issues, they often slip through the cracks of traditional design verification approaches. The consequences including signal integrity failures, device damage, power inefficiency, performance degradation and integration challenges. Despite this importance, identifying missing level shifters between power domains is often overlooked in traditional electronic design automation (EDA) flows, partly because of a lack of tools to accurately identify them and analyze the risk.

The solution to this challenge is Siemens' Insight Analyzer, a tool that quickly and accurately identifies missing level shifters. Unlike simulation or traditional electrical rule checking (ERC) tools, Insight Analyzer's advanced algorithms and state-based analysis can pinpoint these subtle yet impactful design flaws. By helping designers address power domain integration issues early in the design process, Insight Analyzer promotes a shift-left approach that improves overall design quality and reliability.

What you’ll learn:

  • The importance of identifying missing level shifters between power domains in mixed-signal IC designs, and the consequences that can arise from this issue, such as signal integrity problems, device damage, increased power consumption, and compatibility issues.
  • The various factors that can contribute to designers missing a level shifter, including assumptions about voltage levels, lack of documentation, time constraints, design complexity, inexperienced designers, and inadequate simulation/testing.
  • How Siemens' Insight Analyzer tool can quickly and accurately identify the risk of missing level shifters between power domains, going beyond what is possible with traditional ERC tools and simulation.

Who should read this:

  • IC designers working on mixed-signal designs with multiple power domains
  • IC design managers and CAD engineers

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