TCAD Synthesis: Motivation
ASIC analogy
- Semi-custom design approach the ASIC uses gate array, standard cell, or programmable logic devices as building blocks that have been thoroughly studied or even partially implemented in silicon.
- Application-specific TCAD (AS-TCAD) for the specific device structures and processes based on the generic TCAD tools.
Multi-level simulation analogy
- A hierarchy of simulation tools has been developed (gate-level, switch-level, timing, electrical, behavioral, table lookup) to trade-off speed and accuracy.
- Multi-level TCAD (ML-TCAD) and compact models (CM) for the devices/ processes based on the TCAD results, similar to the idea of table lookup.
High-level synthesis analogy
- Synthesis means an ensemble of answers waiting for the right question.
- A TCAD-Synthesis approach can be applied to the prediction and characterization of semiconductor technologies and devices as long as a “large” process/device-variable space can be covered.