The center design optimization system

CENTER is a software system based on the UNIX® operating system used to optimize integrated circuit designs and semiconductor device technologies. Its novel architecture and interface mechanisms allow rapid linking to both arbitrary simulators that define a particular design problem and to existing optimization software. This significantly reduces the time and effort required to solve individual design optimization problems. The architecture allows easy integration of sampling, approximation, and statistical design modules, and enables high-level tasks to be developed using the low-level modules as building blocks. In this article, we detail the functionality and architecture of CENTER and give examples of its use for design optimization.