Approach to Integration of a Synthesis Tool and PDK for Commercial EDA

Models from PDKs are needed to consider the MMIC manufacturing process in the schematic synthesis. PDKs are developed for specific commercial EDA. The information about PDK's models is often proprietary, which leads to some difficulties during the synthesis process. In this paper the approaches to integrate a synthesis tool and a PDK are considered. PDK twin approach is selected as the most efficient. The software for a PDK twin generation is presented. The developed software supported compatibility between the synthesis solution based on PDK twin elements and proprietary PDK. The high model accuracy, versatility for any kind of MMIC elements and PDK supported by the EDA, timesaving simulation due to behavioral model are the main advantages of the proposed approach. Approaches comparison was carried out based on the distributed amplifier synthesis software. Estimates show that the PDK twin using could reduce the time to get model characteristics during the synthesis by 5 orders.