Agilent Technologies Announces X-FAB's Worldwide Adoption of IC-CAP Device Modeling Platform

Agilent IC-CAP software is a flexible device-modeling program that delivers powerful characterization and analysis capabilities for today's semiconductor modeling processes for DC and RF applications. Providing efficient and accurate extraction of active device and circuit model parameters, IC-CAP performs numerous modeling tasks including instrument control, data acquisition, graphical analysis, simulation and optimization. It is used by semiconductor foundries and design houses to characterize foundry processes.

Using IC-CAP and its advanced capabilities (e.g., GUI Studio), X-FAB was able to efficiently implement a customized device modeling flow that included proprietary, RF model extraction techniques and corner simulation setups. It also implemented on-target modeling, automated documentation tools and enhanced leakage modeling of CMOS transistors. Additionally, X-FAB was able to develop special IC-CAP-based applications like One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory and high-voltage CMOS transistor models.

We are pleased that IC-CAP's flexible, easily customizable platform enabled X-FAB to implement the strategies and techniques necessary to effectively meet its device modeling goals while also realizing improved time-to-market, said Todd Cutler, marketing manager with Agilent's EEsof EDA division. The major software/platform technology enhancements we have implemented in the 2009 release of IC-CAP will ensure that X-FAB is equipped with the most powerful and flexible device modeling platform to meet their needs for years to come.

For the past eight years, IC-CAP has been X-FAB's workhorse device modeling tool, said Sebastian Schmidt, group coordinator of SPICE modeling at X-FAB's facility in Erfurt, Germany. With the platform enhancements being implemented in IC-CAP 2009 and its high level of customization that enables us to easily exchange information among our worldwide fabs via IC-CAP project files, Agilent's IC-CAP software offers us the most efficient path to accurate model extraction.