Electronic circuits perform complex operations on a single chip, but in automotive applications it is not just a question of functionality, but safety. These embedded systems use “Smart Power” integrated circuits to handle both high-voltage and low-voltage devices. However, this switching between power levels on a single chip can cause disturbances. The ability to detect and fix problems caused by complex electrical phenomena has often meant testing and adjusting chip design post-production—and the costly manufacturing of several different versions before achieving the high-performance and reliability required. Even when the industry started to use complex simulation tools, each simulation took hours or even days and still could only simulate one part of the chip at a time.
AUTOMICS is automated software designed to simulate the entire chip by taking into account circuit design, modeling and implementation in a single 3D modeling application. Simulations now only take minutes using this patented software.
The AUTOMICS project, a partnership between universities (UPMC, EPFL and Paul Sabatier University) and top automotive and chip manufacturers, including Valeo, AMS, STMicroelectronics, Continental and AdMOS, has also proven to be the stepping stone to a larger project.
The project Coordinator, Ramy Iskander, a professor-researcher at UPMC’s LIP6 computer lab, was also able to capitalize on the exposure and interest generated by the AUTOMICS partners when the new start-up, Intento Design was launched. The new company is dedicated to accelerating the design automation of integrated circuits, and benefits from the know-how generated in the project.