Abstract

This report presents a novel Multi-Algorithm Parallel circuit Simulation approach (MAPS) and its multi-core implementation to expedite one of the most fundamental CAD applications: transistorlevel transient circuit simulation. MAPS starts multiple simulation algorithms in parallel for a given simulation task. By properly synchronizing these algorithms on-the-fly, the authors exploit the diversity in simulation algorithms to achieve possibly superlinear overall speedup in transient simulation. In addition, the unique multi-algorithm framework allows unique safe exploration of simulation methods that are conventionally discarded due to convergence concerns. As a coarse grained parallel simulation approach, the implementation of MAPS demands a minimum of parallel programming effort and allows for reuse of existing serial simulation codes.