8.13 Sspd_chapter 6_part 7_device simulation1  (Page 4/5)

The run-time output shows the execution of each ATLAS command and includes error messages, warnings, extracted parameters, and other important output for evaluating each ATLAS run. When ATLAS runs in this mode, the run-time output is sent to the output section of the DeckBuild Window and can be saved as needed. Therefore, you don’t need to save the run-time output explicitly. The following command line, however, specifies the name of a file that will be used for storing the run-time output.

deckbuild -as<input filename>- outfile<output filename>

In this case, the run-time output is sent to the output file and to the output section of the DeckBuild Window.

7.3.1.2: Running ATLAS inside Deckbuild

Each ATLAS run inside DECKBUILD should start with the line:

go atlas

A single input file may contain several ATLAS runs each separated with a go atlas line. Input files within DECKBUILD may also contain runs from other programs such as ATHENA or DEVEDIT along with the ATLAS runs.

Running a given version number of ATLAS

The go statement can be modified to provide parameters for the ATLAS run. To run version 4.3.0.R, the syntax is:

go atlas simflags = ”-V 4.3.0.R”

Starting Parallel ATLAS

The -P option is used to set the number of processors to use in a parallel ATLAS run. If the number set by -P is greater than the number of processors available or than the number of parallel thread licenses, the number is automatically reduced to this cap number. To run on 4 processors, use:

go atlas simflags=”-V 4.3.2.C -P 4”

Note: The standard examples supplied with ATLAS will not run correctly outside of DECKBUILD.

7.3.1.3: Accessing The Examples

ATLAS has more than 300 standard examples that demonstrate how the program is used to simulate different technologies. These examples are a good starting point for creating your own simulations. The examples are accessed from the menu system in DECKBUILD. To select and load an example:

1. Start DECKBUILD with ATLAS as the simulator, which is described in the previous section.

2. Use left mouse button to pull down the Main Control menu.

3. Select Examples. An index will then appear in a Deckbuild Examples Window (see Figure 7.2).

The examples are divided by technology or technology group. For instance, the most common technologies are individually listed (e.g., MOS, BJT), while others are grouped with similar devices (e.g., IGBT and LDMOS are under POWER, and solar cell and photodiode are under OPTOELECTRONICS).

4. Choose the technology by double clicking the left mouse button over that item. A list of examples for that technology will appear. These examples typically illustrate different devices, applications, or types of simulation.

You can also search for an example by selecting the Index button. Wildcards can be used in the search.

Figure 7.2 Examples Index in DeckBuild

5. Choose a particular example by double clicking the left mouse button over that item in the list. A text description of the example will appear in the window. This text describes the important physical mechanisms in the simulation, and details of the ATLAS syntax used. You should read this information before proceeding.