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Glossary
card : A logical SPICE input line. A card may be extended through the use of the “+” sign in SPICE, thereby allowing it to take up multiple lines in a SPICE deck.
code model : A model of a device, function, component, etc. which is based solely on a C programming language-based function. In addition to the code models included with the XSPICE simulator, you can use code models that you develop for circuit modeling.
deck : A collection of SPICE cards which together specify all input information required in order to perform an analysis. A “deck” of “cards” will in fact be contained within a file on the host computer system.
element card : A single, logical line in an XSPICE circuit description deck which describes a circuit element. Circuit elements are connected to each other to form circuits (e.g., a logical card which describes a resistor, such as R1 2 0 10K, is an element card).
instance : A unique occurrence of a circuit element. See “element card”, in which the instance “R1” is specified as a unique element (instance) in a hypothetical circuit description.
macro: A macro, in the context of this document, refers to a C language macro which supports the construction of user-defined models by simplifying input/output and parameterpassing operations within the Model Definition File.
.mod : Refers to the Model Definition File. The file suffix reflects the file-name of the model definition file: cfunc.mod.
.model: Refers to a model card associated with an element card in XSPICE. A model card allows for data defining an instance to be conveniently located in the XSPICE deck such that the general layout of the elements is more readable.
Nutmeg : The SPICE3C1 default post-processor. This provides a simple stand-alone simulator interface which can be used with the ATESSE simulator (see referenced documents section for additional information on Nutmeg)
.subcircuit : A “device” within an XSPICE deck which is defined in terms of a group of element cards and which can be referenced in other parts of the XSPICE deck through element cards.
Acronyms and Abbreviations
ATE : Automatic Test Equipment
ATESSE : Automatic Test Equipment Software Support Environment.
CAE : Computer-Aided Engineering
CCCS : Current Controlled Current Source. In some cases, this is abbreviated ICIS,
CCVS : Current Controlled Voltage Source. Also abbreviated as ICVS.
CSCI : Computer Software Configuration Item
FET : Field Effect Transistor
IDD : Interface Design Document
IFS : Refers to the Interface Specification File. The abbreviation reflects the filename of the Interface Specification File: ifspec.ifs.
MNA : Modified Nodal Analysis
MOSFET : Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor
NGSPICE : Next generation Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis
PWL : Piece-Wise Linear
SDD : Software Design Document
SI : Simulator Interface
SIM : The ATESSE Version 2.0 Simulator
SPICE : Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis. This program was developed at the University of California at Berkeley.
SPICE3 : Version 3 of SPICE
SRS : Software Requirements Specification
UCB : University of California at Berkeley
UDN : User-Defined Node(s)
VCCS : Voltage Controlled Current Source. This is also sometimes abbreviated as VCIS.
VCIS : Voltage Controlled Current Source
VCVS : Voltage Controlled Voltage Source
XSPICE : Extended SPICE; synonymous with the ATESSE Version 2.0 Simulator.
