Abstract: An Algorithmic Reactive Testbench (ART) system is provided for the simulation/verification of an analog integrated circuit design. The ART system is a high level simulation/verification environment with a user program in which one or more analog testbenches are instantiated and operated as prescribed in an algorithmic reactive testbench program, and the properties of the unit testbenches (test objects) can be influenced by prior analysis of themselves or other tests. The test object may also contain various properties including information reflecting the status of the test object. The modification of a property of a test object is an act of communication in the ART system from the algorithmic reactive testbench program to the test object.

Abstract: An automated method for checking electrostatic discharge (ESD) guidelines ensures that a sufficient number of ESD protection cells have been provided in the neighborhood of each pad in an integrated circuit design to ensure adequate current sinking and voltage clamping during the occurrence of an ESD event.

Abstract: An Algorithmic Reactive Testbench (ART) system is provided. The ART system is a high level verification environment with a user program in which on or more analog testbenches are instantiated and operated as prescribed in the program algorithm, and the properties of the unit testbenches (test objects) can be influenced by prior analysis of themselves or other tests. The results of the analysis may also affect the flow of the program itself. In the ART system, modification of the properties of a unit testbench occurs separately in the user program after definition of the unit testbench in the program (test object). A test object is a representation of a unit testbench along with its complete simulation setup and all associated data for the simulation. The test object may also contain various properties including information reflecting the status of the test object. The modification of a property of a test object is an act of communication in the ART system from the ART program to the test object.