[ibis-interconn] Re: Sparse matrix/label treatment, draft 3...

  • From: "Mirmak, Michael" <michael.mirmak@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Walter Katz <wkatz@xxxxxxxxxx>, IBIS-Interconnect <ibis-interconn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:23:38 -0600

We can certainly discuss this issue during today's meeting.


-          MM

From: ibis-interconn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:ibis-interconn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Walter Katz
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:18 AM
To: IBIS-Interconnect
Subject: [ibis-interconn] Re: Sparse matrix/label treatment, draft 3...

John,

I would like to clarify one point. The EDA tool only needs to simulate the 
S-Parameter data in the full reconstructed matrix. The Integer_Labels (Framis) 
in the [Network] data, along with the [Sparse Matrix Mapping] 
Integer_Label/Index_Pair data tell the Touchstone Parser (or EDA platform) how 
to populate the full reconstructed matrix. So the critical thing for an EDA 
tool is not that there are any Integer_Labels that are not used in the full 
reconstructed matrix, but that the full reconstructed matrix is complete. By 
complete I mean that any Index_Pair that is not in any Integer_Label is 
supposed to be zero (i.e. no coupling, or no reflection, or no transmission 
between that Index_Pair).

You suggest that we might allow a Touchstone 2.x file might have multiple 
[Sparse Matrix Mapping] sections (like an IBIS model has multiple [Components]. 
One option is to create a "Virtual Touchstone 2.x File" dynamically for the 
pins in a connector or package that are being used in a simulation. This 
"Virtual Touchstone 2.x File" simply needs to reference the real "Touchstone 
2.x File" that contains the [Network Data].   We do this today and it is very 
affective. We do not need to write a spec for a "Virtual Touchstone 2.x File", 
each EDA tool can do it as it sees fit, but allowing a real "Touchstone 2.x 
File" that is simply a container of Integer_Labels allows this to work.

I certainly would not object if the Touchstone 2.x parser would generate a 
warning, listing all of the Index_Labels that do not have any Index_Pair, but 
it should not be an error in the parser.

Walter


Walter Katz

303.449-2308

Mobile 720.333-1107

wkatz@xxxxxxxxxx

www.sisoft.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ibis-interconn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:ibis-interconn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Angulo, John
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 3:25 AM
To: IBIS-Interconnect
Subject: [ibis-interconn] Re: Sparse matrix/label treatment, draft 3...

To reiterate my comment in last week's meeting on the use of [Sparse Matrix 
Mapping] labels without "index pairs": If the [Sparse Matrix Mapping] keyword 
does not map a column of [Network Data] into the full matrix, then the EDA tool 
does not have a way to simulate the S-parameter data in that column without 
further information.

If the model maker provides suitable comment text in the Touchstone file, or if 
a third party consultant knows how the [Network Data] columns corresponding to 
the empty labels in a particular file are to be treated, then the user of an 
EDA tool can modify the [Sparse Matrix Mapping] keyword text by hand to select 
the active subset of [Network Data] columns.

More automated ways to give further information might include having multiple 
[Sparse Matrix Mapping] keywords in the Touchstone file, each with a 
subparameter identifying the alternative mapping by some name.  Another way 
might be to somehow override or supplement [Sparse Matrix Mapping] through a 
new keyword in the [Begin Information]/[End Information] section.

However it is done, it seems certain that some additional information is 
necessary to make use of [Sparse Matrix Mapping] labels without index pairs.  
When should this committee consider whether and how the Touchstone format 
should convey this information?  Should the proposed language allowing empty 
[Sparse Matrix Mapping] labels, and hence unused columns of [Network Data], go 
into a Touchstone 2.x specification without such consideration?

Thanks,
John

________________________________
From: ibis-interconn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Mirmak, Michael
Sent: Wed 10/7/2009 8:56 AM
To: IBIS-Interconnect
Subject: [ibis-interconn] Sparse matrix/label treatment, draft 3...

For review and discussion...

-       MM


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