Utilizing mixed mode simulation

Discusses how in mixed mode simulation there is a choice of specifying accuracy or specifying performance. Increased accuracy is obtained at the cost of more CPU-time. Circuits containing analog and digital components which are too expensive to simulate in a low level simulator can be naturally simulated in mixed mode. Schematic diagrams containing different levels of abstraction can be logically captured in a mixed mode simulation to verify their operation. Also designs represented at different levels of abstraction using top down or bottom up methodology can be assimilated in mixed mode simulation. Further, technological considerations of circuits can call for mixed mode as a single mode is incapable of accommodating bidirectionality, charge sharing, pass transistors and W/L effects together. Mixed mode can incorporate physically attached devices to the simulator for the modelling of complex devices. This eliminates debugging and accelerates system simulations as interrogation of the device is at hardware speeds. Mixed mode simulation issues include which levels to include and where (partitioning), compatible signal and time representations among modes, simulator architecture and user interface