Analysis of digital signal propagation in high-performance microelectronic interconnection networks of high complexity

Abstract

At present, the performance of most high speed digital systems is not limited by the speed of the switching circuits. The delays introduced by circuit packaging have become the primary obstacle to increasing system performance. Further increases in switching circuit performance will provide only limited improvements in overall system performance. This particular set of circumstances has made accurate modeling and simulation of digital system packages primary concerns in the design of large systems. In addition, the high switching speeds of modern digital systems have changed the character of digital packages from circuit entities to distributed interconnection networks, thus changing the focus of the simulation needs. This thesis analyzes and reviews the requirements for modeling digital interconnection networks and describes a set of programs designed to meet these needs. Attention is given to the issue of package characterization since this phase of analysis is mandatory for package simulation and, in general, determines the accuracy of simulation results. The simulation programs described in this thesis implement full frequency dependent transmission line models within networks that contain linear and nonlinear devices. The many issues encompassed by this implementation are discussed in detail. The final topic addressed is the simulation of large networks. For this purpose the simulation analysis is developed within the framework of parallel discrete event simulation algorithms to enable the effective exploitation of multiprocessor architectures. The many facets encompassed by this implementation are also discussed in detail.