Continuous Time Linear Equalizer (CTLE) is used in Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) systems for signal reconstruction. It applies a linear peaking filter to equalize the signal and reduce distortions resulting from lossy channels.

Using the notations used in the typical CTLE circuit provided above we can define its transfer function as shown below:

H=outp-outninp-inn

The equalization circuits compensate for low-pass characteristics of the physical medium by amplifying high-frequency components of the incoming signal. The CTLE can support both DC and AC gain as shown in the plot below [1]. DC gain control is varied in the CTLE circuit in this example by varying Rstep.

Before using MSA app, one needs to generate CTLE simulation data using Cadence Virtuoso. CTLE simulation in Cadence is performed using different gain settings and saving input and output waveforms for each setting. You can extract the cadence simulation data into a mat file for further analysis in MSA using the function adeinfo2msa(). You can provide name-value pairs as arguments to this function. More information about using this function can be found at .

The CTLE simulation data has been provided in a mat-file named ‘CTLE_TestCase.mat’. You can import the simulation data in MSA using the command below:

The function opens MSA app and displays the list of waveform data brought over from Cadence in the data panel of the app. Next, you can select any signal name and click on “Display Waveform” button in the toolstrip to visualize the signal. For example, in the image below waveforms related to 21-point sweeps for signal ‘outp’ has been displayed in the app.

To add a custom analysis function to fit the CTLE transfer function to a rational function, select the signals ‘/outp’ and ‘/outn’ and then click on ‘Add Analysis’ button in the toolstrip. This will pop-up an interface to perform your analysis. You can select ‘Create MATLAB function’ radio button and click on ‘Create’ to get MATLAB editor window to code your algorithm.

You can modify the code template provided by the custom analysis tool to add your own code after the comment ‘Begin custom code’. The algorithm for the custom function to perform rational fit is shown below:

The arguments to the function are the waveforms from AC analysis. The differential output is given by (y2- y1). Here y2 = outp and y1 = outn. x1 is the frequency vector. The differential input to CTLE has a unity magnitude.

Perform rational fitting of the frequency domain response and obtain the response Yout

Export the obtained rational function to a Veriloga file for behavioral model simulation in Cadence [2]

Use the code shown below for implementing the above algorithm, i.e., for fitting a rational function to the CTLE output and generating a VerilogA model.

After editing the function, save the file and click on ‘OK’ on the custom analysis prompt. The waveform ‘myRationalVa’ should appear under ‘Analysis Waveforms’. To display the waveforms first click on ‘Plot’ to add a new tabbed plot window. Now, select ‘myRationalVa’ and click on ‘Display Waveform’.

The above custom function also generates 21 VerilogA files corresponding to the 21 cases in the simulation database. You can use the VerilogA models for behavioral simulations in Cadence, or to share a black-box model of your design without disclosing your IP. A comparison of simulation result in Cadence Virtuoso, using the CTLE schematic (transistor-level) versus the generated VerilogA model shows a close match between the two cases, for Rstep = 1.515 kOhm.

In this example, simulation results for a CTLE design from Cadence in the form of a mat-file were imported into MATLAB using MSA, and custom function was written to generate VerilogA models that represent the design. Thus, MSA can be used for seamlessly post-processing simulation results from Cadence Virtuoso.

[1] Continuous Time Linear Equalization (CTLE) (intel.com)

[2] Export Verilog-A Model - MATLAB & Simulink (mathworks.com)