Category: Blog

If you’re a senior analog IC designer, you’ve likely heard the pitch: “Automated migration tools can seamlessly port your designs to new process nodes.”  But when it comes to real-world analog design, that promise often falls short. One of the biggest reasons? Callbacks.

In this post, we’ll unpick why callbacks are a hidden obstacle in analog design migration—and why most automation tools struggle to handle them effectively.

What are callbacks in analog IC design?

Callbacks are custom scripts or functions embedded in your design environment.  They’re triggered by specific events—like a layout change or a parameter update—and they automate tasks such as:

• Validating custom design rules
• Modifying device parameters based on process-specific behavior
• Adjusting device dimensions based on layout geometry
• Enforcing matching conditions in differential pairs

They’re powerful.  They’re flexible.  And they’re deeply tied to your current process node.

Why callbacks are a migration headache

Callbacks in a new PDK can be considered unpredictable.  They can have tool dependency and version sensitivity.  They may lack documentation and transparency.  The PDK specific rules which callbacks enforce can conflict with legcy design intent.  And in the complex world of design migration changes causes by callbacks can break analog matching, introduce parasitics or violate design intent.  In short,  they abide by strict rules.

When migrating analog designs to a new process node—say, from 40nm to 22m—callbacks become a liability.  Here’s why:

1. Process-specific logic that doesn’t translate

Callbacks are often written with hard-coded assumptions about the original process node. These include:

• Calculation of layout-dependent parameters
• ‘Snap values’ for quantisation
• Approximate device parameters (resistance, capacitance, inductance, … etc)
• Other device specific parameters calculations

When you move to a new node, these assumptions break.  The callback logic doesn’t adapt, and automated tools can’t interpret or rewrite it correctly.  This leads to broken flows, incorrect sizing and unpredictable behavior.

2. Opaque behavior that undermines design intent

Callbacks often operate behind the scenes.  They silently modify parameters or enforce constraints that aren’t visible in the schematic or layout. During migration, this hidden logic becomes a black box.  Automated tools can’t “see” what the callbacks is doing, which means they can’t preserve the original design intent.

3. Tool lock-In and portability issues

Callbacks are written in high level scripting languages such as SKILL (Cadence’s proprietary language) or Tcl (Synopsys) and can introduce ‘tool lock-in’.  If your migration involves switching tools or even updating versions, your callbacks may break entirely.  Automated migration tools rarely support cross-tool scripting compatibility, leaving you with manual rework.

Why these matter to an analog migration methodology

If you’re evaluating migration tools or implementing an inhouse solution, it’s critical to understand this limitation.  Take into account designs with complex callbacks!  In real-world analog blocks, callbacks are everywhere.  They’re part of your design DNA.

For any migration solutions it is wise to explore the following:

• How does it handle custom callbacks?
• Can it interpret or replicate process-specific logic?
• Does it preserve hidden design intent embedded in scripts?

What can you do about it?

While no tool can fully automate callbacks migration today, you can take steps to mitigate the risk:

• Audit and document your callbacks: Make their behavior explicit so it can be manually reviewed or re-implemented.
• Modularize and standardize: Use reusable, parameterized design templates that minimize reliance on custom scripts.
• Use constraint-driven design environments: These can capture design intent more formally, reducing the need for ad hoc scripting.
• Partner with vendors who understand analog: Look for migration solutions that offer expert support—not just automation.

Thalia’s AMALIA platform stands out in this area.  It’s designed with analog complexity in mind—including the challenges posed by callbacks.  AMALIA combines automation with expert insight to help preserve design intent, even when migrating across nodes or tools.

Final Thought

Callbacks are one of the reasons automated analog migration tools fall short.  They’re not just scripts—they’re embedded knowledge, tied to process technology, tools in the design flow and your design philosophy.  Whether you are just starting your exploration of analog design migration or it is time to review current methodology, understanding this limitation will help you ask smarter questions and choose solutions that align with the realities of analog design.

When we talk about analog IC migration challenges, the conversation usually centers on device modelling, parasitic extraction, or layout density rules.  But there’s an equally important aspect that can turn a successful design into a reliability nightmare: electromigration violations.

Analog IC migration isn’t just about device models, parasitics, or layout rules. There’s another silent killer: electromigration (EM) violations.

Too many teams discover EM issues after fabrication—sometimes months later, when field failures start rolling in.  The financial hit hurts, but the reputation damage?  That’s what keeps engineering managers awake at night.

The engineering reality: why EM hits analog harder

Electromigration—the gradual movement of metal ions due to electrons colliding owing to high current density—isn’t just a textbook reliability concern.  In analog designs, it’s a ticking time bomb with unique characteristics:

Steady-state current profiles: Unlike digital circuits with switching currents that average out over time, analog bias networks, current mirrors and reference paths carry continuous DC currents.  These steady currents create sustained EM stress that digital EM analysis tools might underestimate.

Precision sensitivity: A 1% resistance change from EM-induced voiding and hillocks might be negligible in digital logic, but it can destroy the matching in a differential pair or shift a bandgap reference out of specification.

Layout constraints: Analog layouts prioritize symmetry and matching.  When EM violations force you to widen metal traces, maintaining these critical geometric relationships becomes exponentially harder.

The migration multiplier effect

Here’s where migration amplifies the EM challenge.  Every foundry defines different current density limits based on their metal stack characteristics:

• Process-specific limits: for instance, a 22nm node might allow 2mA/μm on M1, while 16nm restricts it to 1.5mA/μm
• Metal stack variations: Thinner lower metals, different via structures, varying thermal properties
• Temperature derating: New processes may have more aggressive temperature coefficients

The result?  A power bus that was perfectly sized for your 65nm process violates EM rules at 28nm. And unlike digital designs where automated place-and-route tools can adjust routing on-the-fly, analog layouts require manual intervention that can take weeks.

The current state of EM analysis: Verification without solutions

Most teams rely on commercial EM verification tools like Calibre® PERC™ or Voltus™.  These tools excel at identifying violations but stop there.  They’ll report which traces exceed current density limits, but they won’t provide guidance on how to fix violations while preserving critical analog constraints like device matching or layout symmetry.

This gap between detection and correction is where migration projects get stuck.  Engineers end up in manual rework cycles, iteratively adjusting metal widths, re-running extraction, checking timing, verifying EM compliance and hoping they haven’t broken something else in the process.

A different approach: EM-aware migration from day one

The fundamental issue is treating EM analysis as a post-layout verification step rather than integrating it into the migration flow itself.  What if the migration process could automatically:

1. Identify current-critical devices during the initial schematic analysis
2. Calculate required metal widths based on target process EM rules before layout begins
3. Flag layout constraints that need preservation during metal resizing
4. Suggest optimization strategies that maintain analog performance requirements

This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s engineering pragmatism.  By front-loading EM considerations into the migration planning phase, teams can avoid the expensive discover-and-fix cycles that plague traditional flows.

Real-world impact: Beyond the DRC report

Consider a recent migration scenario: a precision ADC design moving from 180nm to 65nm. The original bias network used 10μm metal traces for the main current paths. The 65nm EM rules required 16μm minimum width for the same current levels.

Traditional approach: Layout complete, run EM check, discover 47 violations, spend three weeks manually resizing traces while fighting to maintain matching requirements.

EM-aware approach: Identify the bias network as high-risk during schematic analysis, calculate required trace widths before layout starts, plan the floor plan to accommodate wider traces, complete layout with zero EM violations.

The time savings alone justified the effort, but the real value was the confidence that the migrated design would meet reliability targets without field surprises.

The path forward

The analog migration landscape is evolving toward more intelligent, automated flows. Tools like AMALIA bridge the gap between EM analysis and actionable design guidance, helping teams identify high-risk areas early and optimize their approach before costly rework cycles begin.

The question isn’t whether your next migration will face EM challenges—it’s whether you’ll discover them during design or after production.  For analog designs where precision and reliability are non-negotiable, EM-aware migration isn’t just a nice-to-have feature. It’s a competitive necessity.

🎥 Would you like to see AMALIA Platform’s Electromigration Fixer in action?  Take a peek at the feature video on the Layout Automation Suite product page

What EM challenges have you encountered in your migration projects?

The analog design community learns best when we share real-world experiences and solutions.

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Trademark acknowledgment

Calibre and Calibre PERC are registered trademarks of Siemens EDA.  Voltus is a trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Migrating analog IP to a new foundry or process node is never a simple “shrink and go” exercise—especially when high-frequency (HF) design is involved. At RF and multi-GHz speeds, even small changes in parasitics, device models and substrate behavior can derail performance. For engineering teams exploring migration, understanding these HF-specific risks is essential to avoid surprises in silicon.

What makes HF migration different?

At high frequencies, analog and RF performance hinges on small-signal behavior, which is highly sensitive to parasitic elements and layout-dependent effects. Two key metrics—f_T (intrinsic speed) and f_MAX (power gain limit)—must be re-validated after migration. While f_T may remain stable, f_MAX often shifts due to changes in gate resistance, overlaps and substrate paths.

This sensitivity means that even DRC-clean layouts can behave differently post-migration. Advanced modeling flows that account for layout-dependent effects (LDE) and variability are critical to predicting how “as-manufactured” designs will perform.

Modeling and measurement: The real migration challenge

Successful HF migration is fundamentally a modeling and measurement problem. Engineers must go beyond basic checks and re-characterize several aspects of their design:

• Gate resistance (R_G): Impacts input impedance, noise figure and f_MAX. Migration requires accurate R_G extraction using the target PDK’s models.
• Non-quasi-static (NQS) effects: These become significant at high speeds and must be enabled in compact models’ post-migration.
• Bias-dependent capacitances: Overlap and fringing capacitances shift with bias and geometry.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate example analysis plots.  The first for f_T / f_MAX and _{Gate Resistance} R_G versus gate voltage and the second GDS (Drain-Source Conductance) and Cgs (Gate-to-Source Capacitance) versus frequency.

Interconnect and passive components: Hidden pitfalls

At GHz frequencies, interconnect resistance and inductance increase due to skin and proximity effects. Migration demands frequency-aware RLC extraction—not just RC models. Differences in metal stack thickness and sheet resistance across PDKs can alter bandwidth and matching.

Passive components also require re-qualification:

• Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitors: Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) increases with frequency due to the skin effect and is the vital parameter for assessing the Qualify Factor (Q) of the MIM capacitor.  Wide band models are essential to evaluate and maintain Q across operating frequency.
• On-chip inductors: Losses from eddy currents and substrate coupling vary with resistivity and metal thickness. Model refitting is essential and can be guided by S-parameter analysis which helps define key fitting parameters.

Substrate and technology differences

Substrate resistivity and well structures affect RF isolation and thermal behavior. Moving between bulk CMOS and FDSOI introduces differences in body biasing and self-heating, which must be modeled and verified.

Measurement correlation and thermal effects

S-parameter de-embedding must be re-established to ensure accurate gain and noise predictions. Pad stack variations can mislead results if not properly accounted for.

Self-heating and EM/IR effects also become more pronounced at advanced nodes. These influence transconductance and noise, requiring thermal-aware simulation and verification.

Within an an analog IC migration, adjustments to metal tracks sizes may be required to support original current density criteria.  That is mainly a DC / low frequency concern and the topic is addressed in our blog posting  “The Hidden Threat in Analog IC Migration: Why Electromigration rules can make or break your next tapeout“.

A practical HF migration checklist

To ensure first-pass success, Thalia recommends a 7-step checklist:

1. Re-characterize f_T and f_MAX
2. Confirm compact model options (NQS, R_G)
3. Use frequency-aware RLC extraction for interconnects
4. Re-fit passive models (MIM, inductors)
5. Re-assess substrate coupling and isolation
6. Re-establish S-parameter measurement correlation
7. Enable self-heating and EM/IR co-analysis
   {Thalia’s AMALIA platform does not address heating, EM/IR analysis.}

Final thoughts

Analog IP migration at high frequencies isn’t a black art—but it’s not a push-button task either. It’s a constraint-preserving rebuild followed by physics-aware optimization. With the right modeling, measurement and verification practices, teams can migrate confidently and predictably.

Thalia’s AMALIA platform supports this journey with automation for pattern recognition, device stretching and layout preservation—integrating seamlessly with Cadence® design flow and Siemens EDA’s Analog FastSPICE™. If you’re exploring migration, we’d be happy to share real-world case studies and actionable checklists.

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Trademark acknowledgment

Cadence and Analog FastSPICE are marks of Cadence Design Systems and Siemens Industry Software Inc respectively.
Use of these names and other companies and products does not imply endorsement.

Artificial Intelligence has become a ubiquitous label across industries—and electronic design automation is no exception. At Thalia Design Automation, we have to admit that we’ve contributed to the trend. We’ve described our AMALIA Platform as “AI-powered,” and while that’s technically accurate, we recognise that such claims are often unhelpfully vague—ours included.

Like many in the EDA space, we’ve used the language of AI without always explaining what specific problems we’re applying it to, how it works under the hood, or why it can be trusted in the context of analog IC design. For engineers used to rigorous, deterministic workflows, this kind of fuzziness is frustrating—and rightly so.

This article aims to correct that. We take a detailed look at where and how AMALIA applies machine learning and optimisation techniques, what kinds of problems they’re intended to solve, and why the methods we’ve chosen make sense for analog design migration. It’s a candid account of what’s under the hood—no hype, just the logic and reasoning that engineers expect.

Why Analog Design Migration Is a Hard Problem

Migration of analog circuits between technologies involves more than redrawing layouts or updating device libraries. It requires preserving performance across process variations, layout-dependent effects, and foundry-specific modelling differences.

Key challenges include:

• Identifying equivalent devices between technologies when characteristics and naming conventions differ
• Retaining circuit performance and behaviour, particularly at PVT corners
• Adapting layouts without breaking electrical or physical constraints
• Maintaining signal integrity and parasitic performance

These are not routine tasks that can be fully scripted. They require context-aware decision-making—some of which can be supported by AI and algorithmic reasoning.

1. PDK Interpretation: Structured Learning for Device Recognition

A recurring problem in analog migration is inconsistent naming in foundry PDKs. The same device may be labelled very differently across processes.

• AMALIA’s Device Recognition algorithm addresses this using a refined variant of the Q-gram method. It applies substring analysis, probability models, and rule sets to infer device types from names and context.
• This falls under structured learning—labels (device types) are known, but the feature space is unstructured and highly variable.

Standard name-matching approaches (e.g., phonetic encoding) don’t work here, due to lack of similarity across foundries. The implemented method is tailored for EDA data structures and analog domain requirements.

2. Device Mapping: Structured Learning for Technology Matching

The Technology Analyzer module performs device-level mapping between source and target technologies. This is a core step in analog migration, where the aim is not just to match by name or type but by behaviour and suitability in context.

• The Device Mapping algorithm uses a structured learning approach. Training data consists of source-target device pairs considered optimal by expert evaluation. A model is then trained to reproduce these decisions based on device’s electrical characteristics.
• Additional refinements allow the mapping process to take into account user preferences (e.g., prioritise leakage vs. noise) and additional measured characteristics.

The weighting models are expert-tuned but may evolve toward statistical methods like logistic regression if sufficient training data becomes available. This step remains explainable and traceable—a priority for engineers concerned with visibility into automated decisions.

3. Key Device Identification: Focused Circuit Porting

In the Circuit Porting stage, the challenge is to identify which transistors have the largest influence on circuit performance—so that migration effort is focused where it matters.

• The Key Devices algorithm uses parameter analysis and robust calculations to identify sensitivity hotspots. This is a form of unsupervised analysis, although the logic is rule-based and deterministic in practice.
• Matching and ranking of Key Devices algorithm uses constraints driven modelling rule sets rather than probabilistic models which avoids introducing uncertainty where direct analysis is possible.

This approach is deliberately conservative. Planned future work includes exploring reinforcement learning methods to support automated design centring through guided iteration, though only where the cost of simulation is justified.

4. Layout Automation: Optimisation Over ML

Layout migration is handled through deterministic, mathematically defined algorithms rather than machine learning. This is intentional.

• The Metal Stacking algorithm identifies possible variants based on available space before updating the via array. 
• The Stretching algorithm adapts layout geometry based on device scaling, formulated as an optimisation problem solvable by Gaussian elimination. It preserves symmetry and routing paths while minimising unnecessary layout disturbance.
• The Routing algorithm connects layout elements using a modified version of Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm, including penalties for excess turns to improve analog performance. This is a graph-based optimisation problem, not an ML task.

These steps are engineered for precision and reproducibility. Using ML here was considered and rejected in favour of approaches that provide predictable results under constraint.

5. Design Optimisation: Hybrid Search and Learning

Once migration is complete, migrated designs must be retuned or “centred” to meet performance specifications across corners.

AMALIA includes several algorithmic approaches here:

• Evolutionary algorithms simulate trial-and-error design evolution. These are guided by reinforcement learning principles: good results receive rewards, poor ones are penalised.
• The algorithms are adapted for analog use cases through:
  • Trend Following (unsupervised discovery of parametric relationships)
  • Genetic Engineering (parameter mixing based on performance alignment)
  • Dynamic Weighting (emphasis on failing specs)
• A local Interpolation algorithm (a form of supervised learning) models the design space near promising solutions. A gradient-following method is then used with this model to fine-tune performance.
• These two approaches are combined using a proximity penalty function to ensure the global search doesn’t stall in local optima. This avoids overfitting to one solution while improving convergence speed.

This hybrid model allows AMALIA to explore broader regions of the design space and achieve usable results in fewer iterations.

Where AI Helps – and Where It Doesn’t

Across AMALIA, AI techniques are selected based on suitability, not fashion. In summary:

• ML is applied where the problem domain involves ambiguity, large input spaces, or multi-dimensional correlation (e.g., device matching, design optimisation).
• Deterministic methods are used where constraints are strict and repeatability is critical (e.g., layout geometry, routing).
• Explanations are always available: no black boxes, no guesswork.

Final Thoughts

Analog design engineers have good reason to be cautious about AI claims in EDA. The discipline demands precision, transparency, and rigour. The AMALIA Platform was built with those expectations in mind.

AI is used in AMALIA – but selectively, and in combination with more traditional methods. Every technique is grounded in domain-specific challenges, tested against engineering expectations, and intended to complement—not replace—expert input.

As analog migration becomes a more frequent requirement in design reuse and technology adaptation, engineers will need tools that offer both automation and control. We believe AMALIA is a step in that direction.

Authors

An Interview with Sowmyan Rajagopalan, CEO of Thalia

In this forward-looking discussion, Thalia’s CEO, Sowmyan Rajagopalan, delves into the semiconductor industry’s transformative trends and how Thalia’s AMALIA suite is a critical tool for semiconductor businesses looking to successfully navigate this dynamic landscape.

Q: With rapid advancements, such as 2nm process technologies, how is the semiconductor industry redefining innovation?

A: The industry is on the brink of a new chapter in innovation, moving beyond Moore’s Law to redefine the limits of semiconductor capabilities. We’re heading towards an era where a 1-trillion transistor chip is within reach with foundational technologies like 3D stacking and monolithic 3D integration driving increasingly sophisticated solutions. These are not incremental changes; they’re revolutionary steps that will power the next generation of electronics.

Q: How does the AMALIA suite align with the semiconductor industry’s evolving landscape, especially in IP design migration and agility?

A: AMALIA is engineered to meet the industry’s growing need for agility. With geopolitical shifts prompting a revaluation of supply chains, design migration and second sourcing have become more than just buzzwords—they’re strategic necessities. AMALIA provides the tools for swift, efficient design migration of analog, mixed-signal and RF IP, ensuring that semiconductor companies can quickly adapt to new foundries and technologies.

Q: The automotive sector is rapidly transitioning to electric solutions and green hydrogen. How is Thalia’s AMALIA suite preparing to support the evolving needs of semiconductor technologies in this area?

A: The electric revolution within the automotive industry is indeed propelling a surge in demand for advanced semiconductor technologies. While materials like silicon carbide and gallium nitride are still emerging, they represent the future of power components in electric vehicles. Thalia is proactive in this area—our AMALIA suite is continuously evolving, incorporating the latest technological advancements. We’re enhancing our design migration tools to support our customers across the semiconductor ecosystem as they explore and integrate these next-generation materials.

Q: AI’s role in semiconductor development is becoming increasingly integral. Can you tell us more about how Thalia’s AMALIA suite is leveraging AI and ML in its solutions?

A: AI and ML have been at the core of AMALIA’s capabilities since its inception. These technologies are crucial for automating complex processes, from technology analysis to circuit optimization. By leveraging AI, we enable more efficient design centering and performance optimization, which are critical for IP reuse across different process nodes. AMALIA’s AI-driven tools have been meticulously developed to reduce design cycle times and costs, ensuring that our clients can remain agile and competitive in the fast-evolving semiconductor market.

Q: In light of the economic growth projections for Asia and the US, how does Thalia position itself in the global market?

A: Thalia is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. We’re not just observers; we’re active participants as demonstrated by our recent appointment of a business partner in China, enabling our clients to expand their product ranges and tap into new markets with agility. The AMALIA software is a reflection of our commitment to this global expansion, offering a suite of tools that are flexible, efficient, and crucial for companies aiming to lead in their respective markets.

Q: Looking ahead, how does Thalia envision its contribution to the semiconductor industry’s future?

A: Thalia’s role is to enable and accelerate the industry’s momentum. Whether it’s through advancing to new process technologies or powering the automotive sector’s electrification, we are committed to providing solutions that not only meet but drive the market forward. With AMALIA, we offer the means to navigate and influence the changing tides of the semiconductor landscape.