a7326ec497844473ab1835a9aa6603f0

Supervisor: Germain PHAM

Project topics : Microelectronics and Electrical engineering

Memristive devices are a type of non-volatile memory that has the potential to revolutionize the way we store data. They are very small and energy-efficient, and they can be used to create high-density memory chips. Memristive devices can be implemented using very different technologies [Rajendran16] : Resistive random-access memory (RRAM), Magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), Ferroelectric random-access memory (FRAM), Phase-change memory (PCM),…​

Project description

Though memristive devices are still under development, they have the potential to be used in a wide range of applications, in particular their features (non-volatile, programmable) make them ideal for use in neuromorphic computing [Staudigl22][Woo18][Yang22][Saleh22][Wang22]. The design of such systems requires accurate simulations.

There are many simulation environments to make this kind of simulation. With the advent of open source process design kits (PDKs) [ospdks] the usage of open source simulation environment such as Open_PDKs [OPDKs] is emerging in order to free ourselves from the need for costly proprietary software (like Cadence, Synopsys,…​ suites). PySpice [PySpice] is a free and open-source software package for simulating electronic circuits which is gaining a lot of interest. It is written in Python and is an overlay of NgSpice [NgSpice] which is a SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) circuit simulator.

The goal of this project is to use PySpice to simulate a memristive device.

This project is a great choice for students who are interested in learning about new and emerging technologies. It is also a great choice for students who are interested in learning how to use circuit simulation softwares in general.

This project is challenging, but it is also achievable for students who are willing to put in the effort. You will learn a lot about RRAM devices, electrical simulation and Python in the process of completing this project.

Required skills

This project requires a good knowledge of electrical engineering and Python programming.

  • Mandatory

    • Python programming experience (setting a virtual environment or LD_LIBRARY_PATH or PYTHONPATH)

    • practical elements of git

    • SPICE language (at least ability to read a netlist)

    • Linux OS basics (usage of terminal command lines)

  • Optional

    • basic knowledge of Verilog-A

Workplan (5 weeks)

gantt
title ICS Project: RRAM PySpice
dateFormat DD/MM/YYYY
excludes weekends
axisFormat %e %b %y
tickInterval 1week
weekday monday
todayMarker off

section Week1 - Setup Simulation environment on Linux
Bibliography analysis - Electrical simulation workflows: 26/02/2024, 5d
Compile PySpice for Verilog-A support: 26/02/2024, 1d
Install OpenVAF: 26/02/2024, 1d
Run simulation examples for PySpice: 27/02/2024, 2d
Deliverable Report - Report simulation results example: milestone, 29/02/2024, 2d
section Week2 - Install and setup additional Verilog-A models
Get source code: 04/03/2024, 1d
Compile for NgSpice and setup PySpice: 04/03/2024, 1d
Convert SPICE example to PySpice (example BSIM3): 05/03/2024, 2d
Perform basic simulations: 08/03/2024, 1d
Deliverable Report - Practical Pros and Cons of PySpice: milestone, 08/03/2024, 1d
section Week3+4 - RRAM simulation
Bibliography analysis- Memristive technologies: 11/03/2024, 5d
Get source code: 11/03/2024, 1d
Compile for NgSpice and setup PySpice: 11/03/2024, 1d
Perform basic simulations: 12/03/2024, 2d
Perform electrical programming of RRAM: 14/03/2024, 22/03/2024
section Week5 - Open source contribution
Code refactoring and documentation: 25/03/2024, 2d
Github pull request: milestone, 27/03/2024, 1d
Slides preparation: 28/03/2024, 1d
Project defense: milestone, 29/03/2024, 1d

Location

School

Télécom Paris trains its students to innovate in today’s digital world. Its training and research cover all fields of information and communication sciences and technologies with a strong societal foundation in order to address the major challenges of the 21st century. Its offers engineering, PhD and professional degree programs, with international students accounting for 55% of its student body. Its research offers original, multidisciplinary world-class expertise in nine strategic areas: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — Visual and Audio Computing, Interaction — Digital Trust — Innovation Regulations — Transformation of Innovative Firms — Cyber-Physical Systems — Communication Systems and Networks — Mathematics and Applications — Uses, Participation, Democratization of Innovation.

As a founding member of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and an IMT (Institut Mines-Télécom) school, Télécom Paris is a living laboratory that fosters practical solutions and applications while measuring their impact on society.

location_on Address: 19 place Marguerite Perey, 91120 Palaiseau, France

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Hosting laboratory

Laboratoire Traitement et Communication de l’Information (LTCI)

Research team

The Circuits et Systèmes de Communication (C2S) team is internationally recognized for its ability to integrate digital intelligence into AMS and RF SoCs such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) or RF receivers for cognitive radio. By combining its expertise in the physical realization of the CMOS chip with its experience in signal processing and its knowledge of the other network layers for which LTCI’s skills are recognized, the group designs high-performance AMS and RF SoCs. The aim is to develop elements or "building blocks", enabling the system of connected objects to be interfaced on one side with the physical world via sensors, and on the other side with the system core via communications, in particular RF.

References