Patent ID: 8880386

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for simulating an electrical circuit, the method comprising: (a) selecting a plurality of points in the electrical circuit; (b) setting a first temperature distribution in the electrical circuit by setting a first temperature for each of the plurality of points; (c) performing an electrical simulation across the electrical circuit taking into consideration the first temperature distribution; (d) performing a thermal simulation across the electrical circuit taking into consideration a result of the electrical simulation, to obtain a second temperature distribution that includes performing a thermal simulation to obtain a second temperature for each of the plurality of points; (e) determining whether a criterion based on temperature distributions is met, and if the criterion is met, terminating the simulation irrespective of the result of the electrical simulation; if the criterion is not met, assigning the second temperature distribution to the first temperature distribution, and repeating steps (c), (d) and (e); (f) wherein the determining whether the criterion based on temperature distributions is met includes: calculating a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature for each of the plurality of points; and comparing the temperature difference for each of the plurality of points with a preset difference, if the temperature difference for each of the plurality of points is smaller than or equal to the preset difference, it is determined that the criterion is met; and if the temperature difference for at least one of the plurality of points is larger than the preset difference, it is determined that the criterion is not met.