Patent ID: 8417503

Claim:
A simulator comprising: a memory for storing a computer model of an integrated circuit comprising a device that comprises an integrated circuit component and that has a current-voltage performance attribute, wherein said computer model is generated based on a target model for said device and wherein said target model is created using a target performance parameter range for said current-voltage performance attribute and is adapted to predict process and design variations of said device; and a processor in communication with said memory and adapted to determine said target performance parameter range and to execute said computer model, wherein said target performance parameter range encompasses multiple first bounded ranges and a second bounded range, wherein said second bounded range is bounded by two of multiple different current-voltage model curves for multiple different designs for said device, said multiple different designs each achieving a same specific performance target comprising a same specific current-voltage point such that said different current-voltage model curves converge at said specific current-voltage point, and wherein each one of said first bounded ranges is bounded by an upper manufacturing process window current-voltage curve and a lower manufacturing process window current-voltage curve around a corresponding one said different current-voltage model curves and is indicative of manufacturing process variations, and wherein each one of said multiple different designs is directed to a variation of a single design for said integrated circuit.