CoolSPICE is a

computer-aided design Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...

(CAD) tool developed by CoolCAD Electronics Inc. It is a specialized version of the SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) simulation tool, designed for the analysis and simulation of circuit operation at cryogenic temperatures, circuits using wide-bandgap semiconductors, and the impact of thermal effects on circuit performance.

Overview

CoolSPICE originated from SPICE3f5 and is based on the Ngspice simulator. Developed by CoolCAD Electronics, Inc., it offers simulation capabilities for standard electronic applications, including radio frequency and audio circuits, but focuses on simulating circuits designed to operate at extreme

temperatures Temperature is a physical quantity that quantitatively expresses the attribute of hotness or coldness. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. It reflects the average kinetic energy of the vibrating and colliding atoms making up a subst ...

, particularly in the range of 4° to 300°

Kelvin The kelvin (symbol: K) is the base unit for temperature in the International System of Units (SI). The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale that starts at the lowest possible temperature (absolute zero), taken to be 0 K. By de ...

. It supports the modeling of both cryogenic-temperature CMOS circuits and high-power silicon carbide (SiC)-based devices like MOSFETs. In addition, the tool can simulate the effects of temperature changes due to power

dissipation In thermodynamics, dissipation is the result of an irreversible process that affects a thermodynamic system. In a dissipative process, energy ( internal, bulk flow kinetic, or system potential) transforms from an initial form to a final form, wh ...

during circuit operation. CoolSPICE is particularly suited for industries and research environments that require detailed analysis of circuits operating in extreme conditions. This includes applications in cryogenic electronics, high-power

semiconductor devices A semiconductor device is an electronic component that relies on the electronics, electronic properties of a semiconductor material (primarily silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide, as well as organic semiconductors) for its function. Its co ...

, and environments with significant

thermal A thermal column (or thermal) is a rising mass of buoyant air, a convective current in the atmosphere, that transfers heat energy vertically. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example ...

variability.

References

{{reflist Electronic circuit simulators