Efficient monte carlo flow via failure probability modeling

摘要

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically reducing the number of Monte Carlo simulation samples required to determine if a design yield is above or below a given yield target with a given confidence. Embodiments perform an initial Monte Carlo based performance modeling using an initial set of statistical samples, and estimate the failure probability of each of the remaining statistical samples based on the performance model. Embodiments then simulate each of the remaining statistical samples with a computer-operated Monte Carlo circuit simulation tool in decreasing failure probability order, wherein the sample most likely to fail is simulated first. Progressive comparisons of the simulated yield against a yield target eventually verify the yield at a required confidence level, halting the simulation and triggering tangible output of the comparison results. A potential ten-fold decrease in overall yield verification time without loss of accuracy may result.