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IBIS EDITORIAL TASK GROUP
http://www.ibis.org/editorial_wip/ 
Mailing list: ibis-editorial@freelists.org 
Archives at http://www.freelists.org/archive/ibis-editorial/ 
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Attendees from May 27 Meeting (* means attended at least using audio)
ANSYS                                  Curtis Clark*
Cadence Design Systems                 Bradley Brim
Cisco                                  David Siadat
Intel Corp.                            Michael Mirmak*
Keysight Technologies                  Radek Biernacki
Mentor Graphics                        Arpad Muranyi*
Micron Technology                      Justin Butterfield, Randy Wolff*
SAE ITC                                Maureen Lemankiewicz, Logen Johnson
Signal Integrity Software              Walter Katz*, Mike LaBonte*
Teraspeed Labs                         Bob Ross*
University of Aveiro in Portugal       Wael Dghais

Michael Mirmak convened the meeting.  No patents were declared.   

Mike LaBonte moved to approve the minutes of the May 5 meeting.  Randy 
Wolff seconded.  No objections were raised and the minutes were approved.

Walter Katz raised the issue of Pin Reference as discussed in ATM.  He 
noted that Bob Ross added notes and comments regarding ECL/PECL and other 
non-CMOS technologies as part of the discussion.  

Walter proposed that a “technology” keyword be introduced and a BIRD 
written to add it.  He suggested the team should simply assume one of 
these will be approved, and that buffers will be referenced to some 
other rail voltage.  Arpad Muranyi objected to the assumption of 
approval.

Bob added that it was not necessary to assume approvals at all, as 
no dependency on those BIRDs exists for Editorial work.  Bob prefers 
getting rid of Pin Reference – he stated that it is incomplete and 
limited, and doesn’t deal with supply rail scaling issues.  We can 
proceed with editing references anyway, as we have to support them.

Michael asked whether ATM is taking the Pin Reference proposal up as 
an ongoing topic.  Radek Biernacki stated that he thought Pin 
Reference is needed for proper reference treatment.  It is academic 
for DUTs, but does apply to several sections where DUT does not 
apply (e.g., [Receiver Thresholds] measurement thresholds in Vinh, 
Vinl, [Model Spec], etc.).  Bob agreed.  Regardless of whether we 
are calling it Pin Reference or scaling, it describes the same 
concept: re-mapping to declared rail voltages.  He does not agree 
with Radek that a Pin Reference declaration is required.

Walter added that something *like* Pin Reference is required.  He 
proposed proceeding assuming it’s needed.  We should always assume 
scaling even for models without explicit scaling.

Bob replied that what we declare within IBIS should be the proper 
way.  IBIS is limited to the degree to which one can modulate the 
thresholds.  We can release IBIS 6.2 with or without this treatment.  
This is a separate issue from C_comp.  

Michael asked whether we can separate this issue from the rest of 
the reference revisions.  Arpad noted that the original question 
was what our references were; we addressed the voltage rails, but 
then the question of thresholds came up.   Bob stated his position 
that they are referenced to node 0 reference in simulators, and 
used for rails.  Arpad disagreed, asking about ground bounce and 
voltage shifts.  Bob replied that scaling solves this.  

Michael reiterated his question about separating the issues.  Bob 
suggested that they could not be separated.  Mike replied that 
one should avoid using a voltage or a number as reference, and 
added that the reference is not really node zero.  Walter added 
that, to move forward, we simply have to stay there’s a 
methodology for thresholds.   Michael responded that the discussion 
strongly suggests the issue is a gating item to completing the 
referencing revisions to IBIS.  Bob replied that we should fully 
vet the BIRD in ATM.  He added that the work is not gated, as Pin 
Reference is a totally new capability.

Arpad asked what the team should do with the current thresholds 
language.  Bob noted his disagreement with Mike regarding lack 
of node 0.

Michael suggested that the team eliminate the model subparameter 
language in proposed introduction, and revise it later based on 
the Reference BIRD resolution.  Arpad replied that we can’t take 
out the statement.  We still have to rewrite the model for every 
different reference for thresholds.

Some live editing was conducted on the current referencing language.  
Arpad asked whether package referencing is addressed in the 
document.  Mike asked, just in case it’s vague, whether we are 
excluding some voltages in terms of referencing here.

Michael suggested we use the proposed introductory text to compare 
against Mike’s issue list to say whether each issue is resolved 
or not.  

Arpad stated that for packages, there is no G, no parallel R, only 
RLC even in matrix format.  If only C effects apply to packages, 
we should be OK no matter what the voltage is.  Bob replied that, 
if it is not defined otherwise, the self-C matrix for a coupled 
matrix goes to ground.  This is similar to S-parameters in that 
it smuggles in the idea of an ideal reference.   

Arpad asked whether it is possible that the C reference is a moving, 
noisy reference.  Does the statement refer to a DC source? 

Michael responded that the concept that a ground reference “moves” 
is incorrect.  A reference cannot move, as it would need another 
reference against which to move; any reference can be used, as 
long as the math is consistent.  Conversions can be done between 
different nodes as references.  Arpad asked whether this implies 
a rock-solid reference for thresholds.  The problem is that the 
I-V curve reference for DIAs is a moving target.

Michael noted that we must distinguish between DIA vs. DUT.  
Correct math transformations between the two must be used and 
stated explicily.  Bob added that one can remap DIA in simulation 
to an output terminal using DUT data.  

Michael will send out the current text with revisions plus 
transformation language separately.  Next time, the team will 
review Mike’s list against this statement.  

Mike moved to adjourn.  Arpad seconded the motion.  Walter Katz 
noted that objections should be called for before deciding upon 
adjournment.  No objections were raised.  The meeting adjourned.