1. What is Cadence?

Cadence in custom IC design refers to the rate of steps completed per unit time in the design flow. It's a measure of design productivity and efficiency.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple cadence formula:

Where:

• \( Steps \) — Number of design steps completed
• \( Time \) — Time taken to complete the steps (in minutes)

Explanation: The equation calculates how many design steps are completed per minute, indicating the speed of the IC design process.

3. Importance of Cadence Calculation

Details: Tracking cadence helps IC design teams measure productivity, identify bottlenecks, and improve workflow efficiency in the custom IC design process.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of design steps completed and the time taken in minutes. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What counts as a "step" in IC design?
A: A step could be any measurable design task like schematic entry, simulation, layout, DRC, etc., depending on your workflow definition.

Q2: What's a good cadence value?
A: Ideal cadence varies by design complexity and team size. Track your baseline and aim for consistent improvement.

Q3: How can I improve my design cadence?
A: Standardize workflows, automate repetitive tasks, improve tool proficiency, and reduce tool runtime through optimization.

Q4: Should I measure cadence for the whole project or by phase?
A: Both can be valuable - overall project cadence shows big picture, while phase-specific cadence helps identify bottlenecks.

Q5: Does this account for parallel work?
A: This simple calculator doesn't account for parallel work. For team cadence, you might need to adjust calculations.