Utah State University uses Cadence tools for courses, research and development, from simulation to IC design and verification. These tools are used in courses offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Courses using Cadence tools include the following:

• ECE 5420 -- Microelectronics 2. This course covers the fundamentals of analog and digital integrated circuits. Students use the Virtuoso schematic editor, the ADE GXL simulation environment, Spectre and Incisiv simulators to model and design operational amplifier circuits, digital logic gates, SRAM and DRAM memory circuits.
• ECE 5440 -- Analog VLSI. This course emphasizes advanced methods of custom analog IC design, particularly focused on amplifiers and current research topics in the field. Students use the Virtuoso Schematic and Layout editors, ADE GXL, Diva, Incisive and SimVision for Verilog-AMS simulation and verification.
• ECE 5460/6460: VLSI Design Automation. This course will introduce students to basic algorithms and methodologies used for automating the design of modern VLSI circuits. Emphasis will be given on physical design problems including partitioning, floorplanning, placement and routing of VLSI circuits. Students use the Cadence Encounter/Innovus implementation environment.
• ECE 5470/6470: VLSI Design 2. This course addresses advanced issues in VLSI design, covering the following topics: design methodologies and IP design, CMOS circuit scaling, advanced logic circuit styles, noise sources and signal integrity in digital design, design techniques for dynamic and static power reduction, power supply issues, interconnect analysis, clocking and synchronization, process variation, and performance verification. Students are expected to complete a substantial design project as part of the course, which involves extensive use of CAD tools including the Cadence Encounter/Innovus implementation environment.