SUGAR is a simulation tool for MEMS devices based on nodal analysis techniques from the world of integrated circuit simulation. Beams, electrostatic gaps, circuit elements, etc. are modeled by small, coupled systems of differential equations.

In less than a decade, the MEMS community has leveraged nearly all the integrated-circuit community's fabrication techniques, but little of the wealth of simulation capabilities. A wide range of student and professional circuit designers regularly use circuit simulation tools like SPICE, while MEMS designers often resort to back-of-the-envelope calculations. For three decades, development of IC CAD tools has gone hand-in-hand with the development of IC processes. Tools for simulation will play a similar role in future advances in the design of complicated micro-electromechanical systems.

SUGAR inherits its name and philosophy from SPICE. A MEMS designer can describe a device in a compact netlist format, and very quickly simulate the device's behavior. Using simple simulations in SUGAR, a designer can quickly find problems in a design or try out new ideas. Later in the design process, a designer might run more detailed simulations to check for subtle second-order effects; early in the design, a quick approximate solution is key. SUGAR provides that quick solution.

For more in-depth information, please see the list of publications or read the SUGAR 3.0 user's manual (pdf).
 

Please provide feedback, post new developments, or point out bugs through SourceForge.net at http://sourceforge.net/projects/mems/.

Releases of SUGAR include (MATLAB version 5.0 or later required):

• SUGAR v3.0 (linux, win) alpha (4/5/2002) - includes extensive revisions. See the user's manual (pdf).
• SUGAR v2.0 SUITE (3/14/2002) - added models and increased functionality.
• SUGAR v2.0 beta (10/18/2001) - improved software architecture for extensibility and portability.
• SUGAR v1.1 (7/*/2000) - added new models, pull-in voltage analysis, and support for subnets.
• SUGAR v1.01 (11/*/1999) - added several new functions based on SUGAR v1.0.
• SUGAR v1.0 (10/*/1999) - added new models including several 3D models and circuit elements. 
• SUGAR v0.5 (6/*/1998) - Baseline release. Only simulates planar devices with beams, gaps and anchors.

Graduate Students

Graduated Students

Researchers and Affiliates 

Undergraduate Students

Contributors

J. V. Clark, D. Bindel, W. Kao, E. Zhu, A. Kuo, N. Zhou, J. Nie, J. Demmel, Z. Bai, S. Govindjee, K. S. J. Pister, M. Gu, A. Agogino, "Addressing the Needs of Complex MEMS Design." To appear in MEMS 2002. Las Vegas, Nevada, January 20-24, 2002.

N. Zhou, B. Zhu, A. M. Agogino, K. S. J. Pister, "Evolutionary Synthesis of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Design." In Proceedings of ANNIE 2001: IEEE Neural Networks Council and Smart Engineering Systems Laboratory. ASME Press, Vol. 11, pp. 197-202. St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 4-7, 2001.
First Runner-up for Novel Smart Engineering System Design Award

J. V. Clark, D. Bindel, N. Zhou, S. Bhave, Z. Bai, J. Demmel, K. S. J. Pister, "Sugar: Advancements in a 3D Multi-Domain Simulation Package for MEMS." In Proceedings of the Microscale Systems: Mechanics and Measurements Symposium. Portland, OR, June 4, 2001. 

Z. Bai, D. Bindel, J. V. Clark, J. Demmel, K. S. J. Pister, N. Zhou, "New Numerical Techniques and Tools in Sugar for 3D MEMS Simulation." In Technical Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems. Hilton Head Island, SC, March 19-21, 2001, pp. 31-34.

J. V. Clark, N. Zhou, D. Bindel, L. Schenato, W. Wu, J. Demmel, K. S. J. Pister, "3D MEMS Simulation Modeling Using Modified Nodal Analysis." In Proceedings of the Microscale Systems: Mechanics and Measurements Symposium. Orlando, FL, June 8, 2000, pp. 68-75.

J. V. Clark, N. Zhou, K. S. J. Pister, "Modified Nodal Analysis for MEMS with Multi-Energy Domains." In International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems, Semiconductors, Sensors and Actuators. San Diego, CA, March 27-29, 2000, pp. 31-34.

J. V. Clark, N. Zhou, K. S. J. Pister, "MEMS Simulation Using SUGAR v0.5." In Proc. Solid-State Sensors and Actuators Workshop Hilton Head Island, SC, June 8-11, 1998, pp. 191-196.

N. Zhou, J. V. Clark, K. S. J. Pister, "Nodal Simulation for MEMS Design Using SUGAR v0.5." In 1998 International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems Semiconductors, Sensors and Actuators Santa Clara, CA, April 6-8, 1998, pp. 308-313.

SUGAR 2.0 examples by Jason V. Clark, Part 2 of Stanford seminar talk, Feb 2001.

SUGAR 1.0 and TA analysis by Jason V. Clark, Part 1 of BSAC seminar talk, Nov 1999.

DC, SS and Mode analysis in SUGAR 1.0 by Ningning Zhou, Part 2 of BSAC seminar talk, Nov 1999.