Cell Design Tutorial

Cell Design Tutorial

Product Version 4.4.6
June 2000
 1990-2000 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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June 2000 1 Product Version 4.4.6

 Cell Design Tutorial

Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Typographic and Syntax Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1
Getting Started with the Cadence Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Copying the Tutorial Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Starting the Cadence Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting the Working Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Finding the Executable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Loading the Cadence Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using the CIW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using Menus and Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Opening Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Opening the Library Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
About the Tutorial Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Browsing the Master Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Displaying the mux2 Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting Layer Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Measuring Distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Zooming In on the Multiplexer Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Measuring Distances with the Ruler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Changing to a Previous Zoom or Pan Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Fitting a Design in a Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Returning to the Previous Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Using Window Scroll Bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Zooming Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Using the Fit All Bindkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Zooming In and Out with the Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Using Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Using the Help Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Exiting the Cadence Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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2
Creating the Inverter Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Starting a New Layout Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Creating a New Cellview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Displaying the Grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using Pan to View the Positive Quadrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Creating Instances for N- and P-Transistors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Creating the N-Transistor Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Stopping Repeating Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Creating the P-Transistor Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Connecting the Inputs and Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Selecting Layers in the LSW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting the Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Nesting a Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Connecting the Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Adding the Power Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Selecting Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Adding the Ground Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Adding the Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Checking Design Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Finding Out if You Can Run DRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Running the Design Rule Checker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Deleting Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Saving Your Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

3
Creating the Multiplexer Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Creating a Hierarchical Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Creating a New Cellview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Opening a Schematic for Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Creating the First nand2 Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Copying the nand2 Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Creating the Inv Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Editing the Inverter in Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Opening a Cell to Edit in Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

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Stretching an Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Returning to the Multiplexer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Displaying Hierarchy Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Listing the Cells in the Multiplexer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Changing Display Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Placing and Flattening an Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Copying the nand2 Instance Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Placing the Connect Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Flattening the Connect Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Saving the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Using Path Stitching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Turning Gravity Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Overview of Path Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Starting the Path on metal1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Changing to metal2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Completing the Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Creating Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
About Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Creating Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Saving the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Closing the mux2 Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Creating a Guard Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Starting Layout Accelerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
About Multipart Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Moving the Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Creating the Multipart Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Why You Save Changes to a Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Saving Changes to the Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Saving the Template to the Technology File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Drawing the Guard Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Editing the Guard Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

4
Verifying the Multiplexer Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Finding Out if You Can Run Interactive Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Creating a Test Case for Checking Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Displaying Only the metal1 Layer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

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Stretching a Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Redisplaying All Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Performing a Design Rule Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Running DRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Viewing Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Extracting Connectivity from the Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Extracting the Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Viewing Extracted Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Comparing the Layout to the Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Displaying the Schematic View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Running LVS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Analyzing LVS Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Displaying an LVS Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Displaying the Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Probing the Schematic and Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Correcting the Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Rerunning Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Running an Incremental DRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Reextracting the Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Rerunning LVS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

5
Creating and Editing ROD Objects with the Layout Editor
131
About ROD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Creating a ROD Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Examining the ROD Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Editing the ROD Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Creating a ROD Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Examining the ROD Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Looking at Handles on ROD Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Editing the ROD Polygon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Creating User-Defined Handles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Aligning the ROD Polygon and Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Editing the Aligned Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Stretching a Parameterized Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Saving mux2gs in the tutorial Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Creating a Path through a Multipart Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

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Aligning ROD Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

6
Creating a Graphical Parameterized Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
More About Pcell Supermaster and Submaster Cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Flowchart for Defining Pcell Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
About the Tutorial Transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
About Stretch Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
About Repetition Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Starting the Layout Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Opening the Tutorial Transistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Defining the First Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Turning Off Command Repeat Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Checking for Existing Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Defining a Stretch Line for the Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Compiling and Testing the Width Stretch Line Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Defining the Second Parameter: Repeating the Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Defining a Repeat Group for Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Compiling and Testing the Contact Repeat Group Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Understanding the Number of Repetitions Expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Defining the Third Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Compiling and Testing the Length Stretch Line Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Defining the Fourth Parameter: Repeating the Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Compiling and Testing the Gate Repeat Group Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Reviewing Parameter Values for the Instance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Defining a Dependent Stretch Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Defining the Dependent Stretch Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Modifying the Gate Repeat Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Compiling and Testing the Dependent Stretch Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Saving the Pcell and Exiting the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

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Preface

This tutorial introduces you to the Virtuoso layout editor and the Assura™ interactive
verification products.

Each tutorial chapter is divided into several sections. The beginning of each section lists the
expectations of what you will learn. The step-by-step instructions help you become
acquainted with basic operations of the software. After you complete the tutorial, you will be
better prepared to use the other Cadence manuals and to attend Cadence training classes.

In Chapter 2, you create a layout design using many of the layout editor commands. You use
the same design throughout most of the tutorial. The design that you start with at the
beginning of a chapter is built on the preceding chapters. If you do not want to complete the
chapters in sequence, however, you can use the prepared files in the tutorial database.

This tutorial assumes that you are familiar with your workstation, operating system, and
window manager.

The preface discusses the following topics:

■ Related Documents on page 7
■ Typographic and Syntax Conventions on page 8

Related Documents
This tutorial is designed to be used with other manuals and training courses about the layout
editor and related products. Which book you use depends on the kind of information you
need:

If you want to Look here

Ask questions about the layout editor and Virtuoso layout editor training courses
practice using it.
Find out how to perform different design Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide
tasks with the layout editor.
Learn how to use automated layout editor Virtuoso Layout Accelerator User Guide
commands.

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Preface

Look up specific parameterized cell Virtuoso Parameterized Cell Reference

commands.
Learn about creating ROD objects. Virtuoso Relative Object Design User
Guide
Install a sample parameterized cell Sample Parameterized Cells Installation
library. and Reference
Look up specific interactive verification Assura Diva Verification Reference
commands.

Typographic and Syntax Conventions

This manual refers to the mouse buttons by their positions on the mouse: “Click” means click
the left mouse button. “Press middle” means press and hold the middle mouse button. You
will be instructed where to move the mouse while holding down the button.

The instructions for starting a command from a menu will be abbreviated. When you are
asked to “choose” commands from a menu, you must first click on the menu name, then on
the command. For example, “Choose File – Open” means to click on File to display the menu,
then click on Open to execute the command.

Instructions for starting a command from the keyboard will use “press,” followed by the key
sequence. For example, “Press the Return key.”

Other syntax conventions that may be used in this document are described below.

text Indicates text you must type exactly as it is presented.

z_argument... Indicates text that you must replace with an appropriate

argument. The prefix indicates the data type(s) the argument can
accept, for example t_ for text. The three dots indicate that you
can repeat the argument. Substitute one or more names or
values. Do not type the data type or underscore.

variable Indicates text that you must replace with text appropriate to your
system. An example is: cd your_install_dir/tools/
dfII/bin/layoutPlus

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1
Getting Started with the Cadence
Software

In this chapter, you learn about the Cadence® software environment and the Virtuoso®
layout editor as you do the following tasks:
■ Copying the Tutorial Database on page 10
■ Starting the Cadence Software on page 12
■ Opening Designs on page 15
■ Displaying the mux2 Layout on page 18
■ Setting Layer Visibility on page 20
■ Measuring Distances on page 21
■ Changing to a Previous Zoom or Pan Image on page 23
■ Using Help on page 26
■ Using the Help Button on page 26
■ Exiting the Cadence Software on page 27

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Start and exit the Cadence software
■ Display and browse the tutorial libraries
■ Open a library and a layout window
■ Use the Layer Selection Window to set layer visibility
■ Measure shapes in a layout window
■ Pan, zoom, and scroll in a layout window
■ Go back to an area you viewed previously

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■ Access online Help

■ Quit the layout editor

Prerequisites
Before you begin the tutorial, be sure your system administrator has installed the layout editor
and (optionally) the Assura™ interactive verification products. In this tutorial you will run the
following tools: Layout, Layout XL and Pcell. You must have these installed to complete all the
tasks in the tutorial.

Here are some questions to ask your system administrator:

■ Where is the tutorial directory?
■ What command do I use to start the Cadence software?
The command for starting the Cadence software varies depending on the software
options your company purchased.

Copying the Tutorial Database

You need to copy the tutorial database, which is located under your Cadence installation
directory, to your home directory. The following steps copy the tutorial database directory
called cell_design under your home directory.

This tutorial does not use or cover the Team Design Manager (TDM). For information about
TDM, refer to the Team Design Manager User Guide .

The steps in this section assume

■ Your environment is already set up to run Cadence software
■ You are logged in to your account
■ You will copy the tutorial database directory into a non-TDM area
1. Be sure you do not already have a directory named cell_design in your home
directory by typing
cd ~
ls cell_design
If the response is cell_design: No such file or directory, continue to step 2.

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If the response is a list of files, you have a cell_design directory. Rename the
cell_design directory in your home directory by typing.
mv cell_design old_cell_design
2. Find the installation directory for Cadence software by typing
instdir
You see the installation directory; for example,
/usr/cadence/tools/dfII
3. Change directory to your_install_dir/samples/tutorials/le.
For example, if your installation directory is
/usr/cadence/tools/dfII
type
cd /usr/cadence/tools/dfII/samples/tutorials/le
4. Copy the cell_design directory to your home directory by typing
cp -r cell_design ~/
The cell_design directory should contain these files and subdirectories:
.cdsenv
.cdsinit
ROD
cds.lib
cellTechLib/
display.drf
master/
mux2_strmin.template
mux2_strmout.template
pCells/
skill
tutorial/
If the data was not copied successfully (you get an error message), type
cd
rm -rf cell_design
and try copying the cell_design directory to your home directory again.

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Starting the Cadence Software

The rest of this chapter will take you through some basic tasks using the Cadence software
and the Virtuoso layout editor.

This section tells you how to

■ Start the Cadence software, including changing to the tutorial working directory and
finding the executable filename
■ Use the Command Interpreter Window (CIW), which is the main control window for the
Cadence software
■ Use menus and forms

Setting the Working Directory

The working directory is where you start the Cadence software. Your Cadence initialization
file, .cdsinit, contains commands and default settings for this tutorial. Any files or libraries
you create during your editing session are stored in this directory, unless you specify
otherwise.

To set the working directory,

➤ Change to the tutorial database directory by typing
cd cell_design
The cell_design directory is your working directory for this tutorial. All paths in this
tutorial start in this directory.

Finding the Executable

To start the Cadence software, you need to know the executable. If you do not know the
executable, you can search for it. If you already know the executable filename, you can skip
this section.

The layout editor executables are layout (layout and interactive design rule checking) and
layoutPlus (layout, complete verification, and other layout-related tools such as
compaction). To do all the exercises in this tutorial, you need to have layoutPlus. If you
have only layout, you will not be able to do some of the verification steps in this tutorial.

To find the executable,

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➤ At the UNIX prompt, type

which layoutPlus
If layoutPlus exists and your search path is set correctly, you see a response similar to
your_install_dir/tools/dfII/bin/layoutPlus
your_install_dir is where the Cadence software is installed. You might want to
make a note of its location for future reference.
If you see a response that looks like
no layoutPlus in . /usr/bin/X11
/usr/local /usr/ucb /bin /usr/bin /usr/hosts
either you do not have layoutPlus or your UNIX search path is not set correctly. Ask
your system administrator for help.

Loading the Cadence Software

Once you are in the correct working directory (cell_design), you can start the Cadence
software. The following step shows how to run the software as a background process so that
your xterm window is still available to do other tasks while the Cadence software is running.

To load the Cadence software,

➤ Type
layoutPlus &
The software might take a few minutes to load. You see a series of messages in your
xterm window about the process number and the Cadence products being started. The
CIW appears and the following message scrolls into the window:
Done with initialization.
You can exit the Cadence software at any time, no matter where you are in your work. To
exit the software, see “Exiting the Cadence Software” on page 27.

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Using the CIW

The CIW is the control window for the Cadence software. The following figure shows the parts
of the CIW.

Window title

Menu banner

Output area

Input line
Mouse bindings line

Prompt line

Window title displays the Cadence executable name and the path to the log file that records
your current editing session. The log file appears in your home directory.

Menu banner lets you display command menus to access all the Cadence design framework
II tools.

Output area displays a running history of the commands you execute and their results. For
example, it displays a status message when you open a library. The area enlarges when you
enlarge the CIW vertically.

Input line is where you type in Cadence SKILL language expressions or type numeric values
for commands instead of clicking on points.

Mouse bindings line displays the current mouse button settings. These settings change as
you move the mouse in and out of windows and start and stop commands.

Prompt line reminds you of the next step during a command.

Using Menus and Forms

Most of the menus you use in the Cadence software are pull-down menus. Pull-down menus
appear at the top of a window. You click a menu title to pull down the menu and see the
commands listed on it. The pull-down menus are the primary place to find commands.

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Many commands have forms you use to supply the command with additional information.
Some commands have option forms that you do not always need. You can use the User
Preferences command to set whether or not option forms always appear when commands
start. In this tutorial, option forms always appear when you start commands.

To see how the pull-down menus work,

1. In the CIW, click Options.
You see the commands on the Options menu. Notice the three dots (...) following the
commands. These dots mean a form appears after you click the command.
2. Click anywhere outside the Options menu to close it without starting a command.
If you accidentally choose a command, click Cancel in whatever form appears to cancel
the command.
3. Click Options again.
4. Click User Preferences.
The User Preferences form appears. This form contains settings that control how the
Cadence software behaves. It was set for you in the tutorial .cdsinit startup file.
5. Click Cancel in the form.
Canceling the command ensures that you do not change the user settings. If you click
Apply or OK, the user settings change to whatever is in the form at that time.

Opening Designs
The Open File form lets you open designs in the libraries.

In this section, you learn

■ How to open the Library Browser window
■ About the tutorial libraries
■ How to look at the contents of the master library

The master library contains the complete multiplexer design you will create in the following
chapters of this tutorial.

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Opening the Library Browser

To open the Library Browser,
1. In the CIW, choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
2. Click Browse to browse the libraries.
The Library Browser – Open File form appears.
The tutorial cds.lib file gives you access to all the tutorial libraries. The next section
describes these libraries. Depending on the software purchased by your company, your
form might show some additional libraries.
Though you can browse and select libraries, cells, and views in the Library Browser
window, you must open the selected cellview from the Open File form.
3. View the contents for the master library by clicking master in the Library column.

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About the Tutorial Libraries

The libraries contain the following information:

basic Reference library supplied with the software. Contains basic

symbols, including ground, power, and input and output pins.
cdsDefTechLib The default technology library supplied with the software.
Contains the default technology file.
cellTechLib Technology library for this tutorial. Contains the technology file,
symbolic devices, and rules used by all the other tutorial libraries.
master Design library supplied with this tutorial. Contains the completed
designs for the tutorial.
pCells Reference library supplied with this tutorial. Contains a collection
of Parameterized Cells (pcells).
ROD Reference library supplied with this tutorial. Contains Relative
Object Design (ROD) instances.
sample Reference library supplied with the software. Contains a sample
collection of gates and cells.
tutorial Design library supplied with this tutorial. You use it to store your
designs as you follow the steps in the rest of this tutorial.

Browsing the Master Library

This section lets you explore the tutorial design by displaying the contents of the master
library. The designs are called cells. A cell represents a particular function of a larger design.
For example, one of the cells in the master library represents an inverter design (Inv), one
represents a nand2 design (nand2), and another represents the multiplexer layout (mux2)
that contains the inverter and the nand2.

Each cell can have multiple views called cellviews. A cellview is a specific representation of
a cell; for example, a layout or a schematic.
➤ In the Cell column, click mux2 to display the cellviews for the mux2 design.
The view names appear.
The mux2 design has six cellviews.The cellviews and their uses are described here:
❑ The abstract cellview contains an abstract representation of the layout for use by
Cadence placement and routing software.

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❑ The extracted cellview contains layout with connectivity for use by verification
programs.
❑ The layout cellview contains a traditional layout using polygons and other shapes.
❑ The layout_save cellview is a backup of the layout cellview.
❑ The schematic cellview contains the logical design for the multiplexer.
❑ The symbol cellview contains a symbol representation of the schematic.

Displaying the mux2 Layout

In this section, you learn to open the layout for the multiplexer design (mux2) in read-only
mode. This prevents you from making any changes in the master library.
1. In the View column of the Library Browser window, click layout.
2. In the Library Browser window, click Close.
The Library Name, Cell Name, and View Name fields in the Open File form display the
information you set in the Library Browser window.

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3. In the Open File form, click the read radio button to display this cellview in read-only
mode.

4. Click OK.
The layout window opens and the multiplexer layout appears. The window has several
components: icon menu, menu banner, and status banner.
The icon menu appears (by default) on the side of the window, listing the icons for
frequently used commands. The menu banner contains menus that let you execute the
layout editor commands. The status banner displays mode and coordinate information.
Each component is explained in detail in later sections of this tutorial.
Another window, called the Layer Selection Window (LSW), appears.
5. To see the commands that you can use from the icon menu, slide the mouse over the
icons.
As you move over an icon, the command name appears.
Note: When you open a cellview in edit mode, more icons appear in the menu.

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Setting Layer Visibility

The Layer Selection Window (LSW) lets you
■ Choose the layer on which you create objects (called the entry layer)
■ Set which layers are selectable
■ Set layer visibility

There are several ways to change the LSW to make layers selectable, visible, and valid. In
this section, you learn to use the LSW to change the visible layers in the mux2 window.

To see how layer visibility works,

1. Make the metal1 dg layer not visible, by moving the cursor over the metal1 dg layer in the
LSW and clicking middle.
The middle mouse button toggles layer visibility. It also automatically sets invisible layers
to be unselectable.
The text layer color disappears to show the layer is invisible. The layer name turns gray
to show the layer is not selectable.
Note: If you click left the metal1 dg layer and then click middle, an error message
appears saying you cannot set the entry layer to be invisible. To correct this, click a
different layer in the LSW, and then click middle again on the metal1 dg layer.
2. In the mux2 window, choose Window – Redraw.
The mux2 layout is displayed with all layers visible except the metal1 dg layer.
3. In the LSW, click the AV (All Visible) button.
The colored squares showing the layer color reappear, and the shading on the layer
name disappears.
4. In the mux2 window, choose Window – Redraw.
The mux2 layout is redisplayed with all layers visible.
You must redraw the window to see the effect of LSW changes, so you can make several
changes before you take the time to redraw a complex design.

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Measuring Distances
Most designers must create objects according to precise measurements. The layout editor
provides functionality to help designers be as precise as possible. In this section, you learn to
■ Enlarge (zoom in) a portion of the cellview
■ Create a ruler to measure objects in the cellview

Zooming In on the Multiplexer Design

You can zoom in on the layout to see details. This makes it easier to measure small shapes.
You zoom in by creating a box around the area you want to enlarge.
Note: Zooming in does not enlarge objects in the database. It enlarges only what you see.

To see how zoom works,

1. In the mux2 window, choose Window – Zoom – In.
A prompt in the CIW tells you to create a box around the area you want to enlarge.
To see the details of one of the n-type transistors in the mux2 layout, you can create a
box around the area.
2. Click one corner of the box, then click the opposite corner of the box, as shown in the
figure.

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The area enclosed by the box is enlarged to fill the window.

Measuring Distances with the Ruler

Now you use a ruler to measure the gate length of the transistor.
1. In the mux2 window, choose Window – Create Ruler.
The Create Ruler form appears.
2. Click one edge of the poly1 layer.
A ruler appears and grows as you move the cursor. The current length of the ruler
appears at the end of the ruler.
The ruler measures objects in user units. Your system administrator defines the units in
a file called the technology file. User units for this tutorial database are set to microns,
which are also the default setting for the Cadence software.
3. Look at the status banner to see the coordinate display.
The status banner always shows the following information whenever you create any
object:

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❑ X and Y show the current cursor coordinates.

❑ Dist (distance) shows the distance between the last point you entered and the
current location of the cursor.
❑ dX (delta in the X direction) and dY (delta in the Y direction) show the difference
between the last point you entered and the location of the cursor.
You can also use the coordinate display in the status banner to measure the distance
between points you enter.

Distance between the last point

Cursor coordinates entered and the cursor location

X: 10.5 Y:17.5 (F) Select:0 dX: 1.0 dY: 0.0 Dist:1.00

Difference between the last coordinates entered

and the current coordinates

4. Click the opposite edge of the poly1 layer to complete the ruler.
5. In the Create Ruler form, click Cancel to stop the command.
All layout editor Create commands, such as Create Ruler, automatically repeat until you
cancel them or start a different Create command.
6. Choose Window – Clear All Rulers to remove the ruler you drew.
The ruler disappears. These rulers are not part of the cellview and are not saved. The
Clear Rulers command removes all rulers in the cellview.

Changing to a Previous Zoom or Pan Image

The part of a design you see displayed in the window is called an image. While you go through
this tutorial, you might need to alter the image to see the design more clearly. In the next
sections, you learn how to alter the image, including how to
■ Fit the entire design into a window
■ Return to the previous image

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■ Reduce the amount of detail you see (zoom out)

■ Use the window scroll bars
■ Use the mouse to zoom in and out

You also learn to use a bindkey, which is a shortcut to start commands. This tutorial
periodically points out the bindkeys to start commands.

Fitting a Design in a Window

To see the entire design,
➤ Choose Window – Fit All.
The entire mux2 design is displayed in the window.
You can use Fit All any time you want to return to the full view of a design.

Returning to the Previous Image

The layout editor automatically keeps up to three images in memory. You can easily return to
a previous image.

To see the previous view,

➤ Choose Window – Utilities – Previous View.
You see the area you zoomed in on earlier.

Using Window Scroll Bars

You can also use the window scroll bars to change the image.
1. Place the cursor on the scroll bar at the bottom of the window.
2. Click and hold, then move the scroll bar to the right.
The contents of the window scroll to the bottom right section of the design.
3. Place the cursor on the scroll bar at the right of the window.
4. Click and hold, then move the scroll bar up.
The contents of the window scroll to the top right section of the design.

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Zooming Out
To zoom out,
➤ Choose Window – Zoom – Out by 2.
The window now shows more of the design at a smaller magnification.

Using the Fit All Bindkey

You can start most of the layout editor menu commands by using one or two keys on your
keyboard, called bindkeys. Using the bindkey is the quickest way to start a command. You can
find out the bindkey for a layout editor command by looking to the right of the command on
the menu.
1. Click the Window menu and look at the characters to the right of the command names.
These characters are the bindkeys for the commands. A lowercase letter means you
press just that key; an uppercase letter means you hold down the Shift key and then
press the key. A caret (^) means you press the Control key while pressing the letter key.
2. Close the Window menu by clicking in an empty part of the design.
3. Press the f key to execute the Fit All command.
The f key is bound to the Fit All command. You see the entire mux2 design again.
Remember to look at the bindkey equivalent when you use a pull-down menu so you
learn bindkeys for future use.

Zooming In and Out with the Mouse

Instead of choosing the Zoom – In or Zoom – Out by 2 command, you can use the right mouse
button to zoom.

To zoom in,
1. Click and hold right on one corner of the area you want to enlarge.
2. While still pressing right, move the cursor diagonally.
A box appears and stretches to follow the cursor. Pressing a mouse button and dragging
the cursor to create a box is called “drawthrough.”
3. Release the mouse button.

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The area enclosed by the box you drew now fills the screen.
Next, create a box in which you want to fit the current window contents.
4. With the cursor inside the mux2 window, press and hold the Shift key.
5. Still pressing the Shift key, press and hold right and create a box in which you want to
fit the current window contents.
6. Release the mouse button.
The window zooms out. You see more of the design, but less detail.

Using Help
The Help button on forms and in windows displays information about the layout editor.
■ To display a page of information about the command you are using, click Help in the
command form or options form.
■ To display the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide Table of Contents from which you can
navigate to the information you want to see, click Help in a layout design window and
choose Contents.

Another way to display Help is to use the F1 key at the top of your keyboard. F1 is the bindkey
for Help.
■ To display a page of information about a command, press F1 while your cursor is in the
design window and the command is running.
■ To see the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide Table of Contents, press F1 while your
cursor is in a layout design window.

Using the Help Button

In this section, you learn to use the Help system. You can use Help as you perform any of the
steps in this tutorial.
1. Click Help in the mux2 layout window.
The Help menu appears.
2. Choose Contents.
In a moment, the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide Table of Contents appears.

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3. Choose Help – Contents (at the top of the Help window) to read details about using the
OpenBook® online documentation library’s help.
A second window appears. You can click the topics in this window to find out more about
the Help system.
4. Click Close to close the FrameViewer – Help window.
5. In the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide Table of Contents, click any blue text to read
about that topic.
6. Click Close to close the Help window.

Exiting the Cadence Software

You can exit the Cadence software at any time; it does not matter where you are in your work.
If you have unsaved work, the software prompts you to save your work before you exit.
1. In the CIW, choose File – Exit to exit the software.
An Exit dialog box appears.
2. Click Yes in the dialog box to confirm that you want to exit.
The Cadence software stops this session and closes the CIW.
Note: If you leave any Cadence tools, windows, or forms open at the time you exit, the
software closes them also.
3. In the xterm window, press Return.
You see the exit message
[1] Done layoutPlus

Summary
In this chapter, you learned the fundamentals of using Cadence software and of viewing
designs. Specifically, you
■ Logged in and started the Cadence software
❑ Learned about the CIW
■ Browsed libraries with the Library Browser window
❑ Displayed the libraries, cells, and views

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❑ Opened a design in read-only mode

■ Changed the image for the design
❑ Fit the design to the window
❑ Returned to the previous image
❑ Zoomed in and out
❑ Scrolled
■ Learned to start commands different ways
❑ Used pull-down menus
❑ Used bindkeys
■ Learned how to display Help pages
■ Learned how to exit the Cadence software

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2
Creating the Inverter Layout

This chapter introduces you to the Virtuoso layout editor as you perform the following tasks:
■ Starting a New Layout Design on page 30
■ Creating Instances for N- and P-Transistors on page 32
■ Connecting the Inputs and Outputs on page 36
■ Checking Design Rules on page 54
■ Saving Your Design on page 56

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Create new cellviews
■ Create instances of existing cellviews
■ Create rectangles
■ Use the Layer Selection Window to set entry layers
■ Create paths
■ Create polygons
■ Copy and mirror objects
■ Run the design rule checker
■ Save your design

If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapter

You can follow the steps in this chapter without completing the previous chapter. However,
you might want to read the previous chapter summary before starting this chapter, so you
know what was covered.

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It is possible to run out of resources, such as memory, if you run multiple layout editors. Before
you start the software, check whether the software is already running.

To check whether the layout editor is already running,

1. Type the following in an xterm window:
ps auxw | grep layout
2. If the layout editor is listed in the standard output of the ps command, use File – Exit in
the Command Interpreter Window (CIW) to exit the software.
3. Type the following in an xterm window to start the layout editor:
cd ~/cell_design
layoutPlus &

Starting a New Layout Design

In this section, you learn to
■ Create and open a new cellview
■ Set your image and drawing grid

As introduced in the previous chapter, a design cell is stored in a library. The cell can have
several views, such as schematic or layout, that are different representations of the design.
Before you can open a new design, you must have a library and it must contain definitions of
the types of views you use. For this tutorial, the library and views have already been created
for you.
Note: You will be instructed to move the cursor to specific X and Y coordinates as you build
your design. These coordinates may differ slightly from the coordinates on your system. This
should not be a problem in building the design.

Creating a New Cellview

1. In the CIW, choose File – New – Cellview to create a new file.
The Create New File form appears.
2. Set Library Name to tutorial.
3. Type Inv in the Cell Name field.
4. Press the Tab key and type layout in the View Name field.

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5. Press the Tab key.

Because the view name layout is a recognized name for the layout editor, the Tool field
changes to Virtuoso.
The completed form should look like this:

6. Click OK, to create the new cellview and close the form.
After a few moments, the Inv layout cellview appears in a layout window. The window is
empty, and you can see the axes and the grid points.

Displaying the Grids

There are two grid displays: the minor (small) grid and the major (large) grid. Usually, you
enter points using the minor grid. The tutorial library is set to show minor grid points at every
micron and major grid points at every 5 microns. (For details about changing the grid point
spacing with the Display command, refer to the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide .)

The minor grid points are white. The major grid points are green. You might need to look
closely to see the difference in color. Notice that a major grid point (green) appears in place
of every fifth minor grid point (white).

To see the green, major grid points,

1. Press Shift-z in the cellview to zoom out by 2.
The green, major grid points become visible.

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You can repeat the last command by clicking right.

The right mouse button information in the CIW reads
R: hiZoomRelativeScale(h ...
This is the Cadence SKILL language command for Zoom – Out by 2. (The three dots
mean you cannot see the rest of the line.)
Note: Once started, most layout editor create and edit commands repeat automatically;
you do not have to click right.
2. Click right to repeat Zoom – Out by 2.
The spacing between grid points becomes larger instead of smaller.
The display shows only the major grid. This is because you are zoomed out too far to see
the minor grid.
3. Choose Window – Zoom – To Grid.
Zoom – To Grid zooms out to the smallest magnification at which the minor grid points are
visible. Again, you see all the grid points.
4. Choose Window – Zoom – In by 2 or press Control-z to set the grid so it is easy to place
instances.

Using Pan to View the Positive Quadrant

Most designs are created in the positive (upper right) quadrant. You can pan the window so
you can view just the positive quadrant.

To view the positive quadrant,

1. Choose Window – Pan.
The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads
Point at the center of the desired display:
2. Click in the upper right corner of the window.
The image changes so the axes are in the lower left corner.

Creating Instances for N- and P-Transistors

Now you are ready to create objects in your design window. In this section, you learn to

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■ Place a copy of another cell into this cellview

■ Use a layout editor options form
■ Stop a layout editor command that automatically repeats

Placing a copy of a cell is commonly called placing an instance of that cell.

In this section, you place instances of two parameterized cells (pcells). A parameterized cell
is designed to let you change some of its features whenever you place an instance of the cell.
You will learn how to create pcells later in this tutorial.

The pcells you place in this section are designed to change dimensions based on the length,
width, and number of gates. These changeable dimensions are the parameters of each cell.
You enter parameter values when you place the pcell instances.

Creating the N-Transistor Instance

To create the n-transistor,
1. Choose Create – Instance.
The Create Instance form appears.
Note: This form is called a layout editor options form, which means it appears for the
duration of the Create Instance command. Look at the buttons on the form; instead of OK,
there is a Hide button. The Hide button lets you hide the form while you continue to use
Create Instance.

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2. Type the library and cell names:

You can double-click in a text field to highlight and type over a word. Press the Tab key
to move to the next form field. The View and Names fields are automatically assigned.
3. Press the Tab key to display the parameter fields.
The parameter names and values appear at the bottom of the form. You are going to
change these parameters for this exercise.
4. Move the cursor into the cellview window.
Outlines of the shapes in the n-transistor follow the cursor. The outlines help you align
the cell as you place it.
5. In the Create Instance form, change the width parameter to 11.

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6. Move the cursor back into the cellview window.

7. Move the cursor to X = 5, Y = 6.5, and click left to place the instance.
Remember to look in the window banner for the X and Y coordinates.
After you place the instance, the n-transistor appears with the layer colors filled in.

To place the n-transistor

instance, click left.

8. Move your cursor to the right.

The outline of another identical n-transistor follows the cursor because the Create Instance
command is a repeating command.

Stopping Repeating Commands

The Create Instance form is still open, ready to place another instance. By default, commands
on the Create and Edit menus always repeat.

To stop the Create Instance command,

➤ Press the Escape key.

You can stop repeating commands whenever you want to ensure that you do not change your
design by mistake.
Note: If a repeating command has an options form, you can also stop the command by
clicking Cancel in the form. You already practiced this with the Create Ruler command in the
previous chapter.

Creating the P-Transistor Instance

Next, you place an instance for the p-transistor.

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1. Choose Create – Instance or press the i key.

2. In the Create Instance form, change the Cell field to ptransistor.
3. Press the Tab key to see the p-transistor parameters you can change.
4. Change the width parameter to 11.
5. Click X = 5, Y = 20.5 to place the instance.

To place the p-transistor

instance, click left.

Your design now contains a p- and an n-transistor.

6. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Instance command.
7. Press the f key to see both transistors.

Connecting the Inputs and Outputs

Now that you have placed the n- and p-transistors, you need to create connections to tie them
together and create an inverter. In this section, you learn to
■ Choose the correct layer for creating the connection
■ Create a rectangle, a path, and a polygon
■ Correct an editing mistake
■ Practice selecting objects
■ Copy shapes

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■ Use infix mode to reduce the number of mouse clicks needed to create an object

Selecting Layers in the LSW

Before you create the connections to build the inverter, you need to select the correct entry
layer.

Every layer in your library is assigned a purpose, such as net or drawing. Most layouts use
layers with purposes of drawing, so by default the Layer Selection Window (LSW) shows all
the layers that are defined as drawing in your library technology file. The abbreviation dg after
each layer name means drawing.

➤ Click the metal1 dg layer in the LSW.

Note: Be sure to use the left mouse button to select the entry layer. If you click a different
mouse button on a layer in the LSW, you will change the selectability or visibility of the
layer.

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The metal1 layer is outlined in bold and appears at the top of the LSW. This tells you
metal1 dg is the current entry layer. The layout editor prompts refer to this as the entry
layer.

Connecting the Output

To connect the output of the two transistors,
1. Choose Create – Rectangle.
The Create Rectangle form appears.
The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads
Point at the first corner of the rectangle:
2. Click X = 7.5, Y = 15.5 to create the first corner of the rectangle.
The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads
Point at the opposite corner of the rectangle:
A rectangle appears and stretches as you move the cursor.
3. Click X = 8.5, Y = 19.5 to create the opposite corner of the rectangle.

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You have completed the rectangle that connects the output of the two transistors.

The metal1 rectangle

connects the output of the
transistors.

The layout window and CIW still display a prompt because repeat mode is on.

Nesting a Command
Nesting means to run one command while another command is still running. For example, if
you make a mistake while using the Create Rectangle command, you can use Edit – Undo to
undo the previous command. This does not stop the Create Rectangle command but does nest
the Undo command.
Note: You cannot nest repeating commands. For example, you cannot nest the Copy
command while using the Create Rectangle command.

To nest a command,
1. Choose Edit – Undo.
The rectangle disappears.
2. Choose Edit – Redo.
The rectangle reappears.

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You can undo up to 10 previous commands. Use Redo if you used Undo by mistake.

Connecting the Input

You are ready to connect the inputs. Use the Create Path command to connect the inputs for
the transistors on the poly1 layer.

Paths are shapes defined by a centerline and a width. You set the width in the Create Path
form and create the path centerline.
1. In the LSW, click the poly1 dg layer.
The poly1 layer appears at the top of the LSW.
The system still prompts you to create rectangles because repeat mode is on. You do not
need to manually stop the Create Rectangle command. It stops automatically when you
choose any other Create or Edit command.
2. Choose Create – Path.

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The Create Path form appears. The width is set to 1 micron, which is the minimum width
for the poly1 layer.

The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads

Point at the first point of the path:
3. Click X = 5.0, Y = 17.0.
4. Double-click X = 5.0, Y = 18.0.

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The path appears. Double-clicking tells the system where to end the path.

The poly1 path

connects the input of
the transistors.

Adding the Power Connection

Use the Create Polygon command to create the power connection.

Polygons are shapes defined by any number of points. Polygons must be closed; that is, the
first point and the last point must be the same. The layout editor can close the polygon for you
automatically.

To add the power connection,

1. In the LSW, click the metal1 dg layer.
The metal1 layer appears at the top of the LSW.
2. Choose Create – Polygon.

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The Create Polygon form appears.

The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads

Point at the first point of the polygon:
3. In the Create Polygon form, set Snap Mode to L90XFirst.
The snap mode controls the way segments snap to the drawing grid as you create the
polygon. L90 creates two segments at right angles to each other between every pair of
points you enter. XFirst means the first segment is parallel to the X axis.
4. Press the Tab key to start the Pan command to view the area above the p-transistor.
5. Click X = 5.0, Y = 28.0 to complete the pan, and to display the area above the p-
transistor.
6. Click X = 1.5, Y = 29.5 to create the first point of the polygon.
7. Click X = 3.5, Y = 31.0.
The layout editor creates
❑ Two solid lines at right angles to each other between the points you entered

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❑ Two dashed lines at right angles to each other attached to the two points you
entered. The dashed lines show how the layout editor would close the polygon if you
click twice on the second point you entered.

The dotted line shows how X = 3.5, Y = 31.0

the polygon would be
closed.

You do not want to complete the polygon at these points.

8. Click X = 11.0, Y = 35.0 to complete the polygon.

The dotted line shows how

the polygon would be closed. X = 11.0, Y = 35.0

Undoing Points

If you make a mistake while creating an object, you do not have to start over. You can back
up any number of points by pressing the Backspace key.

The last point you entered is not correct. The metal1 shape should be one micron outside the
boundary of the p-transistor. Because you are using L90 snap mode, the system entered two
points for you, so you must back up two points.
1. Press the Backspace key.
The last point you entered is undone.
2. To undo the other point, press Backspace again.

Finishing the Polygon

Now you can enter the correct point and finish the polygon.

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1. Click X = 10.0, Y = 35.0 to enter the correct point.

The dotted line

shows how the X = 10.0, Y = 35.0
polygon would be
closed.

The polygon is 1 micron outside of the p-transistor.

2. Double-click X = 0.0, Y = 31.0.

X =0.0, Y = 31.0

The polygon is complete. You clicked twice to tell the system to close the polygon.
3. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Polygon command.
4. Press the f key to fit the design in the window.

Selecting Objects
After you create objects, you can edit them. To edit an object, first you need to select it. There
are two selection modes: full and partial. In full mode, you select the entire object. In partial
mode, you can select an entire object or just an edge or corner of an object. You use the F4
key to toggle between selection modes. The selection mode is displayed in the status banner
of the window.

Full mode:

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Partial mode:

To select an object, set the selection mode and click the object. You also use the left mouse
button to deselect objects by clicking in an empty part of the design. You can select one or
several objects at a time. In this section, you practice selecting objects in the full mode (the
default) before you go on to edit the inverter design.
Note: As you select and deselect objects in this section, notice how the pointer changes.
When you select an object, then move the cursor within the selected object, you see the
pointer change to four arrows ( ), indicating you can move the object. When you select the
edge or vertex (corner) of an object, you see the pointer change to an arrow ( or ),
indicating you can stretch the edge or corner. Refer to the Virtuoso Layout Editor User
Guide for detailed descriptions about moving and stretching objects.
1. Click inside the polygon you just created to select it.
The polygon is highlighted in a white line, showing it is selected.

Click the polygon to select it.

2. Click the path you created earlier.

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To make it easier to click the path, you can zoom in. The polygon is deselected, and the
path is selected.

The polygon is
deselected and the
Click the path. path is selected.

3. Press Shift and click the polygon again.

Both the polygon and the path are selected. Pressing Shift lets you add objects to the
group of selected objects.

Press Shift and click to select the

polygon.

The path remains selected.

4. Click an empty part of the design.

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Both the polygon and the path are deselected. Clicking outside all objects deselects any
objects that are selected.

To deselect all, click outside all

objects.

5. Select a group of objects by doing the following:

❑ Move the cursor to the lower left corner of the image.
❑ Press and drag the cursor to create a box around all of the objects in the image.
❑ Release the mouse button.

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All objects entirely inside the selection box are highlighted and selected.

To finish the
box, release the
mouse button.

To create the first

corner of the selection
box, press left.

All objects are selected.

The objects inside the n- and p-transistors are not highlighted. Because the transistors
are cells, only their borders are highlighted.
6. Press Control and click the n-transistor.

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The n-transistor is deselected; all other objects remain selected. Pressing Control lets
you deselect one object from a selected group.

Press Control and click inside the n-

transistor to deselect it. Other
objects remain selected.

7. Click an empty part of the design.

All objects are deselected.

You can select objects either before or after you start any editing command. In this exercise,
you practiced selecting before starting a command. In the rest of this tutorial, you usually
select objects after starting a command because this is more typical for new users.

For detailed information about selecting and deselecting objects, refer to the Virtuoso
Layout Editor User Guide.

Adding the Ground Connection

Use the Copy command to copy and mirror the shape you just created to build the ground
connection.
1. Choose Edit – Copy.

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The Copy form appears.

The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads

Select the figure to be copied
2. Click the metal1 polygon you just created.
The polygon is selected.
3. Move the cursor slightly to the right.
A copy of the metal1 polygon follows the cursor.

You can mirror the copy of the polygon and use it for the ground wire at the bottom of the
inverter.
1. In the Copy form, click Upside Down.
The copy of the polygon is mirrored around the X axis.

Mirrored copy

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Panning the Cellview

Before you move the mirrored copy of the polygon, you can pan the image to see the bottom
of the design better.
1. Press the Tab key to pan.
The Tab key is the bindkey for the Pan command.
The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads
Point at the center of the desired display:
2. Click the top of the n-transistor.
The image changes so the top of the n-transistor is in the center. The Pan prompt
disappears from the layout window and CIW, and the Copy prompt reappears.

Completing the Copy

Now you can finish moving the mirrored copy of the polygon.
1. Move the mirrored copy of the polygon so it aligns with the metal in the n-transistor.

Align the copy of the polygon

with the metal in the
n-transistor.

2. Click left to place the copy of the polygon.

The copy of the polygon appears on the metal1 layer.
3. Press the Escape key to stop the Copy command.

Adding the Well

Next, you create a rectangle on the nwell layer to create the well.

In this section, you use the bindkey to start creating the rectangle. You also use a special
entry mode called infix, which reduces the number of mouse clicks needed to create shapes.

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When infix is on, no click is necessary for the first point of a command. The cursor location at
the start of the command is used as the first point. Infix works only with commands started
from bindkeys or pop-up menus.

Using Infix

To create the well using infix,

1. From the CIW, choose Options – User Preferences.
The User Preferences form appears.
2. Click the box next to Infix to set infix on.
3. Click OK to apply the change and close the form.
4. Press the f key to fit the design in the window.
5. In the LSW, click nwell dg.
The nwell layer appears at the top of the LSW.
6. Move the cursor to X = 0.0, Y = 31.0.
Because infix is on, this location will be the first corner of your rectangle.
7. Press the r key to start the Create Rectangle command.
The rectangle starts at X = 0.0, Y = 31.0. Notice the prompt asks you for the second
(opposite) corner of the rectangle:
Point at the opposite corner of the rectangle:
8. Move the cursor to X = 10.0, Y = 18.0.
An outline of the rectangle stretches with the cursor.
9. Click to complete the rectangle.
The rectangle appears on the nwell layer.
The prompt in the layout window and CIW reads
Point at the first corner of the rectangle:
Infix works only for the first rectangle you create after pressing the bindkey.
10. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Rectangle command.

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Turning Infix Off

The remainder of this tutorial does not use infix mode. (You can experiment with it on your
own, if you like.)

To turn infix off,

1. From the CIW, choose Options – User Preferences.
2. Click the box next to Infix.
3. Click OK.

Checking Design Rules

Before saving the inverter, check the design against your design rules. Interactive design rule
checking is part of Assura™ interactive verification products.

The interactive Design Rule Checker (DRC) uses rules defined in the divaDRC.rul file. For
the tutorial, these rules have been defined for you. For details about the SKILL functions used
to write these rules, refer to the Assura Diva Verification Reference manual.

DRC flags the errors it finds by creating polygons around the errors. The polygons are created
on a layer reserved for markers. The marker layer usually appears as a blinking layer and is
not selectable. DRC removes the error-flag polygons automatically after you correct the
errors and run DRC again.

Finding Out if You Can Run DRC

You might not have a license to run interactive verification even if you can use the layout
editor. To find out whether you have a license to run interactive verification,
➤ Click the Verify menu.
If the commands under Verify appear shaded, you do not have a license to run interactive
verification. Go on to the “Saving Your Design” on page 56.
If the commands are not shaded, you have a license to run interactive verification. Go to
the next section, Running the Design Rule Checker.

Running the Design Rule Checker

1. Choose Verify – DRC.

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The DRC form appears.

2. Click OK to start the Design Rule Checker.

If you followed the previous steps exactly, there should be no errors. If you have errors,
you see a blinking polygon marking the first error. Follow the next steps to fix any errors.

Deleting Objects
The easiest way to correct errors is to delete the objects you created that were in error and
recreate them using the original instructions in this chapter.

To delete objects,
1. Click the object you want to delete.

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When you want to delete an object, it is easier to select the object before starting the
Delete command. If you select the wrong object, move the cursor and click again.
2. Press the Delete key.
Now you can recreate the object using the original instructions in this chapter.

Saving Your Design

You have completed the inverter layout. However, the layout exists only in virtual memory. You
need to save the design to disk.

To save the design,

1. Choose Design – Save.
Save copies the design in virtual memory to disk under the library directory specified
when the design was created. This design is saved to the tutorial library. You use this
design in the next chapter.
2. Choose Window – Close.

Summary
In this chapter, you learned how to use the layout editor to create, select, and edit shapes.
Specifically, you
■ Set up an environment for entering points
❑ Created a new cellview
❑ Learned how to zoom the display
❑ Learned about grid displays
❑ Panned the image
■ Created instances of n- and p-transistor parameterized cells (pcells)
❑ Learned how to place cell instances
❑ Learned how to assign parameter values to pcells
■ Created and edited shapes
❑ Set the entry layer using the LSW

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❑ Created a path
❑ Created a rectangle
❑ Created a polygon
❑ Learned how to select shapes
❑ Copied a polygon
■ Learned how to correct mistakes
❑ Learned how to undo both Create and Edit commands
❑ Deleted a point you created
■ Learned how to run the Design Rule Checker
■ Learned how to save your design and close the window
■ Used bindkeys for
❑ Fit All [f]
❑ Pan [Tab]

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3
Creating the Multiplexer Layout

In this chapter, you learn to use the Virtuoso layout editor to create a hierarchical design for
a multiplexer by doing the following tasks. You must run Virtuoso layout accelerator to create
part of the design. The instructions for starting layout accelerator are in Creating a Guard
Ring on page 89. You also continue to use basic editing commands and learn some
shortcuts.
■ Creating a Hierarchical Layout on page 60
■ Editing the Inverter in Place on page 65
■ Displaying Hierarchy Levels on page 70
■ Placing and Flattening an Instance on page 74
■ Using Path Stitching on page 78
■ Creating Pins on page 83
■ Creating a Guard Ring on page 89

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Copy cell instances to create a hierarchical design
■ View different levels of hierarchy
■ Edit a cell while viewing it in the context of the surrounding design
■ Stretch an area
■ Flatten instances
■ Use path stitching
■ Create labels
■ Create pins
■ Create a multipart path

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If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapters

This chapter assumes you have followed the steps in the previous chapters. If you did not
follow the steps in the previous chapters but want to go through this chapter, you can copy a
completed design from the master library as explained in the following steps.

If you did follow the steps in the previous chapters you can skip to “Creating a Hierarchical
Layout” on page 60.
Note: It is possible to run out of resources, such as memory, if you run multiple layout editors.
Before you start the software, you need to check whether the software is already running.
1. Type the following in an xterm window to check whether the layout editor is already
running:
ps auxw | grep layout
2. If the layout editor is running, choose File – Exit in the Command Interpreter Window
(CIW) to exit the software.
3. Type the following in an xterm window to start the layout editor:
cd ~/cell_design
layoutPlus &
4. Choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
5. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name Inv_save
View Name layout

6. Click OK.
The inverter cell from the master library opens.
7. In the cellview window, choose Design – Save As.
The Save As form appears.

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8. In the Save As form, type the library and cell names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name Inv

9. Click OK.
The inverter cell is copied to the tutorial library but the inverter cell from the master
library remains on your screen.
10. In the cellview window, choose Window – Close to close the inverter cellview from the
master library.
You use the inverter from the tutorial library later in this chapter.

Creating a Hierarchical Layout

In this section, you create a hierarchical design. A hierarchical design is one containing
instances of other cells. Those cells, in turn, can contain instances of cells.

You create the multiplexer in this section by placing instances of several cells inside the
multiplexer cellview, mux2, as shown in the following figure.

mux2

mux2_connect nand2 nand2 Inv nand2

ptranA ntran ptranA ntran ptran ntran ptranA ntran

You place the following cells from the tutorial library: mux2_connect, nand2, and Inv, the
inverter you created in the previous chapter or just copied from the master library. Most of
these cells contain other cells.

Later in this section, you flatten the mux2_connect cell, so its contents appear in the top mux2
cellview and it is no longer an instance.

In the following sections, you learn to

■ Create the multiplexer layout, mux2

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■ Create and copy the nand instance

■ Create the inverter instance

Creating a New Cellview

In this section, you learn to create a layout view for the mux2 cell.
1. In the Command Interpreter Window (CIW), choose File – New – Cellview.
The Create New File form appears. If you have continued from Chapter 2, the last file
you created (Inv layout) is displayed in the form. If you have just started, no cell name is
displayed, and you must set the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2
View Name layout
Tool Virtuoso

2. Click OK to create the mux2 layout.

A window appears containing just the cellview axes and grid points.

Opening a Schematic for Reference

You can open the schematic view of the mux2 design for reference as you build the layout
view of mux2.
1. Choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
2. Set the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name mux2
View Name schematic

3. Click OK or press the Return key.

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The schematic view of the mux2 design appears.

Note: For a better fit of all your windows on your screen, click and hold any corner of the
schematic window and move the mouse until the window is a smaller size. Then press the f
key in the schematic window to fit the schematic drawing within the resized window.

Creating the First nand2 Instance

You are now ready to place the first instance of the nand2 cell into the mux2 cellview.
1. Move the cursor inside the mux2 layout window and press the i key.
The Create Instance form appears. If you have continued from Chapter 2, the last cell
you placed (ptransistor) is displayed in the form. If you have just started, no cell name is
displayed.
2. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name nand2
View Name layout

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3. Click X = 0, Y = 0 to place the first nand2 instance.

The nand2 instance appears in the mux2 cellview.
4. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Instance command.
The Create Instance form disappears.
5. Press the f key to fit the design in the window.

6. You need to move to the right of the nand2. You do this with the Pan command. Press the
Tab key to start the Pan command.
7. Click X = 18.0, Y = 18.0 to move to the right of the nand2.

Copying the nand2 Instance

You copy the first nand instance to create the second nand instance.
1. Press the c key to start the Copy command.
2. Click anywhere inside the first instance.
The outline and shapes inside the first instance are highlighted.

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3. Move the cursor to the right until the second instance aligns with the first.

4. Click to place the copy.

Creating the Inv Instance

Now you place an instance of the inverter layout you created in the previous chapter or copied
from the master library.
1. Press the Tab key, and click X = 32.0, Y = 18.0 to pan right.
2. Press the i key.
The Copy command is canceled and the Create Instance form appears.
3. In the Create Instance form, type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name Inv
View Name layout

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4. You need to mirror the inverter along the X axis. Click Sideways to mirror the inverter.
5. In the cellview, click X = 40, Y = 0 for the instance origin.
6. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Instance command.
The inverter appears next to the nands.

The inverter does not align

with the nand.

The inverter is not aligned properly with the nands. You correct this error in the following
section.

Editing the Inverter in Place

The inverter you placed in the previous section does not align properly with the nands. You
can correct this error by stretching the top half of the inverter up by 1 micron. But you cannot
edit the inverter now because you are looking only at an instance of the inverter cell inside
the multiplexer.

You could open the inverter cell layout in a separate window and edit the inverter there, but
then you would not be able to see how the inverter aligns with the other instances in the
multiplexer.

The Edit in Place command lets you edit the inverter master cell while viewing it inside the
multiplexer layout. This way, you can edit the inverter instance as it appears in this cellview
and see how it aligns with the nand next to it.

In the following sections, you edit in place to correct the inverter cell. You learn to

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■ Open the inverter cell to edit in place

■ Stretch the top of the inverter
■ Return to editing the mux2 cellview

Opening a Cell to Edit in Place

Open the inverter cell for editing using Edit in Place.
1. Choose Design – Hierarchy – Edit in Place.
The layout editor prompts you to point to a shape in the design to be edited.
2. Click the metal1 polygon at the top or bottom of the inverter.
Note: The transistors are (pcells) parameterized cells. You cannot edit pcells in place
because they must be created by compiling (you learn how to compile pcells later in this
tutorial). If you accidentally click on a shape inside one of the pcells, a message says you
cannot edit pcells in place.
When you successfully open the inverter using Edit in Place, you might not notice any
change in the display. Look at the window title to see that you are editing the Inv layout.

3. Choose Window – Fit Edit.

The Inv layout data is fitted to the window and the border of the inverter is highlighted in
light brown. This confirms you are editing the inverter cell. You still see the surrounding
multiplexer data, but you cannot edit it because it is at a different level of the hierarchy.

Stretching an Area
Use Stretch to stretch the top of the inverter.
1. Choose Edit – Stretch.

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2. You need to define the area you want to stretch. Click X = 29, Y = 18 and drag the box
to a point above and to the right of the area to be stretched.

Release the mouse

To start creating the button here.
stretch selection box, click
and hold here.

3. Release the mouse button.

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The edges you can stretch are highlighted.

The edges you can stretch

are highlighted in white.

The boundary of the instance is

still highlighted in light brown.

The prompt in the CIW reads

Point at the reference point for the stretch
The layout editor often asks for a reference point as you use editing commands. The
reference point is the startpoint for the command; for example, the starting point from
which you move a group of objects. In this case, the reference point is the starting point
for the stretch.

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4. Click the top edge of the polygon for a reference point. Move the cursor up until the edge
of the inverter aligns with the nand.

Click here to start the Drag the edge so it aligns

stretch. with the nand.

5. Click to complete the stretch.

The inverter and the nand instance now align correctly.
The inverter is still highlighted in light brown to remind you that you are editing this cell,
not the multiplexer.
6. Press the Escape key to stop the Stretch command.

Returning to the Multiplexer

While you edit a cell in place, you cannot edit the surrounding data (in this case, the other
objects in mux2). When you finish editing the inverter in place, you must return to editing the
multiplexer cell.
1. Choose Design – Hierarchy – Return.
Return takes you back to the previous editing level. It also checks whether you have saved
or not. Because you did not save yet, a dialog box appears asking if you want to save
your changes to tutorial Inv layout.
2. Click Yes to save your changes.

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The inverter is saved, and the window title bar shows that you are now editing the
multiplexer (mux2) again.

Displaying Hierarchy Levels

You might want to verify the instances you have created so far. In this section, you learn to
■ Use the Tree command to list the names of the cell instances in mux2
■ Change the amount of detail displayed in the mux2 cellview, so you see only the instance
names

Listing the Cells in the Multiplexer

Use the Tree command to list all the cell instances placed in the multiplexer.
1. Choose Design – Hierarchy – Tree.
The Tree form appears.

The Display option lets you choose how much of the hierarchy you want to see. The top
is this cellview and the current cell is the cell you are editing. When you were editing the
Inv cell in place, it was the current cell.
2. Click OK.

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A window appears, listing the cells inside the mux2 cellview. The window displayed by
Tree is a text window. Commands that list information usually display the data in a text
window.

Tree shows all the hierarchy contained in mux2. It lists all the cell instances placed in
mux2 and any instances inside those cells. It gives the library, cell, and view name for
each instance. It also shows the number of instances of a particular cell, in parentheses.
You can use Tree whenever you want to review the levels of hierarchy in a design.
3. Click File to display the File menu.
You can use the File menu to save the data in the window to a text file or to search
through the text.
4. Choose File – Close Window to close the window.

Changing Display Levels

At present, you are viewing all the detail in all instances placed inside the mux2 cell. You can
turn off some of this detail so you see only the outlines of instances and the master cell name
for each instance.

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To change the amount of detail in a cellview, you indicate the starting level in the hierarchy
you want to view and the hierarchy level at which you want to stop viewing detail. The current
cellview (in this case, mux2) is level 0 in the hierarchy. Any cells directly inside it are level 1.
Cell instances inside those cells are level 2.

Level 0 mux2

Level 1 nand2 nand2 Inv

Level 2 ptranA ntran ptranA ntran ptran ntran

In the following steps, you learn how to display only the top level of the hierarchy (level 0) and
how to display data within a range of levels.
1. Press the f key to fit the design in the window.
2. Choose Options – Display.
The Display Options form appears.
3. Under Display Levels, change the To field to 0.
4. Click Apply.
The multiplexer is redrawn to show only data at level 0. You see only the outlines and
master cell names for the instances you placed. These are the only objects at level 0.

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The master cell name is not relative to the orientation of the instance; it is just displayed
as large as possible inside the outline.

5. Change the To field to 1.

6. Click Apply.
The multiplexer is redrawn to show data at levels 0 through 1. You see the objects in the
nand2 and inverter layouts but only outlines for the cells at the next level.

7. Change the To field to 32.

8. Click OK.
All levels of data are displayed.

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Because you change display levels often, you can use the following bindkeys.
❑ Shift-f displays levels 0 through 32.
❑ Control-f displays only level 0.
9. Press Control-f.
Only level 0 data is displayed.
10. Press Shift-f.
All levels of data are displayed.

Placing and Flattening an Instance

You still need to place the last nand for the multiplexer. You also need to create the
connections between the instances. The tutorial database contains a layout cell containing
predefined connections for the instances in the multiplexer so you do not have to create all
the connections yourself. You create the final connections later in this chapter.

Normally, you would create the connections at the top level (level 0). Because you place these
connections using a cell instance (level 1), you flatten the instance after you place it. The
Flatten command moves the contents of a cell or array up one or more levels in the hierarchy.
In this case, flattening the instance moves its contents up to the top level so it is no longer an
instance.

In the following sections, you learn to

■ Copy and place the last nand in the multiplexer
■ Place the mux2_connect instance containing most of the connections for the multiplexer
■ Flatten the mux2_connect instance so it is no longer an instance, moving its contents up
one level in the hierarchy

Copying the nand2 Instance Again

Now you copy one of the nand2 instances to the right of the inverter to place the last nand in
the multiplexer. You do this just as you did for the second nand as described in “Copying the
nand2 Instance” on page 63. If you feel confident, copy the nand again on your own and skip
to the “Placing the Connect Cell” on page 76.
1. Press the Tab key and click X = 35.0, Y = 18.0 to pan right.

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2. Click the Copy command icon in the icon menu to start the Copy command.

The Copy form appears.

3. Click anywhere inside the second nand2 instance.
The outline and shapes inside the instance are highlighted.
4. Move the cursor to the right until the last nand2 aligns with the inverter.

5. Click to place the copy.

6. Press the Escape key to stop the Copy command.
7. Press the f key to fit the entire design in the multiplexer window.

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Placing the Connect Cell

Use Create Instance to place a layout cell containing predefined connections for the instances
in the multiplexer.
1. Click the Create Instance command icon in the icon menu to display the Create Instance
form.

The Create Instance form appears.

2. Type the library and cell names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name mux2_connect

3. Move the cursor into the mux2 cellview.

An outline of the connections in mux2_connect follows the cursor.
4. Move the cursor to X = 0, Y = 0.
The poly1 connections at the top and bottom of the multiplexer should align exactly.
5. Click to place the mux2_connect cell.
6. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Instance command.

Flattening the Connect Cell

Normally, you would create the connections between the instances in the multiplexer at the
top level (level 0); they would not be in a cell. The mux2_connect cell was provided to save
you time. You use Flatten to move the data in mux2_connect up to level 0 so it is no longer an
instance.
1. Press Control-f to display outlines of the instances.
It is often easier to select a cell instance while viewing only instance outlines.

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2. Choose Edit – Hierarchy – Flatten.

The Flatten form appears. You need to move the contents of mux2_connect up just one
level (from level 1 to level 0). The default form settings are set correctly.
3. Click the outline of the mux2_connect cell.

Click the outline of

mux2_connect.

4. Click OK.

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The instance outline disappears and the data in the mux2_connect cell appears.

5. To display all levels, press Shift-f.

Saving the Design

It is always a good idea to save your design periodically.
➤ Press the F2 key to save your design.
The multiplexer is saved to disk.

Using Path Stitching

Not all the connections for the multiplexer were in the mux2_connect cell you placed in the
previous section. You still need to connect the output of the first nand2 instance to one of the
inputs for the last nand2.

You use Path to create the final connections. You cannot create a path on a single layer all the
way across the multiplexer, so you use path stitching to change layers within the path. Path
stitching automatically changes the path from one layer to another, placing an appropriate
contact to connect the two layers. The Create Path command chooses the contact for you from
the technology file.

In this section, you learn to

■ Turn gravity off so you can create the path

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■ Start the path on the metal1 layer

■ Switch to the metal2 layer, automatically placing a metal1-to-metal2 contact
■ Switch back to metal1, then to poly1, each time placing contacts

Turning Gravity Off

Snapping the cursor to objects is called gravity. Gravity is turned on by default and is helpful
when creating instances and devices. In this section, you turn gravity off to make it easier to
create a path. You can toggle the gravity on and off using either the Layout Editor Options
form or the g bindkey.
➤ Move the cursor inside the mux2 layout and press the g key to turn gravity off.

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Overview of Path Route

The connections you make are shown below. You can use the illustration and the summary
table as guides while you go through the following steps.

Start here Change to metal2 Create using Change to metal1 Change to poly1 here
(X=13.5, here (X=16.5, metal2; avoid other here (X=42, (X=45, Y=18.5) to place
Y=6.5) on Y=6.5). metal2. Y=18.5). poly contact.
metal1.

Note: If you make an incorrect click while path stitching, press the Backspace key to cancel
the last click, and then continue with your path.

Table 3-1 Summary of Path Route

Number of
Location Angle Layer Purpose
points
First X=13.5, Y=6.5 orthogonal metal1 Start path
Second X=16.5, Y=6.5 orthogonal metal1 Create path
Third X=16.5, Y=6.5 orthogonal metal2 Place contact

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Table 3-1 Summary of Path Route

Number of
Location Angle Layer Purpose
points
Fourth X=22.5, Y=23.5 L90XFirst metal2 Create path
Fifth X=42, Y=18.5 L90XFirst metal2 Create path
Sixth X=42, Y=18.5 L90XFirst metal1 Place contact
Seventh X=45, Y=18.5 L90XFirst metal1 Create path
Eight X=45, Y=18.5 L90XFirst poly1 Place contact
Ninth X=45, Y=18.5 L90XFirst poly1 End path

Starting the Path on metal1

1. In the Layer Selection Window (LSW), click the metal1 dg layer.
2. In the cellview window, press the p key.
The Create Path form appears. Notice that the path width is set to 1 micron. This width
is defined in the technology file as a property of the metal1 layer.
3. Click X = 13.5, Y = 6.5 to start the path.
4. Click X = 16.5, Y = 6.5.

Changing to metal2
You use the Change To cyclic field in the Create Path form to change from metal1 to metal2.
1. In the Create Path form, click and hold metal1 dg in the Change To field.

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A list of layer names appears. These are the layers you can change to from metal1,
based on the metal1 contacts defined in your technology file.

2. Slide the cursor to metal2 and release.

3. Move the cursor back into the cellview.
A metal1-to-metal2 contact appears on top of your cursor.

Metal1-to-metal2 contact
(via)

4. Click again on X = 16.5, Y = 6.5 to anchor the contact.

The entry layer shown at the top of the LSW changes to metal2. You are now entering
points on metal2. The path width changes to 2 microns, the width set in the technology
file for the metal2 layer.
5. In the Create Path form, change the Snap Mode to L90XFirst.
6. Move the cursor back to the cellview.
7. Click X = 22.5, Y = 23.5.
8. Click X = 42, Y = 18.5.

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Completing the Path

To complete the path, you change the path layer two more times: to metal1 and then to poly1.
1. In the Create Path form, choose metal1 from the Change To field.
2. Move the cursor back into the cellview.
A metal2-to-metal1 contact appears on top of your cursor.
3. Click again on X = 42, Y = 18.5 to anchor the contact.
4. Click X = 45, Y = 18.5.
5. In the Create Path form, choose poly1 from the Change To field.
A metal1-to-poly1 contact appears on top of your cursor.
6. Click again on X = 45, Y = 18.5 to anchor the contact.
7. Check that your cursor is on X = 45, Y = 18.5 and press Return to complete the path.
The connections for the multiplexer are now complete.
8. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Path command.
9. Press the F2 key to save your design.

Creating Pins
Now that all the connections are complete, you need to add some information used by other
Cadence tools.

You need to add net labels to help you diagnose problems found by the Layout Versus
Schematic (LVS) program. You run LVS in the next chapter.

You also need to create pins. Pins are used by Cadence tools as follows:
■ Pins define the connectivity between hierarchy levels. That is, a pin indicates where this
cell can connect to routing or to other instances when the cell is placed into a larger
design.
■ Pins specify the access directions for Cadence routing tools.
■ LVS checks to see if you have placed labels that conflict with the nets you define for the
pins.

In this section, you

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■ Create pins and label them

■ Save the multiplexer design to disk

About Pins
Pins show what areas of the multiplexer can connect to routing or other cells when you place
an instance of the mux2 into another design cell.
Note: You create pins coincident with shapes in the instances placed in mux2. If you make a
mistake, it is easier to select and correct pins if the instances in mux2 are unselectable. If you
need to make instances unselectable during the following steps, click the button next to Inst
(Instances) in the LSW so it is empty.

Creating Pins
You create six pins in the mux2 cellview. The pins have different characteristics. This table
summarizes the characteristics of the pins you create in the following exercise.

Pin Input/Output Type Access Direction Layer

vdd! I/O top, left, right metal1 dg
gnd! I/O bottom, left, right metal1 dg
A input top, bottom metal2 dg
B input bottom metal2 dg
SEL input bottom metal2 dg
Y output right metal1 dg

1. In the LSW, click the metal1 dg layer.

2. Choose Create – Pin.
The Create Symbolic Pin form appears. You use shape pins in this tutorial, not symbolic
pins.

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3. Click the button next to shape pin to open the Create Shape Pin form.

The Create Shape Pin form appears.

4. In the Create Shape Pin form, type the following in the Terminal Names field.
vdd! gnd! A B SEL Y
You can type any number of names in the Create Shape Pin (or Create Symbolic Pin)
form. Each pin you create is assigned the next name, from left to right, in the Terminal
Names field.
5. Click Display Pin Name to associate the name with the pin.

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6. Set the access direction to Top, Left, and Right by clicking Bottom to turn it off.
7. Create the rectangle for the vdd! pin coincident with the power line at the top of the
multiplexer.
❑ Start the vdd! pin at corner A.
❑ Finish the vdd! pin at corner B.

The name of the pin (vdd!) appears near the cursor after you click the second corner.
A dashed line extends from the first corner of the pin to the name, showing the pin name
is attached to the pin. If you move or delete the pin, the attached label will also be moved
or deleted.
8. Move the cursor so the vdd! text appears near the left side of the pin, then click.

Place the pin name here.

The name vdd! disappears from the Create Shape Pin form. The first name listed is now
gnd! (the ground pin).
9. In the Create Shape Pin form, turn off the Top access direction and turn on the Bottom
access direction.

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10. Create the rectangle for the gnd! pin coincident with the ground line at the bottom of the
multiplexer.

Start the gnd!

Finish the
pin at this
gnd! pin at
corner.
this corner.

Place the gnd! pin name here.

11. In the LSW, click metal2 dg.

12. In the Create Shape Pin form, set the I/O Type to input.
13. Type the following information in the Create Shape Pin form before you create each input
pin for terminals A, B, and SEL.

For Pin. . . Set the Access Direction to. . .

A Top and Bottom
B Bottom
SEL Bottom

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Use this illustration to determine the location for each pin.

Terminal name = SEL

Pin layer = metal2
Access direction = Bottom

Terminal name = A
Pin layer = metal2
Access direction = Top and
Bottom

Terminal name = B
Pin layer = metal2
Access direction = Bottom

After you create the pins shown in the illustration, the pin form now shows only one pin
to create: the Y pin for the multiplexer output.
14. Click the metal1 dg layer in the LSW.
15. Change the I/O type to output in the Create Shape Pin form.
16. Turn off all access directions except Right.

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17. Create the Y output pin as shown below.

Terminal name = Y
Pin layer = metal1
Access direction = Right
I/O Type = output

Start the Y pin at

this corner.

Finish the Y pin at this

corner.

Place the Y pin name anywhere near the pin.

18. Press the Escape key to stop the Create Pin command.

Saving the Design

➤ Press the F2 key to save your design.
The multiplexer is saved to disk.

Closing the mux2 Schematic

Because your design is finished, you can close the mux2 schematic.
➤ To close the mux2 schematic, in the schematic window, choose Window – Close.

Creating a Guard Ring

In this section, you use Virtuoso relative object design (ROD) functionality to create a guard
ring around the mux2 design using a multipart ROD object. ROD functionality is used for
defining simple and complex layout objects and their relationships to each other.

For more information about ROD, see the Virtuoso Relative Object Design User Guide.

In this section, you

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■ Start layout accelerator

■ Learn about multipart paths (MPP)
■ Move the mux2 design to make room for the guard ring
■ Define values for the guard ring in the Create Multipart Path and ROD Subpart forms
■ Save the values to a template in the technology file for future use
■ Draw a guard ring around the multiplexer cell in the layout cellview

Starting Layout Accelerator

To start layout accelerator,
1. Choose Tools - Layout XL from the menu banner.
The Define Connectivity Reference form appears.
2. Click Cancel to close the form.
The banner becomes Virtuoso XL Layout Editing: tutorial mux2 layout.

About Multipart Paths

You create a multipart path as the guard ring for the mux2. A multipart path is a single ROD
object consisting of one or more parts at level 0 in the hierarchy on the same or on different
layers. A multipart path consists of a single master path and one or more subparts. The
master path is an ordinary path; however, it is the defining part of a multipart path; all subparts
are based on the master path.

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For example, the multipart path shown below has one subpath and one set of subrectangles.
Both the subpath and the set of subrectangles are offset from the master path

One set of subrectangles One subpath

Master path

Moving the Design

Before you create the multipart path, you must make room for it. You move the mux2 design
up and to the right.

To move the design,

1. Choose Edit – Select – Select All.
All the elements of the mux2 are highlighted.
2. Choose Edit – Move.
You are prompted in the CIW to point at the reference point for the move.
3. Click X = 0, Y = 0.
You are prompted in the CIW to point at the new location for the move.
4. Click X = 7, Y = 9.5.
The designs moves to the right.
5. Press f to fit the design in the window.

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Creating the Multipart Path

The best way to create a multipart path is to enter values for the MPP in the Create Multipart
Path form and save the values to a template for future use. Creating templates for multipart
paths allows you to reuse the information to
■ Create additional paths
■ Edit the path by changing the template

The multipart path you create for this design has a master path, a enclosure subpath, and a
set of subrectangles.

To create the template for this path,

1. Click the diff layer in the LSW.
The diffusion layer is the master path layer.
2. Choose Create – Multipart Path.
The Create Multipart Path form appears.

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3. Type these values in the form. The CIW displays warnings. These warnings do not affect
your work.

MPP Template New

ROD Name guardRing
Choppable off
Width 4
End Type flush
Offset 0
Begin Extension 0
End Extension 0
Justification center
Connectivity None

You are ready to create the metal1 layer as the enclosure subpath.
1. Click Subpart in the Create Multipart Path form.
The ROD Subpart form appears.

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2. Click Enclosure Subpath.

The enclosure subpath fields appear.
3. Enter these values in the form:

Layer metal1
Choppable on
Begin Offset -0.6
Enclosure 0.6
End Offset -0.6
Connectivity Pin

When you choose Pin, new fields appear. Enter these values in the new fields:

Net Name gnd!

I/O Type inputOutput
Access Direction Bottom, Left, Right
Display Pin Name No
Reference Handle centerCenter
Offset X 0
Offset Y 0

4. Click Add to register this data as subpath parameters.

The data for the enclosure subpath appears in the scroll window at the top of the ROD
Subpart form.
5. Click Apply in the ROD Subpart form to add this data to the template.
The ROD Subpart form remains open.

You are ready to create the contacts as subrectangles.

1. In the ROD Subpart form, click on Subrectangle.
The subrectangle fields appear.

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2. Enter these values in the form:

Layer cont
Choppable on
Begin Offset -1.2
Width 1

By setting Begin Offset and Width, the system assigns the default values to End Offset,
Length, and Space.
3. Click Add to register this data as subrectangle parameters.
The data for the subrectangles appears in the scroll window at the top of the ROD
Subpart form.
4. Click OK in the ROD Subpart form to add this data to the template.
The ROD Subpart form closes.

Why You Save Changes to a Template

Save your MPP form values as a template before you draw the MPP in your layout cellview.
Once you enter the last point for the master path, you can no longer make any changes to the
MPP.

However, if you save the values as a template, you can create a similar MPP by loading the
template and changing the values as desired. When you load the template, all the fields
display the template data except the Net Name field, which you must add every time you load
a template. If you do not add the net name, the system beeps and a message appears in the
CIW telling you to add the net name.

Saving Changes to the Template

To save all your MPP form values as a template,
1. In the Create Multipart Path form, click Save Template.
2. Type guardRing in the Template Name field,
3. Click OK.

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Saving the Template to the Technology File

When you save an MPP template, the system updates the temporary version of your
technology library in virtual memory. You still need to save your technology library changes
to disk before you exit the software, or you will lose your template changes.

To make the changes to the temporary version of your technology file permanent,
1. In the CIW, choose Technology File – Save.
The Save Technology File form appears.
2. Choose cellTechLib as the target technology file.
3. Click OK.
A dialog box appears asking you to confirm saving the technology file to disk.
4. Click Yes.

You have completed saving the MPP values as a template in your binary technology library
for future use. The Create Multipart Path form remains open. All the values you entered
remain in this form until you close it. Now you are ready to draw a guard ring in your layout
cellview.

Drawing the Guard Ring

With the multipart path parameters set and the template saved to the technology file, you are
ready to draw the guard ring around the mux2.

In the cellview window, click at these points. For the last point, X=0, Y=50, either double click
or press Return.
First click: X = 2, Y = 48
Second click: X = 2, Y = 3
Third click: X = 67, Y = 3
Fourth click: X = 67, Y = 50
Fifth click: X = 0, Y = 50

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The completed design:

Editing the Guard Ring

In this section, you edit the guard ring by
■ Making it choppable
■ Stretching the right side to a new X location

To edit the guard ring,

1. Select the guard ring in your layout window.
2. Choose Edit – Properties.
The Edit Properties form appears.
3. Click Choppable.

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4. Click Apply.
The master path is now choppable.
5. Deselect the guard ring by clicking in an empty part of the window.
6. Choose Edit – Stretch.
7. Click on any of the contacts on the right side of the guard ring.
The entire master path highlights in yellow.
You are going to change the points for the path by stretching the path. Look at the points
displayed in the Points field. They should reflect the points you entered to draw the guard
ring.

8. Click on X = 71 to stretch the path to the right.

9. Press the Escape key to end the stretch.

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The guard ring stretches to the right.

10. Click on the guard ring to select it.

11. Examine the Edit Properties form for the revised point list. The third set of points should
show (71 3).
12. Click OK to close the Edit Properties form.
13. Save and close your design.

Summary
In this section, you learned how to use the layout editor to create hierarchical designs. You
also learned more about layout editor create and edit commands. Specifically, you
■ Created a hierarchical layout
❑ Created instances
❑ Copied instances
❑ Mirrored instances
■ Used the Edit in Place command
❑ Opened a lower-level cell for editing
❑ Returned to the previous level

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❑ Saved during Edit in Place

■ Stretched an area
❑ Selected an area
❑ Used a reference point
■ Displayed different hierarchy levels
❑ Displayed a list of cells in the current cellview
❑ Viewed instance outlines and master names only
❑ Displayed a range of levels
❑ Used bindkeys to change display levels
■ Flattened the hierarchy in one cell
■ Created paths using path stitching
❑ Turned gravity off
❑ Changed layers
❑ Automatically placed contacts
■ Created labels
■ Created pins
■ Created a multipart path
■ Saved the multipart path to a template
■ Edited the multipart path
■ Saved the design
■ Used bindkeys
❑ Create Instance [i]
❑ Fit All [f]
❑ Pan [Tab]
❑ Copy [c]
❑ Display Levels 0–20 [Shift-f]
❑ Display Levels 0–0 [Control-f]

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❑ Gravity toggle [g]

❑ Save [F2]
■ Used the icon menu
❑ Copy
❑ Create Instance

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4
Verifying the Multiplexer Layout

This chapter introduces you to interactive verification. You will perform two different tests in
the Virtuoso® layout editor while using Assura™ interactive verification products. One test
uses the Design Rule Checker (DRC) to compare your design against the design rule, and
the other test uses Layout Versus Schematic (LVS) software to check your design’s
connectivity. You will be
■ Creating a Test Case for Checking Errors on page 104
■ Performing a Design Rule Check on page 107
■ Extracting Connectivity from the Layout on page 111
■ Comparing the Layout to the Schematic on page 116
■ Analyzing LVS Errors on page 119
■ Correcting the Error on page 124
■ Rerunning Verification on page 125

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Run a design rule check and view errors
■ View and correct DRC errors
■ Run extraction on a layout
■ View a schematic
■ Cross-probe between a layout and a schematic
■ Rerun verification after correcting an error

Finding Out if You Can Run Interactive Verification

You might not have a license to run the interactive verification products.

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➤ Click the Verify menu to find out whether you can use interactive verification.
If the commands under Verify appear shaded, you do not have a license to run interactive
verification. You can either read this chapter to get an idea about how interactive
verification works, or you can go on to the next chapter.

If You Have Not Completed the Previous Chapters

This chapter assumes you have followed the steps in the previous chapters. If you have, you
can skip this section and go to the “Creating a Test Case for Checking Errors” on page 104.
If you did not follow the steps in the previous chapters, you must copy a completed design
from the master library so you can go through this chapter. The following steps show you
how to copy the completed design from the master library.

It is possible to run out of resources, such as memory, if you run multiple layout editors. Before
you start the software, you need to check whether the software is already running.
1. Type the following in an xterm window to check whether the layout editor is already
running:
ps auxw | grep layout
2. If the layout editor is running, choose File – Exit in the Command Interpreter Window
(CIW) to exit the software.
3. Type the following in an xterm window to start the layout editor:
cd ~/cell_design
layoutPlus &
4. Choose File – Open.
5. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name mux2
View Name layout

6. Click OK.
The mux2 cell from the master library opens.
7. In the cellview window, choose Design – Save As.
The Save As form appears.

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8. In the Save As form, type the library and cell names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2

9. Click OK.
The mux2 cell is copied to the tutorial library.
10. In the mux2 cellview, choose Window – Close to close the cellview.
11. In the CIW, choose Open – File to open the mux2 layout you just saved.
12. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2
View Name layout

13. Click OK.

The mux2 cell from the tutorial library opens.
Note: Another way to open a cellview is with the Open command. Using Open replaces
the current window with the new window. To use the Open command, choose Design –
Open. The Open File form appears. Set the library, cell, and view names to the cellview
you want to open, and click OK. The current cellview is replaced with the new cellview.

Creating a Test Case for Checking Errors

If you followed the instructions in the last chapter exactly or copied the mux2 layout from the
master library, the multiplexer design does not generate any verification errors. In this
section, you will make a small, deliberate error on the metal1 layer so you can learn how to
display and correct errors.

In this section, you learn to

■ Turn off visibility of all layers except metal1 so it is easier to see the path you edit
■ Make an error by stretching the end of a path

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■ Turn visibility of all layers back on

Displaying Only the metal1 Layer

Open your mux2 layout if you closed it after the previous chapter. To make it easier to see the
path you want to edit, you turn off visibility of all layers except metal1.
1. In the Layer Selection Window (LSW), press Shift and click middle on the metal1 dg
layer.
The metal1 entry layer is now the current entry layer. The layer names in the LSW are all
shaded gray to show they are invisible, with the exception of metal1.
The mux2 layout window does not change. You must redraw the window to see any
changes you make in the LSW.
2. Move the cursor to the layout window and press Control-r.
Now you see only metal1 objects in the layout window.

Stretching a Path
In this section, you learn how to stretch a path.
1. Zoom in on the area shown below.

Zoom in on this
area.

2. Press the s key to open the Stretch form.

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3. Click the right end of the metal1 path.

The entire path is highlighted. Bolder highlighting appears at the endpoint. The bold mark
shows you selected the end of the path.

Click this edge.

4. Stretch the path so there is a 0.5-micron gap by clicking X = 32, Y = 28.

The display grid points are each 1 micron apart. The cursor snaps to the grid every 0.5
microns. The gap you create is one-half of one visible grid space.

Move the path end left, so there is

a 0.5-micron gap.

5. Press the Escape key to stop the Stretch command.

You just created an error by stretching the path. Later, you use DRC to find this error.

Redisplaying All Layers

It is not necessary to view all the layers when you run DRC. However, errors are easier to see
with all layers visible.

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1. In the LSW, click AV (All Visible).

2. Move the cursor into the layout window and press Control-r to see all layers.

Performing a Design Rule Check

DRC checks your layout against physical design rules defined in the divaDRC.rul file
located in the cellTechLib directory. This section shows you how to
■ Run DRC to search for errors
■ Display information about any errors

Running DRC
1. Choose Verify – DRC.

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The DRC form appears.

2. Click OK to run DRC.

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The CIW reports one error. A blinking polygon, called an error flag, appears at the
location of the error.

The DRC error is

highlighted with a
blinking polygon.

Important
Do not correct this error yet. You will run LVS later in this chapter to see how LVS
reports this same error.
3. Press the f key to fit the entire design in your window, and look for any other errors you
might have made.
4. If you have any other errors, correct them by redrawing the flagged objects using
instructions in the previous chapters. Run DRC again before proceeding.

Viewing Errors
Use the Markers – Explain command to display more information about the error flagged by
DRC.
1. In the mux2 cellview window, choose Verify – Markers – Explain.
2. Click the error flag.

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The error flag is highlighted in yellow to show that you selected it. A window appears at
the top left of the screen. It lists the cellview containing the error and the rule that was
violated.

In the CIW, DRC reports a spacing violation:

"metal1" sep < 1 (metal1 separation is less than 1 micron).
Even though the two paths should be connected, DRC reports a spacing violation
because the spacing between objects on the metal1 layer should be 1.0 microns and the
space between the two paths on metal1 is 0.5 microns.
3. Press the Escape key to cancel the Explain command.
If there were more error flags, you could continue to use Explain to explain the other
errors.
4. Choose Verify – Markers – Delete All to remove the error marker.

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The Delete All Markers form appears.

5. Click OK.
The error marker is removed.

Extracting Connectivity from the Layout

You must extract the connectivity from the layout cellview to compare the layout and
schematic cellviews. To extract connectivity, you run the Extract program. The Extract
program uses rules defined in the technology file to recognize devices and establish electrical
connections (nets).

The Extract program creates a temporary cellview, called the extracted view, that shows the
nets. You will use both the extracted cellview and the layout cellview in this section.

Important
As you follow the steps in the rest of this chapter, be careful to use the correct
cellview. Check the title banner for the view name layout or extracted.

In this section, you learn to

■ Use the Extract command to create an extracted view of mux2
■ View the extracted data

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Extracting the Layout

1. Choose Verify – Extract.
The Extractor form appears.

Note: If you are running the Affirma anolog circuit design software, the Extractor form
is different than the form that appears here. You can continue this tutorial despite the
different form. If you want detailed descriptions of options that appear in the analog circuit
design forms, refer to the Assura Diva Verification Reference manual.
2. Turn on Join Nets With Same Name. This will merge nets with the same names while
suppressing warning messages about different nets that have the same name.
3. Click OK to run the Extract program.
The extraction rules appear in the CIW as the extract program runs. When extraction is
complete, you see
saving rep tutorial/mux2/extracted
This means the extracted cellview was created.

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Viewing Extracted Data

The extracted view of mux2 is similar to but not identical to the layout cellview. In this section,
you look at the extracted cellview so you understand the differences between the extracted
and the layout cellviews.
1. In the Command Interperter Window (CIW), choose File – Open to view the extracted
mux2 view.
The Open File form appears.
2. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2
View Name extracted

3. Click OK.
The extracted cellview appears on top of the layout cellview. The banner contains the
following:

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The extracted cellview is similar to the layout, but the gates now have symbols at one
end.

4. Press Control-f to display only level 0 data.

The gate symbols disappear, and you see a name inside each gate region. Each gate
has been mapped to either an nfet or pfet device, identified by an instance of an ivpcell.

An ivpcell is a special parameterized cell used by the verification program to display

devices.
5. Press Shift-f to display all levels again.

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6. Zoom in on one of the symbols.

You see the gate width and length displayed next to the symbol.

Gate width

Gate length

Display the electrical connections by setting Nets on in the Display Options form.
7. Press the e key to open the Display Options form.
8. Select Nets.
9. Click Apply.
10. Move the cursor into the extracted view and press the f key to fit the design in the window
again.
You see the electrical connections in the extracted cellview.

11. In the Display Options form, turn Nets off.

12. Click OK to close the Display Options form.

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Comparing the Layout to the Schematic

The LVS program lets you compare the schematic to the physical layout so you can check for
connectivity errors. LVS uses both the extracted cellview you created in the previous section
and the schematic view of the multiplexer. This tutorial provides a schematic cellview for you.

In this section, you learn to

■ Display the schematic cellview
■ Run LVS

Displaying the Schematic View

You will use the schematic for checking details between the schematic and layout after you
run LVS. For now, you just need to be sure the schematic exists. You display the schematic
to remind you of what LVS is using to check the design.
1. Choose File – Open to view the mux2 schematic.
2. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name mux2
View Name schematic

3. Click OK.

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The schematic cellview appears.

Note: To fit your windows on your screen, click and hold on any corner of the schematic
window and drag the mouse until the window is a smaller size. Then press the f key in the
schematic window to fit the schematic drawing within the resized window.

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Running LVS
1. In the mux2 extracted cellview, choose Verify – LVS.
The LVS form appears.

Note: If you are running the Affirma analog circuit design software, the LVS form is
slightly different than the form that appears here. You can continue this tutorial despite
the different form. If you want detailed descriptions of options that appear in analog circuit
design forms, refer to the Assura Diva Verification Reference manual.
2. Fill in the schematic fields in the LVS form by clicking the Sel by Cursor button under the
schematic fields, then click left in any area of the schematic cellview window.
The schematic fields are filled in with master, mux2, and schematic.
3. Set the Priority field to 20.
The default is 0 but that setting slows down other actions on the system.

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4. Click Run to start the LVS job.

The Save Cellviews form appears, asking if you want to save the mux2 layout cellview.

5. Click OK to save the mux2 layout.

The LVS job runs in the background and might take a couple of minutes to complete.
When the job is finished, you see a dialog box, entitled Analysis Job Succeeded, telling
you the job succeeded.
6. In the dialog box, click OK.
Note: If the dialog box says your job did not get completed, click Info in the LVS form and look
at the log. The log tells you what caused the job to be terminated and when.

Analyzing LVS Errors

Now that you have run LVS, you can display information about the comparison between the
schematic and the layout. Because you deliberately added a small error to the layout, LVS will
report the discrepancy.

You can use the probe commands on the Verify menu to highlight any nets, including nets that
LVS lists as having errors. You can perform either a single probe to highlight a net in the
extracted cellview or a cross-probe to highlight a net in both the extracted and the schematic
cellviews.

In this section, you learn to

■ Display the LVS report
■ Display the errors LVS found
■ Probe and cross-probe between the schematic and extracted cellviews

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Displaying an LVS Report

1. In the LVS form, click Output.
A text window listing the output from the LVS run appears.
2. Scroll until you see the section that compares the layout and schematic.
LVS reports this information:
The net-lists failed to match.
You see LVS found 13 nets in the layout but only 12 in the schematic. It reports a net in
the layout should be merged because the layout and schematic would match if two
separate nets in the layout were connected (merged). Because the error you created was
a disconnection within a net, this suggestion makes sense.

3. In the report window, choose File – Close Window.

Displaying the Errors

1. At the bottom of the LVS form, click Error Display.

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The LVS Error Display form appears.

2. Move the cursor into the extracted window and press the Escape key.
This makes the extracted window the current window. LVS displays the errors in the
current window.
3. In the LVS Error Display form, click First in the Display field.
The LVS Error Display form displays a message indicating that two of the nets should be
merged.

Note: LVS assigns numbers to the unlabeled nets. The numbers it assigns to your nets
might not be identical to the net numbers shown above. Substitute the numbers on your
LVS Error Display form in the following instructions.

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In addition to the LVS Error Display form showing the nets to be merged, the geometries
in the extracted layout that do not match anything in the schematic are highlighted in
yellow. In this case, LVS highlights the objects on the part of the net you disconnected.

Objects on the net

are highlighted.

4. In the LVS Error Display form, click Clear Display.

Probing the Schematic and Layout

To look at the nets LVS suggests you merge, you probe the schematic and extracted cellviews
to highlight the nets. This section shows you how to
■ Perform a single probe to highlight a net in the extracted cellview
You probe only the extracted view for net 10, which LVS found in the layout but not in the
schematic.
■ Perform a cross-probe to highlight a net in both the schematic and extracted cellviews
You probe both views for net 8, which LVS found in both the layout and the schematic.
1. In the LVS Error Display form, click Probe Form.
The Probing form appears.
Note: If you are running analog circuit design software, the Probing form is different than
the form that appears here. You can continue this tutorial despite the different form. If you
want detailed descriptions of options that appear in analog circuit design software forms,
refer to the Assura Diva Verification Reference manual.

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2. Click Add Device or Net. If you are running analog circuit design software, click Add Net.

By default, the form is set to perform a single probe. You first probe the extracted view
for net 10.
3. In the CIW, type the net name, "10", (type the quotation marks) and press Return.
Note: Several warning messages appear in the CIW, these do not have any effect on your
probe.
The shapes in net 10 are highlighted in yellow.

Net 10 is
highlighted in the
extracted view.

4. In the Probing form, change Probing Method to cross probe. If you are running Analog
Artist, change the Probing Method to cross probe matched.

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5. Click Add Device or Net.

6. Move the schematic cellview to the front of your screen so you can see its contents.
7. In the CIW, type the net name, "8", (type the quotation marks) and press Return.
The shapes in net 8 are highlighted in yellow in both the extracted and schematic views.

Net 8 is highlighted in the

schematic view.

Net 8 is highlighted in the

extracted view.

8. To remove the probe highlights, in the Probing form, click Remove All.
Note: You can also probe from the schematic to the layout. After you open the Probing
form, click a net in the schematic.
9. In the Probing form, click Cancel.
10. In the LVS Error Display form, click Cancel.
11. In the LVS form, choose Commands – Close Window.
Now that you have determined where the error is, you do not need to see the schematic
view anymore.
12. In the schematic cellview, choose Window – Close.

Correcting the Error

In the previous sections, you saw that the error both DRC and LVS discovered was caused
by a break in one net in the layout. The break made it appear as if there were two nets. In this
section, you correct the error and reconnect the net.

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1. In the extracted cellview, choose Window – Close.

The extracted cellview closes and you see the layout cellview. You always edit in the
layout cellview and then reextract.
2. To correct the error in the layout cellview, press the s key and stretch the metal1 path so
it joins the two nets at point X = 33, Y = 28.

Stretch this path end.

It should touch this path edge.

3. To stop the Stretch command, press the Escape key.

4. To save the layout cellview, in the icon menu, click the Save command icon.

The layout cellview is written to disk.

Rerunning Verification
After correcting the errors in the layout, you run verification again. The steps are nearly
identical to those you followed earlier in this chapter, except this time you run an incremental
DRC. This means you check only the changed portion of the design. The verification
programs should not find any errors.

This section tells you how to

■ Run an incremental DRC

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■ Run an extraction on a layout

■ Run LVS from the extracted cellview

The instructions in this section are brief because you have already done the steps before. If
you want more details, you can go back through the previous sections.

Running an Incremental DRC

The system keeps track of any changes you made since the last DRC. You can run an
incremental DRC to check only your changes to the design. This makes the DRC go faster.
1. In the mux2 layout window, choose Verify – DRC to display the DRC form.
2. Set Checking Limit to incremental.
3. Click OK to run DRC.
When DRC has been completed, you see output in the CIW that there are 0 errors.

Reextracting the Layout

You must extract the layout again so the extracted view includes your correction.
1. In the mux2 layout window, choose Verify – Extract to display the Extractor form.
2. In the Extractor form, click OK.
Extraction is complete when you see this message in the CIW:
saving rep tutorial/mux2/extracted
****** Summary of rule violation for cell "mux2 layout" *******
Total errors found: 0
3. In the CIW, choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
4. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2
View Name extracted

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5. Click OK.
The extracted cellview window opens. The two nets are now joined.
6. In the extracted cellview window, choose Verify – Probe.
The Probing form opens.
7. In the Probing form, click Add Device or Net, and set Probe Type to net only.
8. Click left at X = 37, Y = 43 To select the net.

Click the net.

Because there are two nets at this point, a text window appears so you can choose your
net from a list.
9. Click 8 in the text window to choose your net.
10. In the Probing form, click OK.

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You can see the nets are now joined.

The nets are

joined here.

11. In the Probing form, click Remove All.

12. Click Cancel.

Rerunning LVS
Now you can run LVS again on the new extracted cellview.
1. In the extracted cellview window, choose Verify – LVS to open the LVS form.
2. In the LVS form, click Run.
A form asks if you want to save the cellview.
3. Click OK to save the mux2 layout.
The LVS job proceeds, then a dialog box appears, confirming the job has been
completed. This might take a few minutes.
4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
5. In the LVS form, click Output.
A text window containing the LVS report appears. The message in the text window
should read
The net-lists match

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6. In the text window, choose File – Close Window.

7. In the LVS form, choose Commands – Close Window.
8. In the extracted cellview window, choose Window – Close.
9. In the layout cellview window, choose Window – Close.
You have completed verifying the mux2 layout.

Summary
In this chapter, you learned how to verify layout designs using interactive verification.
Specifically, you
■ Ran a DRC (Design Rule Checker)
■ Viewed DRC errors
■ Extracted a layout view
■ Viewed extracted data
■ Viewed a schematic
■ Ran LVS
■ Viewed LVS errors
■ Cross-probed between the extracted layout and the schematic
■ Ran verification programs again
■ Used bindkeys:
❑ Redraw [Control-r]
❑ Zoom In [z]
❑ Display Options [e]
❑ Stretch [s]
❑ Display Levels 0–20 [Shift-f]
❑ Display Levels 0–0 [Control-f]
❑ Fit All [f]
■ Used the icon menu for Save

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5
Creating and Editing ROD Objects with
the Layout Editor

In this chapter you use Virtuoso relative object design (ROD) functionality in the Virtuoso
layout editor to create simple layout objects and then examine their relationships to each
other.
For complete information about ROD, see the Virtuoso Relative Object Design User
Guide .
Note: You may proceed with this chapter even if you have not completed any of the previous
chapters.

You use ROD to perform the following tasks:

■ Creating a ROD Rectangle on page 132
■ Creating a ROD Polygon on page 135
■ Creating User-Defined Handles on page 138
■ Stretching a Parameterized Cell on page 143
■ Creating a Path through a Multipart Path on page 153
■ Aligning ROD Objects on page 155

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Create simple objects using ROD
■ Access ROD attributes through the Edit Properties form
■ Create ROD user-defined handles
■ Align one ROD object to another ROD object
■ Create a path through a chop hole in a multipart path

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About ROD
ROD lets you create objects and define their relationships at a high level of abstraction, so
you can concentrate on your design objectives. ROD automatically handles the intricacies of
traversing the design hierarchy and simplifies the calculations required to create and align
geometries.

Every named database object, such as an instance, layout cellview, or named shape,
automatically has relative object design information associated with it. This information is
stored in a ROD object. A ROD object is also a database object, but it exists in relation to its
associated named database object. A ROD object is identified by a unique ROD object ID.

A ROD object for a named shape, instance, or cellview contains the following information:
hierarchical name
cellview ID
database ID
transformation information (rotation, magnification, and offset)
alignment information, if any
number of segments (for shapes)
names and values of user-defined handles, if any
names of system-defined handles

Creating a ROD Rectangle

You can create a ROD rectangle by either typing commands in the Command Interpreter
Window (CIW) or using the Create Rectangle command. In this section you
■ Create a ROD rectangle using the Create Rectangle command
■ Examine the code for the rectangle in the CIW
■ Edit the rectangle and note the results in the Edit Properties form

You create the rectangle in the ROD library in a new cellview.

1. Choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
2. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows and press OK:

Library Name ROD

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Cell Name examples

View Name layout

3. Obtain the ID for the current cellview by typing in the CIW

cv = geGetEditCellView()
4. Choose poly1 in the Layer Selection Window (LSW) for the entry layer.
5. Choose Create – Rectangle.
The Create Rectangle form appears.
6. Set As ROD Object on.
The ROD Name field becomes editable.
7. Type rect in the ROD Name field.
8. Click X= 3, Y = 11 and X= 9, Y= 9 to create the rectangle.
9. Press Escape to close the Create Rectangle form.

Note: To create the same rectangle using Cadence SKILL language, you would type the
following in the CIW. (You do not have to type this; it is just an example.)
rect = rodCreateRect(
?name "rect"
?cvId geGetEditCellView()
?layer "poly1"
?bBox list(3:11 9:9)
)

Examining the ROD Rectangle

You can look at information about a ROD object in the Edit Properties form or by typing
commands in the CIW.

Looking at ROD Information in the Edit Properties Form

Changes you make to the rectangle are reflected in the Edit Properties form.
1. Select the rectangle.
2. Choose Edit – Properties.

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The Edit Properties form appears. You should see the ROD name and XY coordinates
you set in the Create Rectangle form.
3. Click ROD at the top of the Edit Properties form.
The ROD fields appear. Examine the ROD information about the rectangle.
4. Compare the values of upperLeft and lowerRight in the System handle field.

The values should be the same as the coordinates in the Attribute fields.

Looking at ROD Information in the CIW

To examine the attributes of the ROD rectangle in the CIW,

1. Obtain the ROD Object ID by typing in the CIW
rect = rodGetObj("rect" geGetEditCellView())
rect~>??
The system displays a list of the attribute names and values for the rectangle.
2. Examine the information displayed in the CIW. It should look like this, except that the
ROD object D, cellview, and database IDs will be different
("rodObj:38395928" name "rect" cvId db:36579372
dbId db:36579580 transform
((0.0 0.0) "R0" 1.0) align
nil numSegments 4 userHandleNames nil
systemHandleNames
("width" "length" "lowerLeft" "lowerCenter" "lowerRight"
"centerLeft" "centerCenter" "centerRight" "upperLeft"
"upperCenter"
"upperRight" "length0" "start0" "mid0" "end0"
"length1" "start1" "mid1" "end1" "length2"
"start2" "mid2" "end2" "length3" "start3"
"mid3" "end3" "lengthLast" "startLast" "midLast"
"endLast"
)

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Editing the ROD Rectangle

You are going to change the dimensions of the rectangle and view the results in the Edit
Properties form.
1. In the layout window, deselect the rectangle by clicking an empty area.
2. Choose Edit – Stretch.
The Stretch form appears.
3. Click on the right edge of the rectangle to start the stretch.
As you move the cursor, an outline shows how the rectangle is changing.
4. Move the cursor to approximately X=11, Y=10 and press Return to end the stretch.
5. Click Cancel to close the Stretch form.
6. Click on the rectangle.
In the Edit Properties form, the Right value should have changed from 9 to 11.
7. Deselect the rectangle by clicking in an empty area.

Creating a ROD Polygon

In this section, you create a ROD polygon. After you create the polygon, you examine and
change the attributes using the Edit Properties form.
1. In the LSW, choose metal1 for the entry layer.
2. Choose Create – Polygon.
The Create Polygon form appears.
3. Set As ROD Object on.
The ROD Name field becomes editable.
4. In the ROD Name field, type polygon.
You can enter the points for a shape in the CIW or by clicking in the cellview.
5. To enter points for the polygon, do one of the following:
❑ To enter points in the CIW, move the cursor to the command input area of the CIW
and click the left mouse button, then type the XY coordinates as shown below,
pressing Return after each set of coordinates:

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11:11
11:7
17:7
17:9
13:9
13:11
❑ To enter points by clicking in the cellview, click once at each of the XY coordinates
listed below. When you enter the last point (X = 13, Y = 11), either double-click or
press Return to complete the polygon.
First click: X = 11, Y = 11
Second click: X = 11, Y = 7
Third click: X = 17, Y = 7
Fourth click: X = 17, Y = 9
Fifth click: X = 13, Y = 9
Sixth click: X = 13, Y = 11
The completed polygon looks like this:

6. Click Cancel to close the Create Polygon form.

Note: To create the same polygon using SKILL code, you type the following in the CIW. (You
do not have to type this; it is just an example.)
polygon = rodCreatePolygon(
?name "polygon"
?cvId geGetEditCellView()
?layer "metal1"
?pts list(11:11 11:7 17:7 17:9 13:9 13:11)
)

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Examining the ROD Polygon

Now you can examine the attributes of the ROD polygon.
1. Obtain the ROD object ID by typing in the CIW
polygon = rodGetObj("polygon" geGetEditCellView())
polygon~>??
The system displays a list of the attribute names and values for the polygon.
2. Examine the information displayed in the CIW. It should look like this:
("rodObj:38395952" name "polygon" cvId db:36579372
dbId db:36579648 transform
((0.0 0.0) "R0" 1.0) align
nil numSegments 6 userHandleNames nil
systemHandleNames
("width" "length" "lowerLeft" "lowerCenter" "lowerRight"
"centerLeft" "centerCenter" "centerRight" "upperLeft"
"upperCenter"
"upperRight" "length0" "start0" "mid0" "end0"
"length1" "start1" "mid1" "end1" "length2"
"start2" "mid2" "end2" "length3" "start3"
"mid3" "end3" "length4" "start4" "mid4"
"end4" "length5" "start5" "mid5" "end5"
"lengthLast" "startLast" "midLast" "endLast"
)
)

Looking at Handles on ROD Objects

Now that you have created a ROD rectangle and polygon, you can examine and change their
attributes. One important attribute of a ROD object is its handles. Handles are used to store
points, calculations, and other information. In the Edit Properties form, you can view the
names and values of handles in the ROD fields.
1. Select the polygon.
2. Click ROD at the top of the Edit Properties form.

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3. Using this diagram as a reference, determine which points match the system handle
values for start0, start3, and start5.

Starting point

start0 start5
X X
start4
X X start3

X X
start1 start2

Editing the ROD Polygon

You can change the shape of the polygon by editing the points in the Edit Properties form.
1. Click Attribute in the Edit Properties banner.
2. In the Points field, change

11:11 to 11:13
13:11 to 13:13

3. Click Apply.
The polygon changes to reflect the new points.
4. Click ROD in the Edit Properties banner.
The values for start0 and start5 should be the new Points values you set for Attribute.
5. Deselect the polygon by clicking in an empty area.

Creating User-Defined Handles

In this section, you create a handle for the polygon you created earlier. When you define a
handle, you specify a name and assign a value to it. The values of user-defined handles are
stored in the database.

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To create a user-defined handle,

1. In the CIW, type
rodCreateHandle(
?name "topCenter"
?type "point"
?value 12:10
?rodObj polygon
)
2. Reselect the polygon and notice the change in the User handle field.
The value should reflect what you set to create the user-defined handle.

3. Deselect the polygon by clicking in an empty area.

Aligning the ROD Polygon and Rectangle

An important feature of ROD is the ability to specify the position of one named object in
relation to another named object. This is called relative alignment. Usually, you align objects
by specifying a point handle on each object. You can also specify the distance between the
two objects in the direction of the X axis, the Y axis, or both. The alignment between two
objects is preserved when you manipulate either object and when you save and close the
layout cellview.

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In this section, you align the polygon and rectangle that you created earlier. The reference
object is the rectangle and the reference handle is centerRIght. The object to be aligned is the
polygon using its topCenter handle. Remember, topCenter is the handle you just created.
1. In the CIW, type
rodAlign(
?alignObj polygon
?alignHandle "topCenter"
?refObj rect
?refHandle "centerRight"
)

Now the centerRight handle of the rectangle is aligned to the topCenter user-defined
handle of the polygon.
2. Select the polygon.
3. Look at the Alignment fields in the Edit Properties form. You should see the information
you set in the CIW.

4. Select the rectangle.

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The information in the Edit Properties form changes.

With the rectangle as the selected object, the polygon is the reference object and the
rectangle is the object that is aligned.

Editing the Aligned Objects

To demonstrate how aligned objects stay relatively aligned, in the next steps you change the
value of the handle by which the rectangle is aligned, move the polygon, and stretch the
rectangle.

Changing the Align Handle for the Rectangle

To change the value of the handle by which the rectangle is aligned, you update the Align
handle field.
1. Select the rectangle.
2. In the Alignment section of the Edit Properties form, change the Align handle field from
centerRight to centerLeft.

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3. Click Apply.

The Edit Properties form shows that the centerLeft handle of the rectangle and the
topCenter user-defined handle of the polygon are aligned.
4. Change the Reference handle field from topCenter to start0.
5. Click Apply.

The rectangle’s centerLeft handle and the polygon’s start0 handle are aligned.
6. Deselect the rectangle by clicking in an empty area of the window.

Moving an Aligned Object

To move the polygon,

1. Choose Edit – Move.
The Move form appears.

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2. Select the polygon.

3. Move the polygon anywhere in the window.
The rectangle stays aligned to the polygon.
4. Click Cancel to close the Move form.
5. Deselect all objects by clicking in an empty area of the window.

Stretching an Aligned Object

To stretch the rectangle,

1. Choose Edit – Stretch.
2. Click on the left side of the rectangle.
3. Move the cursor two grid spaces to the left.
4. Press Return.
The rectangle stretches to the left. The polygon moves to stay aligned with the centerLeft
handle on the rectangle.
5. Close the window.

Stretching a Parameterized Cell

This section introduces you to editing a stretchable parameterized (pcell). A stretchable pcell
is a Cadence® SKILL-based pcell created with a handle assigned to one or more of its
parameters for the purpose of changing the value of the parameter graphically. This kind of
handle is called a stretch handle.

pcell Stretch handles

After you place an instance of the pcell, stretch handles let you graphically change the value
of the associated parameters by selecting them and using the Stretch command. You can
stretch a handle in the direction of the X or Y axis, depending on how it is defined in the pcell.

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You are not actually stretching objects within the pcell or the pcell instance itself. Instead, you
are graphically updating the value of the parameters associated with the selected handles.
Graphically stretching a pcell instance has the same result as editing its parameters using the
Edit Properties form.

In the following tasks, you open the mux2gs layout design from the master directory and
save it in the tutorial directory, check for design rule violations, fix the violations you find
by stretching the inverter and adding more contacts, and check to make sure the violations
are gone.

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Saving mux2gs in the tutorial Directory

Make a copy of the mux2gs design in the tutorial directory to use in the next several tasks.
1. Choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
2. Type the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name master

Cell Name mux2gs
View Name layout

3. Click OK.
The mux2gs cell from the master library opens.

4. In the layout window, choose Design – Save As.

The Save As form appears.
5. Type the following:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2gs

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6. Click OK.
The mux2gs cell is saved to the tutorial library.
7. Close the master mux2gs layout window.
8. Choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
9. Type the following to open the tutorial mux2gs layout design:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name mux2gs

The layout window banner should say tutorial mux2gs layout.

Check for Design Rule Violations

The mux2gs cell contains several design rule errors. You’ll discover this by running the
Design Rule Checker (DRC).
1. Choose Verify – DRC.
The DRC form appears.
2. Click OK to accept the defaults.
The following design rule errors appear in the CIW:
\o ** Summary of rule violation for cell "mux2gs layout" **
\o # errors Violated Rules
\o 1 drc("poly1" "pdiff" sep < 0.5)
\o 2 drc("nwell" sep < 8.5)
\o 1 drc("nwell" "pwell" sep < 8.5)
\o 1 drc("cont" "poly1" sep < 1)
\o 2 drc("metal1" sep < 1)
\o 7 Total errors found

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DRC displays flashing markers to show the errors.

Flashing markers shows

area with violations.

The pmos device is too close to the surrounding devices and interconnect; the nwell
spacing and nwell-to-pwell spacing is incorrect. The pmos device overlaps the
interconnect between the devices.
After you delete the markers, you will edit the inverter to fix the errors.
3. To delete the markers,
❑ Choose Verify – Markers – Delete All.
❑ Click OK to accept the defaults in the Delete All Markers form.

Fixing Design Rule Violations

The inverter with the violations is a stretchable pcell. You can fix the violations by stretching
the inverter to increase its height so that it aligns with the neighboring cells. You also need to
add a third column of contacts.

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1. Zoom in on the upper half of the inverter, including some space above it.

Zoom in here.

You should now see something like this:

2. Choose Edit – Stretch.

The system prompts you to select the figure to be stretched.

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3. Select the stretch handle at the center of the top of the inverter using a selection box
(click and hold the left mouse button).

Select this stretch handle using

a selection box.

When you release the mouse, the inverter instance is highlighted. You are prompted for
a reference point for the stretch.

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4. Click on the top edge of the inverter for the reference point.

Click on top edge of

inverter.

The system prompts you for the new location and displays text next to the inverter to
show its current height:
Cell Height = 31
5. Slowly move the cursor upward until the text shows 36 units, then click.
Cell Height = 36

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Zooming in, the upper part of the inverter now looks like this:

6. Cancel the Stretch command.

Adding More Contacts

The inverter needs more contacts. You can add a third finger of contacts with the Edit
Properties form.
1. Select the inverter.
2. Choose Edit – Properties.
3. Click Parameter at the top of the Edit Properties form.
4. Change pMos Gate Width to 10u.
5. Change pMos fingers to 2.
6. Change Supply Width to 4u.

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The Edit Properties form should look like this:

7. Click Apply.

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After your changes and zooming out, the inverter should look like this:

8. Deselect the inverter by clicking in an empty space.

9. Run DRC again to verify that there are no more violations.

The DRC summary in the CIW should report zero errors found.

Creating a Path through a Multipart Path

The tutorial mux2gs layout design is missing an output path. You’ll create the output
path and connect it to the Y pin outside the multipart path guard ring, on the right side. To do
this, you must chop a hole in the guard ring.
1. Select the entire guard ring.
2. Choose Edit – Other – Chop.
The system prompts you to point at the first corner of the chop rectangle.

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3. To create the chop rectangle, click on or near X= 64, Y= 30, then on or near X=71, Y=21.

Y pin

Chop rectangle
goes here.

The mux2gs cell looks like this with the chop hole:

Y pin

4. Deselect all objects.

5. Create the path by doing the following:
❑ In the Layout Editor Options form, make sure Gravity is off.
❑ Click on metal1 in the LSW.

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❑ Choose Create – Path.

❑ Zoom in.
❑ Draw the path as shown below.

1. Click here.

3. Click here.

2. Click here.

6. Cancel the Path command.

7. Save and close your design.

Aligning ROD Objects

You can align a ROD object to a specific point or to a point handle on another ROD object
(reference object). When aligning two ROD objects, the objects can be at the same level in
the hierarchy or at different levels long as both objects are in the same top-level layout
cellview. Also, you can specify positive or negative separation between alignment points in
the direction of both the X and Y axes.

All instances have names and are therefore ROD objects. In this section, you create two
instances of a transistor in a new cellview and align the contact in the first instance to a
contact in the second instance.
1. In the CIW, choose File – New – Cellview.
The Create New File form appears.
2. Type the following:

Library Name tutorial

Cell Name align

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View Name layout

Tool Virtuoso

3. Click OK.
A layout window opens.
4. To create the first instance, do the following:
❑ Choose Create – Instance.
The Create Instance form appears.
❑ Type the following:

Library ROD
Cell ptran
View layout
Names I1

❑ Click on X=2.5, Y=0.

5. To create the second instance, do the following:
❑ In the Create Instance form, type the following:

Library ROD
Cell ptran
View layout
Names I2
Width 3

❑ Click on X=10, Y=0.

6. Cancel the Create Instance command.
Before you align the instances, you need to get the cellview ID and the ROD object IDs
for the instances.
7. To get the cellview and ROD object IDs, type the following in the CIW:

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cv=geGetEditCellView()
cont1Id=rodGetObj("I1/rightcont" cv)
cont2Id=rodGetObj("I2/leftcont" cv)
As you type each statement, the database ID displays in the CIW.
8. To align the two instances, type the following in the CIW:
rodAlign(
?alignObj cont1Id
?alignHandle "centerRight"
?refObj cont2Id
?refHandle "centerLeft"
?xSep -2.0
)
The centerRight point handle on the right contact in instance I1 is aligned to the centerLeft
point handle on the left contact in I2 with a separation of -2. The separation is a negative
number because the reference object is on the right side of the aligned object.

I1 Separation I2

X X

Aligned object Reference object

9. Move either of the instances.

The instances should retain their alignment when you move one of them.

You can study the SKILL code that created the instances. The code is located in your
cell_design directory:
cell_design/skill/pcell.il

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Summary
In this chapter, you learned how to work with ROD objects. Specifically, you
■ Created simple ROD objects
■ Examined ROD object database information in the CIW
■ Edited ROD objects using the Edit Properties form
■ Viewed information for handles on ROD objects in the Edit Properties form
■ Created a ROD user-defined handle
■ Aligned two ROD objects using the user-defined handle you created
■ Edited the aligned ROD objects
■ Finished a layout design by
❑ Running DRC to determine errors
❑ Correcting DRC errors by
- Stretching the ROD pcell inverter
- Editing the parameters of the ROD pcell inverter
❑ Creating a chop hole for the output path
❑ Creating a metal1 output path
❑ Running DRC to check the changes you made
■ Aligned two instances across hierarchy

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6
Creating a Graphical Parameterized Cell

This chapter covers the following topics:

■ Introduction on page 160
■ Starting the Layout Editor on page 167
■ Opening the Tutorial Transistor on page 167
■ Defining the First Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate Width on page 168
■ Defining the Second Parameter: Repeating the Contacts on page 173
■ Defining the Third Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate Length on page 179
■ Defining the Fourth Parameter: Repeating the Gate on page 183
■ Defining a Dependent Stretch Line on page 188
■ Saving the Pcell and Exiting the Software on page 194
■ Summary on page 195

When you finish this chapter, you will be able to

■ Understand parameter definitions
■ Define stretch lines
■ Define repeat groups
■ Define dependent stretch lines
■ Examine the Parameter Summary
■ Compile pcells
■ Test and modify pcell parameters

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For more information about graphical pcells, see the Virtuoso Parameterized Cell Reference
manual. For information about ROD pcells, see the Virtuoso Relative Object Design User
Guide.

Introduction
This chapter shows you how to create graphical parameterized cells (pcells) using the
Virtuoso layout editor environment. A parameter is a variable that controls the size, shape, or
contents of a cell instance. When you place an instance of a pcell, the Create Instance form
displays a list of its parameters. You enter values for the parameters to change the
characteristics of the instance.
Note: Graphical pcells differ from Virtuoso relative object design (ROD) pcells; they do not
have ROD information stored with them.

Creating and using pcells allows you to add many different versions of the same cell to a
layout by assigning different values to their parameters. For example, earlier in this tutorial,
you used the ptran and ntran cells to create an inverter. They are both pcells with
parameters for setting the width, length, and number of gates for each instance.

Without parameterized cells, your library might need to contain a large number of similar cells.
Instead, you can create one representative pcell, such as an N-transistor, and define different
values for its parameters as you create instances.

Defining parameters for a pcell is an iterative process. A good process to follow, and one this
chapter follows, is to define one parameter, compile the pcell, test it, adjust the parameter if
necessary, and then define the next parameter. See “Flowchart for Defining Pcell
Parameters” on page 162.

In this chapter, you will learn how to create a pcell by defining parameters that let you change
shapes in your designs. You will compile your cell into a pcell each time you define a
parameter, then test the change by placing an instance.

The Pcell compiler evaluates all parameters when you compile. In this tutorial, you will define
one new parameter, compile the pcell, and then check the results. After you have learned how
to define parameters, you can define several new parameters before compiling. Also, you can
define an expression that refers to a parameter before you define the parameter, as long as
you define the parameter before you compile. The Pcell compiler evaluates all parameters
when you compile, not before.

When you compile, the system creates or updates the original cell in your library. This cell is
called a supermaster. When you place instances in a layout cellview, each unique variation is
temporarily stored in virtual memory and referred to as a submaster.

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More About Pcell Supermaster and Submaster Cells

A pcell exists at three levels:
■ Supermaster
■ Submaster
■ Instance

The original pcell supermaster resides in the database and contains all parameter definitions
and their default values. When you want to add, change, or delete a parameter, you need to
open the supermaster.

The Parameterized Cell software creates one submaster in virtual memory for each unique
set of parameter values assigned to an instance of the supermaster in any open cellview.
Contains SKILL code,
parameter definitions, and
Supermaster default values
cell

Contains unique geometries

produced by unique set of
Submasterce Submasterce Submasterce parameter values
ll1 ll2 ll3

I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 Instances

Submaster cells reside in virtual memory for the duration of your editing session and are
accessible to and shared by all open cellviews. When you create a new instance, and a
submaster with the same parameter values already exists in virtual memory, the new instance
references the existing submaster cell; the software does not generate a new submaster.

How Submasters Are Deleted

The database software automatically purges (removes) referenced submaster cells from
virtual memory (but does not remove the supermaster pcell from your disk) when you:
■ Close all cellviews that reference the particular submaster cells
■ End an editing session by exiting the Cadence software

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Flowchart for Defining Pcell Parameters

Open the cell

supermaster

Define or modify
a parameter

Compile to pcell

Check the Parameter

Summary
No

Place an instance Pcell evaluated

in a cellview successfully

Yes

Set a new value for the

parameter

Yes Modify or add No Parameters

another completed
parameter?

About the Tutorial Transistor

You will use the following CMOS transistor in this chapter: pCells mypcell layout. It
looks like this:

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mypcell supermaster

Width of
gate

Length of gate

About Stretch Lines

A stretch line is a graphical pcell parameter that allows the width or length of one or more
shapes to change when you place an instance. Defining a stretch line is a graphical way of
specifying that certain shapes can stretch and the direction in which they can stretch. You can
specify a stretch line parameter as either a variable (named parameter) or as an expression.
■ If you define a stretch line parameter as a variable, you can enter a new value for the
stretch line parameter in the Create Instance form when you place an instance.
■ If you define a stretch line as an expression, the system calculates its value when you
place an instance. An expression can refer to other parameters defined for the same
pcell.

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All shapes intersected by a stretch line can stretch in a perpendicular direction from the
stretch line. For example, to make shapes stretch vertically, you define a horizontal stretch
line.

Horizontal stretch
line

Shapes stretch vertically

(up or down).

To make shapes stretch horizontally, you define a vertical stretch line.

Vertical
stretch line

Shapes stretch horizontally

(left or right).

The Reference Dimension

Stretch lines require a reference dimension. The reference dimension is a number that serves
as a starting point for a stretch and is usually equal to the size of a significant shape
intersected by the stretch line in the supermaster.

The system computes the results of a stretch by subtracting the reference dimension from
the value you enter for the stretch parameter.

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You can specify the reference dimension or use the system default, which is the size of the
shortest edge of a shape crossed by the stretch line.

For example, one goal for the tutorial transistor is to stretch the width of the gate (and other
intersected shapes) by defining a horizontal stretch line. Of the shapes intersected by the
horizontal stretch line, the shortest belongs to the contacts, so the system would set the
reference dimension equal to the width of the contacts.

System default for reference

dimension is width of
contacts.

However, the contacts are not significant in determining the width of the gate; the p-diffusion
should control the width of the gate. The p-diffusion measures 3 microns, so in the tutorial,
you need to specify the reference dimension as 3 rather than accept the default.

Reference dimension should

be width of p-diffusion
(3 microns).

When you place an instance of the tutorial pcell and change the value of the stretch line
parameter, shapes intersected by the stretch line change by the value you enter minus the
3-micron reference dimension.

About Repetition Parameters

A repetition parameter causes objects to repeat in the X direction, Y direction, or both. You
create a repeat group by selecting shapes to be included in the group and specifying the
number of repetitions (number of times the object occurs).

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For example, for the contacts in the tutorial transistor, you will define a repetition parameter
to control the number of repetitions (number of times the contact is repeated). Rather than
defining the repetition parameter as a variable, you will define it as an expression based on
the stretch line parameter you defined earlier for the width of the diffusion. This causes the
system to compute the number of contacts needed for the current width of the diffusion.

In the illustration below, the width of the diffusion for the transistor on the left is three microns;
the width of the diffusion for the transistor on the right is five microns, resulting in repeated
contacts.

The Stepping Distance

You also must specify a stepping distance. The stepping distance controls the space between
repeated objects or groups of objects. It is equal to the width of the object you want to repeat
plus the space you want between repeated objects.
Stepping Distance = object_width + intervening_space

For example, when each contact is 1.5 microns wide, and you want a 1-micron space
between contacts, the stepping distance is 2.5.

1.5 microns
Stepping distance
is 2.5 microns.
1 micron

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As is true for any pcell parameter, the stepping distance and number of repetitions can be
defined as parameters (variables) or as expressions that change based on the values of other
parameters.

Repeating and Stretching the Same Objects

You can both repeat and stretch the same objects. You control whether or not repeated
objects stretch with the Stretch Vertically Repeated Figures option in the Stretch in Y form. By
default, the system does not stretch objects crossed by a stretch line if those objects are also
defined to repeat.

This setting controls whether repeated

objects stretch.

Starting the Layout Editor

You can follow the steps in this chapter with or without completing the previous chapters.
➤ Type the following in an xterm window to start the layout editor:
cd ~/cell_design
layout &

Opening the Tutorial Transistor

To open the tutorial design containing the CMOS transistor, do the following:

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1. Choose File – Open.

The Open File form appears.
2. Set the library, cell, and view names as follows:

Library Name pCells

Cell Name mypcell
View Name layout

3. Click OK.

A layout window containing the mypcell layout cellview appears.

Defining the First Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate Width

In this section, you learn to
■ Turn off repeat mode, so you do not inadvertently repeat commands
■ Check the pcell to see if it already has parameters defined
■ Define a stretch line parameter as a named variable
■ Define the width of the p-diffusion as the reference dimension

Turning Off Command Repeat Mode

Repeat mode eliminates steps when you use the same command many times in a row. For
this chapter, you will turn off repeat mode off to avoid accidentally creating extra parameters.

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1. In the mypcell layout window, press Shift-e to display the Layout Editor Options
form.
2. Click the button next to Repeat Commands and click OK.

Checking for Existing Parameters

To check the cell for parameters, do the following:
1. Choose Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
There are no parameters defined for this cell. The system beeps twice and a dialog box
appears saying there are no parameters.
2. Click Close in the dialog box.

Defining a Stretch Line for the Width

To make objects stretch in the direction of the Y axis, you need to define a horizontal stretch
line. You will define the line across the center of the whole cell so that all shapes within it
stretch together.
1. Choose Pcell – Stretch – Stretch in Y.
The system prompts you to draw a horizontal line to control vertical stretch.
2. Define the stretch line by doing the following:
❑ Start the stretch line by clicking in the center of the left edge of the pcell.
❑ End the stretch line by moving the cursor to the right edge and double-click.

1. Click to start 2. Double-click

stretch line. here.

The Stretch in Y form appears. You will define the stretch line as a parameter (variable)
named width.

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3. For Name or Expression for Stretch, type width.

When you create an instance of this pcell, the Create Instance form contains a field
named width to let you enter a value for the stretch line parameter.
You want Reference Dimension to equal the width of the p-diffusion.

Reference dimension should

be width of p-diffusion
(3 microns).

4. For Reference Dimension, change the value to 3.

5. Make sure the Stretch Direction is set to up and click OK.

You accepted the default for the Stretch Direction, so all objects intersected by the stretch
line will stretch upward from the line.

You have completed defining the first parameter: the stretch line for the width of all objects in
the cell. Next, you will compile the cell to create a new version of the supermaster and test it.

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Compiling and Testing the Width Stretch Line Parameter

If you compile the pcell and test it after each change, it is easier to find out what is wrong, if
anything, and go back to make corrections.

In this section, you learn to

■ Compile the pcell
■ Check the Parameter Summary
■ Test your change by placing an instance of the pcell

Compiling the Pcell

To compile a pcell, do the following:

1. In the mypcell layout window, choose Pcell – Compile – To Pcell.
The first time you compile a parameterized cell, the Compile To Pcell form appears so
that you can classify the pcell as a transistor, contact, substrate contact, or none (the
Virtuoso compactor needs this classification).

2. Click OK to accept the default, transistor.

You see the following messages in the Command Interpreter Window (CIW).
Compiling Parameterized Cell ...
Compilation complete

Looking at the Parameter Summary

After compiling, it is a good idea to look at the Parameter Summary to verify your changes.
The Parameter Summary shows information about all the parameters defined for the
supermaster pcell.

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1. In the mypcell layout window, choose Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.

A window opens, showing the following information:
Parameters defined in this parameterized cell:
width
Stretch
-------
Stretch Type: Vertical
Name or Expression for Stretch: width
Stretch Direction: up
Reference Dimension (Default): 3.000000
The information above is correct for the tutorial pcell.
2. Close the window by choosing File – Close Window.

Testing the Stretch Line Parameter

You will test the stretch line parameter by opening a cellview, creating an instance, and
changing the value of width.
1. Open a cellview for placing instances by doing the following:
❑ In the CIW, choose File – Open.
The Open File form appears.
❑ In the Open File form, choose pcelltest from Cell Names.
❑ Click OK.
The pcelltest cellview window opens. It is empty except for a large rectangle. The
rectangle makes the window large enough to place several instances.
2. Place an instance by doing the following:
❑ In the pcelltest cellview window, open the Create Instance form by pressing i.
The Create Instance form appears.
❑ In the Create Instance form, type mypcell for Cell.
❑ Display the width parameter field in the Create Instance form by pressing Tab.
The width parameter for mypcell appears at the bottom of the Create Instance form.
The value shown is the default. You set this default value when you typed 3 for
Reference Dimension in the Stretch in Y form.

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❑ Change width to 5.
❑ Click in the pcelltest layout window.
The instance looks like this:

Instance of mypcell

Width of p-diffusion
(reference dimension) is now
5 microns.

The width increased for all shapes intersected by the stretch line. The stretch line is working
as it was defined. However, it would be better if the contacts repeat to fill the space available,
rather than stretch. In the next section, you create a new parameter to make the contacts
repeat.

You have completed testing first parameter: stretch line for width.

Defining the Second Parameter: Repeating the Contacts

In this section, you define a repetition parameter for the contacts in the tutorial transistor. To
determine the number of repetitions, you can specify a new parameter name or enter an
expression. If you specify a new parameter name, you have to type the number of repetitions
when you place an instance (or accept the default). If you enter an expression, you can make
the number of contacts dependent on another parameter.

You do not want the contacts to stretch; you would like them to repeat to fill the width of the
p-diffusion. You will define the value of the repetition parameter as an expression so that the
system computes the number of contacts based on the current value of the pcell width
parameter. (You defined the width parameter earlier with a horizontal stretch line.)

In this section, you learn to

■ Create a repeat group

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■ In the Command Interpreter Window (CIW), look at the expression for controlling the
number of repetitions

Defining a Repeat Group for Contacts

To make the contacts repeat along the Y axis to fill the space made available by the value of
the width parameter, do the following:
1. Move the cursor back to the mypcell layout window.
2. Choose Pcell – Repetition – Repeat in Y.
The system prompts you to choose objects for the repeat group.
3. Click on the edge of one of the contacts.
The contact is highlighted. If you select the wrong shape, press Control and click the
shape to deselect it.
Note: In the layout editor, you usually press Shift and click to select more than one
object. The Pcell program assumes you want to select multiple shapes, so you do not
need to press Shift.
4. Finish selecting by double-clicking on the other contact.

mypcell supermaster

1. Click on a 2. Double-click
contact edge. on the other
contact.

Both contacts are highlighted and the Repeat in Y form appears. (If the form does not
appear, press Return.)
You need to enter a value for Stepping Distance. The stepping distance is equal to the
width of the object you want to repeat plus the space you want between repeated objects.

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Each contact is 1 micron wide and you want a 1 micron space between contacts, so the
stepping distance is 2.

Stepping distance is 2.

5. For Stepping Distance, type 2.

Caution
In the following step, be careful with spaces around the minus sign ( – ).
If you enter a space on one side and not the other, the pcell will not be
created correctly.
6. For Number of Repetitions, type the following expression, without spaces:
fix(width-1)/pcStep
This expression is explained in “Understanding the Number of Repetitions Expression”
on page 177.
The Repeat in Y form looks like this:

7. Click OK.

You have completed the second parameter: the repetition parameter for contacts.

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Compiling and Testing the Contact Repeat Group Parameter

Now you will compile again, check the Parameter Summary, and place an instance to test the
repetition parameter for contacts.
1. In the mypcell layout window, recompile the pcell by choosing Pcell – Compile – To Pcell.
This time, the Compile To Pcell form does not appear because you already set the pcell
classification to transistor.
2. Check the CIW to make sure your pcell compiled without errors.
3. Check the Parameter Summary by choosing Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
A window opens, showing the following information:
Parameters defined in this parameterized cell:
width
Stretch
-------
Stretch Type: Vertical
Name or Expression for Stretch: width
Stretch Direction: up
Reference Dimension (Default): 3.000000

Repetition
----------
Objects Repeated in: Y
Number of Objects in this group: 2
Stepping Distance: 2
Number of Repetitions: (fix((width - 1)) / pcStep)
Dependent Stretch:
Adjustment to Stretch:
The information shown above is correct for the tutorial pcell.
4. Close the window by choosing File – Close Window.
You test the repetition parameter by redrawing the instance in the mypcell layout
window. The width of the instance is already set to 5.
5. Redraw the instance by choosing Window – Redraw.

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The instance now looks like this:

You have completed testing the second parameter: repetition for contacts.

Understanding the Number of Repetitions Expression

You used a Cadence® SKILL language expression for the number of repetitions of
contacts.This expression is typical of expressions used in parameterized cells. The entire
expression
fix(width-1)/pcStep

means that the number of repetitions is an integer equal to 1 micron less than the value of
width (the stretch line parameter), divided by the stepping distance (2), where

fix is a SKILL function that converts nonintegers to integers by

rounding the number down. The number of repetitions must be
an integer because you want to repeat whole objects.

width-1 lets you control the area within which you want to fit the repeat
group. You created a stretch line parameter named width based
on the width of the p-diffusion. As the diffusion stretches upward
and the contacts repeat within it, you want the final contact to be
spaced away from the edge of the diffusion by at least 1 micron.
So the available space for the contacts is width minus 1.

pcStep is a system variable known to the pcell compiler that represents

the stepping distance for this repetition parameter. You defined
the stepping distance as 2.

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Testing the Expression in the CIW

You can use the CIW to simulate how the pcell program evaluates the expression. You are
using the CIW only to test the expression; none of the pcell variables is affected.
1. In the CIW, type width = 5.5 and press Return.
You see 5.5 in the output region.
2. In the CIW, type pcStep = 2 and press Return.
3. In the CIW, type (width-1)/pcStep and press Return.
You see 2.25 in the output region. The number of repetitions must evaluate to an integer,
however, so you need to add the fix function to round the value down to the nearest
integer.
4. Round the number of repetitions down to an integer by doing the following:
❑ In the output region of the CIW, click (width-1)/pcStep.
The entire line is highlighted in black and appears in the input region of the CIW.
❑ At the beginning of the line in the input region, click.
The blinking text insertion bar appears in front of the expression.
❑ Type fix.
The CIW input region now contains the complete expression:
fix(width-1)/pcStep
❑ Press Return.

You see 2 in the output region. If the value of the stretch line parameter were set to 5.5, the
contacts would be repeated two times. There is no decimal point because the number is now
an integer.

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Defining the Third Parameter: Stretch Line for Gate

Length
In this section, you create a vertical stretch line parameter to stretch the transistor horizontally
along the X axis. The objects intersected by the stretch line will be the poly1 gate, p-
diffusion, and the nwell surrounding the transistor.

mypcell supermaster
Vertical
stretch line

Shapes stretch horizontally

(left or right).

Unlike the repeating contacts you created previously, you want the poly1 shape to both
repeat and stretch. So this time you set an option in the Stretch form to allow all intersected
objects that repeat along the X axis (the poly1 gate) to stretch.
1. In the mypcell layout window, choose Pcell – Stretch – Stretch in X.
The system prompts you to draw a vertical line to control horizontal stretch. You will
create the stretch line down the middle of the poly1 gate.
2. Define the vertical stretch line by doing the following:
❑ Click the top edge of the poly1 gate.

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❑ Move the cursor to the bottom edge and double click or press Return.

1. Click to start
stretch line.

2. Double-click
here.

The Stretch in X form appears.

3. For Name or Expression for Stretch, type length.
The word length is now the parameter name for the stretch line through the gate. When
you place an instance, the Create Instance form contains a field where you can type a
value for length.
Reference Dimension is set to 1 by default. This value represents the smallest dimension
crossed by the stretch line, in this case, the length of the poly1 gate. You will use the
default.
4. Turn on the Stretch Horizontally Repeated Figures option.

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Turning this option on lets you both stretch and repeat the poly1 gate.

Turn on to let repeated objects stretch.

5. Make sure Stretch Direction is set to right and click OK.

Objects intersected by the stretch line can stretch to the right. You have completed the third
parameter: the stretch line for the poly1 gate.

Compiling and Testing the Length Stretch Line Parameter

Now you will compile again, check the Parameter Summary, and place an instance to test the
stretch line for the poly1 gate.
1. In the mypcell layout window, recompile the pcell by choosing Pcell – Compile – To Pcell.
2. Check the CIW to make sure your pcell compiled without errors.
3. Check the Parameter Summary by choosing Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
A window opens, showing the following information:
Parameters defined in this parameterized cell:
length width
Stretch
-------
Stretch Type: Vertical
Name or Expression for Stretch: width
Stretch Direction: up

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Reference Dimension (Default): 3.000000

Stretch Type: Horizontal

Name or Expression for Stretch: length
Stretch Direction: right
Reference Dimension (Default): 1.000000

Repetition
----------
Objects Repeated in: Y
Number of Objects in this group: 2
Stepping Distance: 2
Number of Repetitions: (fix((width - 1)) / pcStep)
Dependent Stretch:
Adjustment to Stretch:
The information shown above is correct for the tutorial pcell.
4. Close the list window by choosing File – Close Window.
You’ll test the new stretch parameter by creating an instance and changing the value of
length.
5. Create the instance by doing the following:
❑ With the cursor in the pcelltest layout window, open the Create Instance form by
pressing i.
The Cell field is still set to mypcell.
❑ Set width to 5.
❑ Set length to 3.
❑ Click in the pcelltest layout window.

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The instance looks like this:

Length of gate is 3.

You have completed testing the third parameter: stretch line for gate length.

Defining the Fourth Parameter: Repeating the Gate

In this section, you create another repetition parameter to repeat the poly1 gate along the X
axis. For this repetition parameter, you will enter an expression that refers to the length
parameter you created earlier (stretch line for gate length).

In this tutorial, you are defining parameters before using them in expressions. However, it is
not necessary to do so. The Pcell compiler evaluates all parameters when you compile, not
before, so you can define an expression that refers to a parameter before you define the
parameter, as long as you define the parameter before you compile.
Note: If you define an expression containing a parameter that is not defined and then
compile, the Pcell software treats the undefined parameter as a parameter and displays it on
the Create Instance form.
1. In the mypcell layout window, choose Pcell – Repetition – Repeat in X.
You are prompted to point at the shapes for the repeat group.

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2. Select only the poly1 gate and open the Repeat in X form by clicking on the gate and
pressing Return.

mypcell supermaster

Click on the
gate.

The gate is highlighted and the Repeat in X form appears.

You will define the distance between gates (the stepping distance) as an expression
based on the length parameter you defined earlier for the length of the gate, as follows:
length+1
where length is also the reference dimension for stretching the gate horizontally. The
repeated gates will be spaced 1 micron apart no matter how much you stretch the poly1
gate with the length parameter.
3. For Stepping Distance, type length+1.
You’ll define the number of gates as a parameter named numGates so you can type in
a value when you place an instance.

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4. For Number of Repetitions, type numGates.

5. Click OK.

After you compile and place an instance of the pcell, the Create Instance form contains a field
named numGates to let you type the number of gates.

You have completed defining the fourth parameter: a repeat group for the poly1 gate.

Compiling and Testing the Gate Repeat Group Parameter

Now you will compile again, check the Parameter Summary, and place an instance to test the
repeat group for the poly1 gate.
1. In the mypcell layout window, recompile the pcell by choosing Pcell – Compile – To Pcell.
2. Check the CIW to make sure your pcell compiled without errors.
3. Check the Parameter Summary by choosing Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
A window opens, showing the following information:
Parameters defined in this parameterized cell:
length width numGates
Stretch
-------
Stretch Type: Vertical
Name or Expression for Stretch: length
Stretch Direction: right
Reference Dimension (Default): 1.000000

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Stretch Type: Horizontal

Name or Expression for Stretch: width
Stretch Direction: up
Reference Dimension (Default): 3.000000

Repetition
----------
Objects Repeated in: Y
Number of Objects in this group: 2
Stepping Distance: 2
Number of Repetitions: (fix((width - 1)) / pcStep)
Dependent Stretch:
Adjustment to Stretch:
Objects Repeated in: X
Number of Objects in this group: 1
Stepping Distance: (length + 1)
Number of Repetitions: numGates
Dependent Stretch:
Adjustment to Stretch:
The information shown above is correct for the tutorial pcell.
4. Close the window by choosing File – Close Window.
You’ll test the new stretch parameter by creating an instance and changing the value of
length.
5. Create the instance by doing the following:
❑ Open the Create Instance form by pressing i with the cursor in the pcelltest
layout window.
The Cell field is still set to mypcell.
❑ For length, type 2.
❑ For width, type 5.
❑ For numGates, type 2.
❑ Click in the pcelltest layout window.

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The instance looks like this:

You have completed testing the fourth parameter: repeat group for poly1 gate.

This instance is not correct yet because one of the gates is on top of the right-hand contacts.
You need to fine-tune the parameters so that there is room for the gates to repeat: the
diffusion needs to expand and the contacts and metal layer need to move to the right.

Reviewing Parameter Values for the Instance

Here is how the values of the parameters were set when you placed the instance:
■ You entered 2 for the length parameter to stretch the gate length from 1 to 2 microns.
The increase in the length parameter also stretched the p-diffusion and the nwell.
■ You entered 5 for the width parameter to set the p-diffusion width to 5 microns.
■ You entered 2 for the numGates parameter to create two gates 1 micron apart.

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■ The system computed the repetition parameter for the number of contacts using the
expression you entered. The expression is based on the value of the width parameter
and results in two contacts.

Instance of mypcell

Width of
p-diffusion is
5.

Length of gate is 2.

Although the length parameter stretched the poly1 gate, p-diffusion, and nwell each by 1
micron, it did not stretch the p-diffusion and nwell enough to accommodate the second gate
created by the gate repeat parameter. Now you need to find a way to
■ Stretch the p-diffusion and nwell to make room for additional gates
■ Move the contacts and metal layer to the right, out of the way

Defining a Dependent Stretch Line

You can correct the tutorial pcell by adding a parameter called a dependent stretch line. A
dependent stretch line causes the shapes it affects to stretch based on a repeat group. In this
case, you will define a dependent stretch line to make the size of the p-diffusion and nwell
and the position of the right-hand contacts dependent on the number of gates.

This is a two-part process:

■ Define a new stretch line through the p-diffusion and nwell
■ Modify the gate repeat group to assign the new stretch line as dependent

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Defining the Dependent Stretch Line

Now you will add a dependent stretch line to the mypcell supermaster to stretch the
p-diffusion and nwell rectangles.
1. In the mypcell window, choose Pcell – Stretch – Stretch in X.
2. Define a vertical stretch line through only the p-diffusion and the nwell by clicking as
shown below.

mypcell supermaster 1. Click to start

stretch line.

2. Double-click to
end stretch line.

The Stretch in X form appears.

Because the line intersects only the p-diffusion and nwell, only these objects will stretch.
This means the contact and metal1 shapes to the right of the stretch line do not stretch
but move to the right instead.
3. For Name or Expression for Stretch, type diffStretch.
Stretch Direction is set to right, so the objects will stretch to the right.

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Reference Dimension is set to its default. The system will not use this value because, in the
next section, you make this parameter a dependent stretch line to cause the layout editor
to calculate the amount to stretch based on the size of the gate repeat group.

4. Click OK.

Modifying the Gate Repeat Group

You want the new stretch line to let the p-diffusion and nwell stretch based on how much
space is needed to repeat gates, so you must make it depend on the gate repetition
parameter.
1. In the mypcell window, choose Pcell – Repetition – Modify.
You are prompted to point at a shape in the repeat group to modify.

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2. Identify the repeat group by clicking on the poly1 gate.

mypcell supermaster
Click on the gate.

3. Indicate that you do not want to add more shapes to the group by double-clicking
anywhere in the cellview window or by pressing Return.
The Modify Repeat in X form appears.
4. For Dependent Stretch, type diffStretch.
Now the diffStretch parameter is dependent on the gate repetition parameter.

5. Click OK.

You have completed defining the dependent stretch line.

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Compiling and Testing the Dependent Stretch Line

Now you will compile again, check the Parameter Summary, and place an instance to test the
dependent stretch line for the gate repeat group.
1. In the mypcell layout window, recompile the pcell by choosing Pcell – Compile – To Pcell.
2. Check the CIW to make sure your pcell compiled without errors.
3. Check the Parameter Summary by choosing Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
A window opens, showing the following information:
Parameters defined in this parameterized cell:
width length numGates
Stretch
-------
Stretch Type: Horizontal
Name or Expression for Stretch: diffStretch
Stretch Direction: right
Reference Dimension (Default): 8.000000
Stretch Type: Horizontal
Name or Expression for Stretch: length
Stretch Direction: right
Reference Dimension (Default): 1.000000
Stretch Type: Vertical
Name or Expression for Stretch: width
Stretch Direction: up
Reference Dimension (Default): 3.000000

Repetition
----------
Objects Repeated in: Y
Number of Objects in this group: 2
Stepping Distance: 2
Number of Repetitions: (fix((width - 1)) / pcStep)
Dependent Stretch:
Adjustment to Stretch:
Objects Repeated in: X
Number of Objects in this group: 1
Stepping Distance: (length + 1)
Number of Repetitions: gate
Dependent Stretch: diffStretch
Adjustment to Stretch: ((fix(pcRepeatX) - 1) * pcStepX)
The information shown above is correct for the tutorial pcell.

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4. Close the window by choosing File – Close Window.

You will test to verify whether the dependent stretch line fixed the problem. Previously,
the repeated gate was on top of the contacts, like this:

The dependent stretch line should make the contacts and metal layer move to the right
and the p-diffusion and nwell stretch to accommodate the additional gate.
5. Create the instance by doing the following:
❑ With the cursor in the pcelltest layout window, open the Create Instance form by
pressing i.
The Cell field is still set to mypcell.
❑ For length, type 2.
❑ For width, type 5.
❑ For numGates, type 2.
❑ Click in the pcelltest layout window.
The instance looks like this:

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You have completed creating the parameterized cell.

Saving the Pcell and Exiting the Software

To complete the tutorial, you will close the pcelltest layout window, save your pcell
parameters to a file, and save and close the mypcell layout window.

In this section, you learn to

■ Save parameters to a file for future reference
■ Save the pcell
1. Close the pcelltest layout window by doing the following:
❑ In the pcelltest layout window, choose Window – Close.
The Save Changes dialog box appears. You do not need to save the results of your
testing.
❑ In the Save Changes dialog box, click No.
2. Save your parameter definitions in a file so that you can use them again by doing the
following:
❑ In the mypcell layout window, choose Pcell – Parameters – Summarize.
A window opens, showing the all parameters for the pcell. This is a temporary file.
❑ Choose File – Save As.
The Save As form appears.
❑ For File Name, type mypcell.param.

❑ Click OK.

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The system creates a text file named mypcell.param in your current working
directory (cell_design).
❑ In the window, choose File – Close Window.
The window closes.
3. Save the supermaster pcell and close the window by doing the following:
❑ In the mypcell layout window, choose Design – Save.
❑ Choose Window – Close.

You have completed closing the pcelltest layout window, saving your pcell parameters to
a file, and saving and closing the mypcell layout window.

Summary
In this chapter you learned to create and modify pcells. Specifically, you
■ Defined stretch line parameters
■ Defined repeat group parameters
■ Defined a dependent stretch line
■ Modified a repeat group parameter for the dependent stretch line
■ Examined the Parameter Summary after each change
■ Compiled and tested your parameters
■ Saved your parameters to a file
■ Saved the supermaster of the pcell

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