2/25/25, 3:17 PM add_buffer

add_buffer
Adds buffer cells on the nets that are connected to the specified pins.

Syntax
collection add_buffer
[-new_net_names new_net_names]
[-new_cell_names new_cell_names]
[-inverter_pair]
[-no_of_cells number]
object_list
[-lib_cell buffer_lib_cell] | [buffer_lib_cell]
[-snap]
[-respect_voltage_areas]

Data Types
new_net_names list
new_cell_names list
number integer
object_list list
buffer_lib_cell collection

Arguments

-new_net_names new_net_names

Specifies the names of the new nets to add. You must specify one net name per buffer when adding buffers, and two net names per inverter
pair when adding inverter pairs. If the specified net name already exists, the command adds a suffix of "_%d" or "_%d_%d" to the net name.
Optionally, if you specify only the common base name, the tool generates new net names by adding unique numeric suffixes to the common
base name. The specified names can be any valid net names, but must be the leaf names. They must not be the hierarchical names and must
not contain embedded hierarchical separators. They must be unique in the current context, as specified by the current instance. By default, the
command uses the base name eco_net.

-new_cell_names new_cell_names

Specifies the names of the new cells to be added. You must specify one cell name per buffer when adding buffers, and two cell names per
inverter pair when adding inverter pairs. If the specified cell name already exists, the command adds a suffix of "_%d" or "_%d_%d" to the cell
name.
Optionally, if you specify only the common base name, the tool generates new cell names by adding unique numeric suffixes to the common
base name. These names can be any valid cell names, but must be the leaf names. They must not be the hierarchical names and must not
contain embedded hierarchical separators. They must be unique in the current context, as specified by the current instance.
By default, the command uses eco_cell as the common base name.

-inverter_pair

Adds inverter pairs instead of buffer cells. If you specify this option, you must supply a library cell that has an inverting output. You can use this
option when the specified library cell or buffer has both inverting and noninverting outputs.

-no_of_cells number

Specifies the number of buffer cells or inverter pairs to be inserted per net. The inserted repeaters are connected back-to-back in series. By
default, the command inserts a single buffer cell or inverter pair per net.

object_list

Specifies a list of nets, pins, or ports that must be buffered. The new buffer cells or inverter pairs are placed close to the specified pins or ports
if their cells are placed.
If you specify a net, the tool connects the buffers or inverter pairs such that a new buffer cell is the new load of the original net.
If you specify pins, the tool groups all of the specified pins based on the nets to which they are connected. When the grouped pins are load
pins, the tool adds the buffers so that the new buffer cells can drive them. When the grouped pins are driver pins, the tool connects the new
buffer cells so that they become the load of the specified driver pin.

-lib_cell buffer_lib_cell

Specifies the library cell to be used as buffer. In this case, the object is either a named library cell or a library cell collection. This is a required
option. This option is mutually exclusive with buffer_lib_cell.
If the library cell has both inverting and noninverting outputs, that is, it can act both as buffer and inverter, the -inverter_pair option controls
which output is used. If the library cell has multiple outputs, the command uses the first noninverting or inverting output.

buffer_lib_cell

This positional option is exactly equivalent to -lib_cell. And it is mutually exclusive with -lib_cell.

-snap

Put the new buffer cells next to the target cell, then snap the buffer cells to the closest site, and flip the buffer cells when needed.
If you specify a net or a driver pin with this option, the new buffer cells are placed next to the target cell of driver pin if the target cell are placed.
If you specify a load pin with this option, the new buffer cells are placed next to the target cell of load pin if the target cell are placed.
If you specify a list of load pins on the same net with this option, the new buffer cells are placed in the center of all load pins if the target cell
are placed.
This option is mutually exclusive with the -respect_voltage_areas option.

-respect_voltage_areas

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2/25/25, 3:17 PM add_buffer
Inserts buffers within the hierarchy of the voltage area such that the buffer is physically in the layout. This option is mutually exclusive with the
-snap option.
Description
This command adds buffers or inverter pairs at one or more specified pins or ports. A library cell with a single input and multiple outputs is a
buffer, as long as each output has the same or inverted logic function as the input.
Like all other netlist editing commands, the command arguments to add_buffer must be valid for the command to run successfully. If the
command succeeds, the result is a collection of the newly-added cells. If the command fails, the command returns an empty collection or an
empty string and does not change the netlist.
By default, each newly-created cell has a name beginning with the eco_cell string and ending with a unique numeric suffix. Each newly-created net
has a name beginning with the eco_net string and ending with a unique numeric suffix. To override the automatic name generation by the tool, use
the -new_net_names and -new_cell_names options.
You can mimic buffer addition by using other commands, such as create_cell, create_net, disconnect_net, and connect_net. The add_buffer
command provides a more efficient and safe way to add buffers.
This command support editing a Verilog module in the module aspect, through edit_module.
This command checks if the block is editable before adding buffer cells.
This command honors the design.eco_freeze_silicon_mode application option. When this application option is true, the is_fs_eco_add attribute of
the added buffers is set to true.
The add_buffer command uses the following basic rules to check its arguments for validity:
The pin or port must be in scope; that is, at or below the current instance. For a description of special scoping rules, see the "Buffering Inside
Boundary Pins" section.
The pin or port must be connected to a net.
Bidirectional pins cannot be buffered.
The net cannot be either a PG net or a tie net.
The specified library cell cannot be sequential.
The specified library cell must be a buffer, as previously defined.
The number argument of the -no_of_cells option must be a positive, nonzero integer.
The library cell must have an inverting output, when you use the -inverter_pair option. The command uses the first inverting output and adds
two cells so that it preserves the logic of the path.

Adding and Connecting the New Buffer

The following figure shows an example network that is used to describe the rules used by the add_buffer command to connect the new buffer or
inverter pair:
+--- e3/A
|
e1/Z ---- old_net -----+--- e4/A
|
+--- e5/A

If the specified pin is a load, the load is first disconnected from its old net and then connected to the new net, as shown in the following figure:
+--- eco_cell --- eco_net --- e3/A
|
e1/Z ---- old_net -----+--- e4/A
|
+--- e5/A

If the specified pin is a driver, all loads on that net are disconnected from the old net and are connected to the new net, as shown in the following
figure:
+--- e3/A
|
e1/Z --- old_net --- eco_cell --- eco_net -+--- e4/A
|
+--- e5/A

If you specify a list of load pins on the same net, these load pins are grouped and the new net drives them, as shown in the following figure:
+--- e3/A
|
e1/Z --- old_net -+- eco_cell --- eco_net -+--- e4/A
|
+--- e5/A

Note that the tool cannot buffer a net driven by multiple drivers.

Buffering Inside Boundary Pins

When you use this command to add a buffer at a pin on the boundary of a hierarchical block, the command adds the buffer either inside or outside
the hierarchical block, depending on the current hierarchical scope. To add the buffer inside the hierarchical block, set the scope to that block by
using the current_instance command, and then run the add_buffer command. The tool adds the buffer within the block to which the
current_instance is set.

Don't touch support for nets

When application option eco.add_buffer.honor_dont_touch is set to true, nets with dont_touch attribute are skipped.

Multicorner-Multimode Support

This command has no dependency on scenario-specific information.

Examples

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2/25/25, 3:17 PM add_buffer
The following example specifies a library cell that is not a buffer. The command fails and generates an error message.
prompt> add_buffer e1/Z -lib_cell class/AN2P
Information: Buffering net old_net. (HFS-701)
Error: library cell 'AN2P' is not a buffer or an inverter. (ECOUI-010)

The following example specifies a buffer for the library cell:

prompt> add_buffer e1/Z -lib_cell class/B1I
{eco_cell}

The following example specifies an inverter for the library cell. The command succeeds and creates the new cells named eco_cell and eco_cell_1.
The new nets are named eco_net and eco_net_1. The report_cells command displays the connections for cell e3.
prompt> add_buffer e3/A -lib_cell class/IV -inverter_pair
{eco_cell eco_cell_1}

prompt> report_cells -connections e3

****************************************
Report : cell
-connections
****************************************

Connections for cell 'e3':

Reference: B1I
Library: class

Input Pins Net

---------------- ------------
A eco_net

Output Pins Net

---------------- ------------
Z out2

1
prompt> report_nets -connections eco_net
****************************************
Report : net
-connections
****************************************

Connections for net 'eco_net':

Driver Pins Type

------------ ----------------
eco_cell/Z Output Pin (IV)

Load Pins Type

------------ ----------------
e3/A Input Pin (B1I)

Editing a Verilog module in the module aspect:

prompt> edit_module r4000 { add_buffer -lib_cell BUFFHVTD2 MemWrite \\
-new_cell_names ecoCell -new_net_names ecoNet}

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