Cadence Tips (not complete)
How to run Layout XL
In the schematic view go to: Tools – Design Synthesis – Layout XL (click “ok” on the two pop-up
windows)
Now you should have the Virtuoso layout window popping up.
Go to: Design – Gen from source... (click ok)
Post layout simulation (tsmc90nm)
In order to be able to run post layout simulations, the following needs to be fulfilled.
1) ALL pin names have to be capital letters (schematic and layout)
2) GND and VDD need to be pins specified as “inputOutput” (schematic and layout)
In Virtuoso, when assigning pins to nets (wires) “Create Symbolic Pin – Display Pin Name
Option...” (Shift-P), make sure that the pin layer (pn) is specified for the metal layer (“M1” in this
case) your pin is supposed to be in. This is indicated with the red arrow in Figure 1. LVS requires
this as well.
Figure 1: Create pin
After DRC and LVS are complete without errors, you can then do parasitic extraction.
In Virtuoso layout , go to Calibre – PEX.
In the Rules tab, specify the directory for the PEX rules file “calibre.rcx”. See Figure 2.
Figure 2: PEX setup - Rules
In the Inputs - Netlist tab, select “Export from schematic viewer”. See Figure 3.
Figure 3: PEX setup - Inputs
In the Outputs – Netlist tab, make sure that the format is “CALIBREVIEW” and that
“SCHEMATIC” names are used. See Figure 4.
Figure 4: PEX setup - Outputs
Run PEX
If everything goes well, you should get the Calibre View Setup window popping up.
Figure 5: Calibre View Setup
You should click on the Open Calibre CellView “Read-mode” to verify that there are parasitic
components in your extracted netlist.
Click OK
If the extraction completed without errors/warnings, you should see your new netlist appear like the
one shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Extracted netlist
Figure 6 shows ports/pins, transistors, and parasitic components (R and C). Sometimes it is
necessary to open the new netlist in “Edit mode”, because the extraction fails and some ports are
missing. Then you can add these port manually like you do in the schematic. Just make sure the
names match. However, everything you modify in this schematic must also be modified in the
netlist file (<cellname>.pex.netlist).
Now we have to specify that we want to run simulation based on the extracted netlist. In the Library
Manager go to: File - New - Cell View . The Cell Name must be your testbench cell. The view is
“config” and the tool used is the Hierarchy-Editor. Illustrated in Figure 7.
Figure 7: Create config view
Click Ok.
The Hierarchy editor pops up automatically. In the Top Cell View, type “schematic”. See Figure 8.
Press “Use Template...”, choose the template name “spectre” and click OK. Click OK in the “New
Configuration” window as well.
Figure 8: Hierarchy editor
Now you should get all cells listed in the hierarchy editor. In order to be able to run simulations
based on the extracted netlist. You must right-click on “inverter” cell, go to “Set Cell View” and
select “calibre”. See Figure 9.
Figure 9: Change from schematic view to calibre view
Save and exit.
In the Library Manager, open your testbench using the “config” view (not schematic view). Click
OK in the window that pops up.
Setup your simulation as your normally do. In the Analog Environment, go to Simulation – Netlist –
Create.
Run the simulation.
