Custom IC, Analog, and RF Design Training Deep Dive: Part 4

Welcome to the fourth and final part of the Custom IC, Analog, and RF Design Online Training deep dive blog series. In parts one, two, and three, we’ve covered a variety of tools including Virtuoso, Spectre Simulation, Xcelium mixed-signal options, and SKILL programming language. These tools work together to help you create analog and mixed-signal designs and test them. In this final part, we’ll take an even closer look at Virtuoso and provide recommendations for training courses that’ll explore different functions.

As we’ve learned from parts one to three, Virtuoso tools provide the basis for the creation of your design and the needed testing. Additionally, Virtuoso is integrated across Cadence simulation and physical implementation tools, which allows for seamless information sharing, leading to continuous verification throughout the entire analog, RF, or mixed-signal design cycle.  These courses will give more insight into that integration.

We’re pulling the recommended training flow from the Learning Maps, which structure the Cadence Online Training courses into technical areas and difficulty levels. Some of the below courses offer a Digital Badge, once earned, you can showcase that you’re Cadence Certified on your resume, email signature, and across social channels like LinkedIn.

Summary

	1.	Virtuoso Layout Design Basics*
	2.	Virtuoso Connectivity-Driven Layout Transition
	3.	Virtuoso Abstract Generator
	4.	Virtuoso Floorplanner
	5.	Virtuoso Space-Based Router
	6.	Virtuoso Space-Based Router Express

*One of the top courses among students and professors

Virtuoso Layout Design Basics

In this course, you learn the basic techniques for working with designs in the Virtuoso Layout Suite L environment. You explore the basics of the user interface and the user-interface assistants, which help select, navigate, search, highlight, edit and create physical designs.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Navigate with the user interface
• Use:
  • Design assistants and workspaces
  • Path stitching
  • Library Manager for data management
  • DRD (Design Rule Driven) creation and editing
• Edit:
  • Layout designs
  • Properties of objects
• And more!

Virtuoso Connectivity-Driven Layout Transition

In this course, you make the transition from a strictly isolated layout environment, using Virtuoso Layout Suite L, to full connectivity and automation offered in the Virtuoso Layout Suites XL and GXL. This course uses the Virtuoso 6.1.8 ISR16 release and illustrates, in the lecture and labs, the changes made from former ISRs.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the benefits gained by stepping up to the XL and GXL suites of Virtuoso through the automation provided and not found in the Virtuoso L Suite.
• Learn more!

Virtuoso Abstract Generator

In this course, you launch and generate an Abstract in Standalone mode, learn how to analyze the different steps, including Pins, Extract, and Abstract, and learn how to set up and run Virtuoso Abstract Generator in a variety of ways.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Set up and run Virtuoso Abstract Generator in Standalone Mode
• Analyze the steps
  • Pins
  • Extract
  • Abstract
• Set up and run Virtuoso Abstract Generator in:
  • Tcl Mode
  • SKILL Mode with Hook
• And more!

Virtuoso Floorplanner

This is an Engineer Explorer course. In some labs, you are expected to use the Virtuoso Floorplanner without assistance to solve loosely defined problems. You need to be familiar with top-level floorplanning and Virtuoso XL connectivity-driven layout.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Generate soft blocks to represent a layout that has not been created yet
• Specify which cells to use when generating the blocks in the hierarchy
• Place the blocks in the top level
• Optimize the pin placements for top-level routing
• Use the SKILL API-Based Flow for Virtuoso Floorplanner
• And more!

Virtuoso Space-Based Router

In this course, you learn to use the interactive and automatic routing features in the Virtuoso Space-Based Router, beginning with the wire editor for interactive and DRC correct routing, completely within the Virtuoso environment.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Interactively create and edit regular wiring of nets and buses, as well as specialty routing such as diff pairs, symmetry, shielding
•  Create point-to-point routing and guided routing
• Use the new Routability Check feature in the Wire Assistant
•  Call up and execute Tcl scripts
•  And more!

Virtuoso Space-Based Router Express

In this course, the Designer will explore the use of the new Presets feature to capture and maintain setup parameters for immediate use, or for future use.  Presets and optional SKILL scripting can also be employed to further streamline the setup process and produce successful and complete routes.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Utilize Presets with or without SKILL scripts to produce quick and accurate routing sessions
• Learn more!

We know that if you complete these courses, you’ll be much more equipped to use Cadence tools and that earning the badges will set you apart from your peers for future employers! There’s no time like the present to take the next step to advance your career. Stay tuned for our upcoming series on System Verification Online Training courses.

How to Enroll in Online Training:

All Online Training courses are available for self-enrollment on the Cadence Learning and Support system, located under the “Learning” tab.

To get a Learning and Support account:

• Cadence University Program and CMC Microsystems, please reach out to universityprogram@cadence.com
• Europractice, please reach out to MicroelectronicsCentre@stfc.ac.uk