Virtuosity: 13 Things I Learned in January 2015 by Browsing Cadence Online Support

'Tis the end of an era, folks. It should not be a surprise, but IC 5.1.41 reached End of Support as of 12/31/2014.

1.  Where do I find the support lifecycle dates (e.g., End of Support) for Cadence releases?

https://support.cadence.com/apex/ArticleAttachmentPortal?id=a1Od000000051SLEAY&pageName=ArticleContent

2.  Where do I find the product lifecycle letters?

https://support.cadence.com/apex/ArticleAttachmentPortal?id=a1Od000000051bWEAQ&pageName=ArticleContent

Videos

3. Enter Points for Create and Edit Commands

This video demonstrates how to use the Enter Points form and Status toolbar to specify points for create and edit commands.

4. Analog IP Verification Seminar ADC channel containing eight videos

This video channel walks through a set of eight videos that are designed to accompany the ADE Verification Workshop (available on Rapid Adoption Kit page).

• Data Converter – ADC
• SAR ADC design and verification
• Simulations for SAR ADC, Effective Number of Bits (ENOB)
• Capacitor DAC Measurements
• Clock Generator Measurements
• ADC Transient SINAD Measurement
• ADC Verification Methodology, Best Practices
• In Closing

5.  Analog IP Verification Seminar PLL channel containing six videos

Similarly, this video channel walks through a set of six videos that are designed to accompany the PLL Verification Workshop (available on Rapid Adoption Kit page).

• Phase-Locked Loop
• PLL Overview
• Phase Domain Model
• PLL Block Examples
• Closed-Loop Output Phase Noise
• Verification Methodology: Spectre APS, RF and AMS Designer, Best Practices

 6. Using License UI to Retrieve Diagnostic Information

This video demonstrates the use of license UI to retrieve diagnostic information.

7. Comparing Parasitics and Resolving Electrical Violations

This video shows how to compare parasitics and resolve electrical violations in Virtuoso Layout EAD Browser.

 8. Verifying the Parasitic Information for a Partial Layout

This video demonstrates how the parasitic information can be verified for a partial layout.

 9. Working with Transient Measurement Assistant

This video demonstrates how to use different features of Transient Measurements assistant, create edge markers, change their threshold values, and generate derived plots.

Solutions

10. lefin: Multiple INFO/WARNING messages for property syntax is not supported while trying to import LEF file in virtuoso

The recommended ways to import a 20nm technology into Virtuoso

11. New "info" save options on Outputs->Save All... form in ADE

The Outputs->Save All form in IC6.1.6 ISR10/ICADV12.1 ISR12 has a new section that allows you to specify all the who/what/where fields for Spectre's info analysis. From captap and oppoint to options and netlist, you can interactively set up where to save them and in what format.

12. How to save and plot operating point parameter for Spectre simulator from ADE L/XL?

Check out the new Outputs->To Be Saved->Select OP Parameters feature in IC6.1.6 ISR10/ICADV12.1 ISR12. It lets you interactively select devices from the schematic and then specify which of their operating point parameters to save for plotting after simulation. Previously, the only way to do this was using a text include file.

13. Spectre can now adjust gmin value over a range automatically to resolve convergence issues

A new option in Spectre to allow it to automatically step gmin up to a specified maximum value until convergence is achieved.