Library Characterization Tidbits: Validating Libraries Effectively

Hello readers,

In this blog, I will brief you about two useful Rapid Adoption Kits (RAKs) for Cadence^® Liberate^TM LV Library Validation—a comprehensive library validation solution that is a collection of capabilities to validate and verify each library in the design to ensure data consistency, accuracy, and completeness.

These RAKs are accessible from the Cadence Support portal.

 Liberate LV – Liberty Checking Features

This RAK demonstrates the basic process of setting up Liberate LV to perform validation of a Liberty file. Liberate LV contains a set of functions that aid in checking the Liberty model files generated by Liberate. The RAK explains the checks in three modules:

• Module 1 - Comparing Data between Two Liberty Models
  In this module, you will learn how to set up the Liberate characterization scripts to match the reference Liberty file while ensuring that the resulting Liberty model characterized by Liberate has the same structure as the reference Liberty file. The module primarily demonstrates comparison of data/values and structure using the compare_library and compare_structure commands, respectively.   
  
  
• Module 2 - Validating Data in a Single Liberty Model
  When a reference Liberty file does not exist, creating and validating a Liberty file for the first time can be challenging. This module explains how you can use Liberate LV to check cell and arc structures, data consistency, and data completeness; and validate the output pin function. The module also explains data consistency checks like validate_monotonicity and data range check like validate_data_range. The delay/transition data comparison between different library data like NLDM vs. CCS and ECSM vs. NLDM using the compare_ccs_ndlm and compare_ecsm_nldm commands is also covered.
  
  
• Module 3 - Validating Liberty Data in Downstream Tools
  This module covers STA to SPICE validation and Liberty scaling validation. 

 Liberate LV - Timing Validation

This RAK guides you through the basic process of setting up the validate_library command in Liberate LV to perform timing validation of a Liberty file. Timing validation is explained in the following two modules:

• Module 1 - Timing Validation
  This module shows how you can compare SPICE and STA results for delay arcs.
  
  
• Module 2 - Check Interpolation Error
  In this module, you will learn how to compare SPICE and STA results for delay arcs at the table midpoint to determine interpolation error from the STA tool.

Do go through these RAKs to learn more about using Liberate LV effectively. Hope you will agree that they are indeed informative and useful!

Related Resources

• Liberate LV Library Validation Reference Manual

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About Library Characterization Tidbits

Library Characterization Tidbits is a blog series aimed at providing insight into the useful software and documentation enhancements in the LIBERATE release. In addition, this series would broadcast the voice of different bloggers and experts, who would share their knowledge and experience about all the tools in Liberate Characterization Portfolio. To receive notifications about new blogs in this series, click Subscribe and submit your email ID in the Subscriptions box.

Jommy Thomas