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Layout: from Encounter to Virtuoso

konx

Hi! 

I'm a new user of the forums :)

This is the problem I have at the moment: 

I have a complete design in Encounter of a block called Pixel, and I want
to export it to cadence virtuoso. Reading on internet and the help,
I've seen that I have to export a GDSII file (basically, I can produce
2 file: the outputStream called pixel_output_stream and the Map file
streamOut.map).

Now, I'm trying to import these file using File --> Import --> Stream
in the CIW window of cadence.

In the Stream File field I specify the path to pixel_output_stream,
while I use the map file in the Layer tab that I can find clicking on
option (here I can upload the map file).

Obviously I specify even the tech library (cmrf8sf, Arti2009DM and
others).

then, I click Translate.

the final result is not
correct; I have this error:

ERROR (58): Failed to create the new layer purpose pair 'DIEAREA:ALL'.
It will be skipped and all the shapes on this LPP will be dropped.

I have this error 163 times, exactly the number of the Stream layer
that I can see when I upload the streamOut.map file.

The final result (in Virtuoso) is a design with correct shape and with
all the cells (flip-flop, etc...), but with no routing between cells
(but I did it in Encounter) and without supply and ground rings
(again, I did it in Encounter).

I received an answer in other forum, where they point out that the Encounter streamOut file is (more or less) like this:

E.g. of stream out file:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
METAL1          NET                           1            0
METAL1          SPNET                      2            0
METAL1          PIN                         3              0
METAL1          LEFPIN                     4            0
METAL1          FILL                        5                0
METAL1          VIA                          6               0
METAL1          VIAFILL                    7              0
METAL1          LEFOBS                    8              0
NAME            METAL1/NET              9               0
NAME            METAL1/SPNET        10             0
NAME            METAL1/PIN              11              0
NAME            METAL1/LEFPIN         12            0
VIA12           FILL                              13            0
VIA12           VIA                              14             0
VIA12           VIAFILL                       15              0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Instead, the Virtuoso streamIn file is:

 E.g. of stream in file:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Cadence Layer(M*foundry*)  Layer Purpose  Encounter Stream layer
Stream Datatype
   viap1                                        drawing         1,2,3                                0
   met1                                        drawing         4,5,6,7,8,9,10                   0
   met1I                                       drawing          11                                   0
   met1T                                      drawing           12,13,14,15                     0
   viam1                                       drawing         16,17,18                          0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"As you can see, some layers from Encounter were merged so they lose
functionality in Virtuoso. "

Questions: 

The last file, is a file that is provided with the technology libraries,
is something that should be generated by Encounter or Virtuoso, or is
something that I have to generate by myself following some rules? (in this case, which rules?)

Moreover: if I have these 2 map files, what file I need to specify in
XStream? If you go to CIW --> File --> Import --> Stream and click on
Option and then select tha Layout tab, here you can specify a map
file. At the moment I'm uploading the streamOut.map generated by
Encounter. Do I have to specify the other one (supposing I'll be able
to find it out)?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, but for me these are all new
things :)

 Thanks in advance for help

 Francesco.

 

 

 

 

Parents

  •  Hi Marie,

     thank you for your aswer.

     As you said, I found the OpenAccess database as a quite good method to export layout from Encounter to Virtuoso. I still have a couple of question about this new method:

    1) When I use the "Import Design" GUI in Encounter and select Advance tab there is a OpenAccess form. In the fields "Reference Libraries", "Abstract view names" and "layout view names" I put (in a generic way) respectively: cmrf8sf Arti2009DM, abstract and layout. I don't use the "Use OA netlist" because I think I need to use this option only if I already have an OA netlist. Am I right?

     2) After importing the design, I P&R it. Then, I go to Design --> Save Design As --> OA: here I can save the design inside a library that I have to define previously (before any import) in a lib.defs file. The question is: where do I have to put this file? The situation is the following: Encounter is running in a directory called "encounter" while I want to save the design in a directory called "Francesco_1", where I already have the schematic view of my design. So, in the lib.defs file, I've define the path of Francesco_1 directory (together with the path to cmrf8fs, Arti2009DM libraries) and I put this file in the Encounter directory. Is this reasoning correct?

    3) After saving my design in Francesco_1 I can open the layout view. The problem, here, is that I can see the routing and the power/ground rings BUT all the cells (flip-flop, inverter, etc...) are using the abstract view! If I want to see the complete layout (with n-well, p-well, internal routing of the standard cell) I have to select a cell, press 'Q' (the Property window pop-up) and change the view from abstract to layout. Is there a way to do this thing automatically for all the cells? 

    Thank you very much for help!

     

    Francesco.  

Reply

  •  Hi Marie,

     thank you for your aswer.

     As you said, I found the OpenAccess database as a quite good method to export layout from Encounter to Virtuoso. I still have a couple of question about this new method:

    1) When I use the "Import Design" GUI in Encounter and select Advance tab there is a OpenAccess form. In the fields "Reference Libraries", "Abstract view names" and "layout view names" I put (in a generic way) respectively: cmrf8sf Arti2009DM, abstract and layout. I don't use the "Use OA netlist" because I think I need to use this option only if I already have an OA netlist. Am I right?

     2) After importing the design, I P&R it. Then, I go to Design --> Save Design As --> OA: here I can save the design inside a library that I have to define previously (before any import) in a lib.defs file. The question is: where do I have to put this file? The situation is the following: Encounter is running in a directory called "encounter" while I want to save the design in a directory called "Francesco_1", where I already have the schematic view of my design. So, in the lib.defs file, I've define the path of Francesco_1 directory (together with the path to cmrf8fs, Arti2009DM libraries) and I put this file in the Encounter directory. Is this reasoning correct?

    3) After saving my design in Francesco_1 I can open the layout view. The problem, here, is that I can see the routing and the power/ground rings BUT all the cells (flip-flop, inverter, etc...) are using the abstract view! If I want to see the complete layout (with n-well, p-well, internal routing of the standard cell) I have to select a cell, press 'Q' (the Property window pop-up) and change the view from abstract to layout. Is there a way to do this thing automatically for all the cells? 

    Thank you very much for help!

     

    Francesco.  

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