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Layout XL: power router problems

PNadeau

Dear Cadence experts,

I am trying to use the power router in "block ring" mode in Layout XL (Route -> Power Routing -> Block Ring (tab)), but after selecting the desired nets and a block and clicking "Route" I am receiving an error.

*WARNING* (RTE-2008): Missing instance option for Block Ring power routing operation.Select at least one block instance from the Navigator or Search Assistant window.

I tried selecting an instance from the Navigator (eg. I0...), tried clicking on an instance in the layout itself, tried selecting one from a search in the Search Assistant, tried selecting multiple blocks using all of the above techniques. All with no luck.

Has anyone seen this before? Is a block a different construct from an instance?

Appreciate any insight.

I am using IC 6.1.6 on RHEL 6.

Cheers,

Phil

  • Hi Phil,

    the error message seems clear but there may be earlier problems that may be causing this.

    This can happen if your tech file is not setup for the router.

    Check if you have the routing directions setup in the techfile (setting directions in the Wire Assistant won't work).

    The nets to route should also be defined as Power/Ground with the property editor (but I think you may have done that already).

    If that fails, try entering the command directly in the CIW:

    (rtePowerRouteBlockRing ?cv geGetEditCellView(hiGetCurrentWindow()) ?nets list("VDD" "VSS") ?instances list("MY_INSTANCE_NAME") ?channels nil ?contour nil ?blockClearance 0.0 ?layers list("Metal1" "Metal2") ?lattice nil ?netClearance 0.14 ?netWidth 0.14)

     

    I can reproduce your problem when I have an incorrect techfile setup.

     

    Hope this helps

     

    Colin

  • Dear Colin,

    Thank you for the quick turn-around.

    The command you specified works great, the block ring is routed appropriately.  As you suspected my techfile does have the routing directions and the VDD and VSS nets were defined as power and ground in the property editor, so it must be an issue with the GUI version of this code not liking the techfile in some way...

    For the instances list in the command, is there an easy way to search the layout for all instances that match a regex (eg. anything of the form |I0, |I1, ...).  Or a way just to list all the instances, without having to type them one-by-one.

    Cheers,

    Phil

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