Parameter sweep in layout and running extraction

Hi Emiel,

What tool are you using to do the sweeps? If you were using ADE XL or the newer Explorer or Assembler then you should be able to use the Parameterisation flow to sweep a parameter in the extracted view. This is distinct from sweeping a variable because it means that you don't need to modify the design nor assign a variable for the parameter you wish to sweep.

It might be best to talk to customer support to ensure that your setup is correct?

Regards,

Andrew 

Hi Andrew,

I'm using the variables and parameters assistant in the ADE Assembler (meastro) to do the sweeps.

My regular flow is to go to the Calibre tab in Layout XL and run xACT. After that, I update the hierarchy (config) in my testbench such that the extracted view is simulated.

This however, simulates the extracted layout with the parameter values that are in the layout. Sweeping the parameters in Assembler with this extracted view doesn't influence the result.

Is there a way to preserve the possibility to do a parameter sweep in an extracted layout? I.e. generate layouts for all the values in the sweep, run xACT for all those layouts and perform simulations with all these extracted views.

Hi Andrew,

I'm using the variables and parameters assistant in the ADE Assembler (meastro) to do the sweeps.

My regular flow is to go to the Calibre tab in Layout XL and run xACT. After that, I update the hierarchy (config) in my testbench such that the extracted view is simulated.

This however, simulates the extracted layout with the parameter values that are in the layout. Sweeping the parameters in Assembler with this extracted view doesn't influence the result.

Is there a way to preserve the possibility to do a parameter sweep in an extracted layout? I.e. generate layouts for all the values in the sweep, run xACT for all those layouts and perform simulations with all these extracted views.

Hi Emiel,

Are you defining the component values to sweep (i.e. the parameterised component parameters) in the corresponding schematic, or directly in the extracted view? It certainly won't work with the schematic view because you're using a non-Cadence extractor (the out-of-context references won't work unless you're using Quantus QRC; I think it probably should work if you are directly parameterising the extracted view itself (although I've not tried that with a non-Cadence extracted view).

As for the other approach - generating several extracted view for each situation, that's certainly possible. Over the word "Global Variables" in the Data View assistant in Assembler, do Right mouse->Add Config Sweep, and on the form pick the lib and cell of the block with the several extracted views. You can then list the names of the extracted views you want to sweep over (the Select button will make that easier). Then it will do a sweep across the different views to use...

I think you may have to have the design specified as a config view to enable this (I can't easily test right now) - not sure it works if the design is specified directly as a schematic.

Regards,

Andrew.