[ Liberate ] Cells do not have -extsim_model parameter specified in define_leafcell command

Based on the history of your other post, I am guessing your netlist is created from av_extracted view. Very likely, the instances' name for the leafcells does not have "x" prefix, when the netlist is created from an av_extracted view. if this is the case, you can try to add -element option in your define_leafcell commands. Alternatively, you can extract the netlist directly with Assura/QRC, instead of using av_extracted view.

Regards,

Guangjun

in addition, you have this warning in the logfile,

WARNING (LIB-40): (set_var): Ignored the invalid value '$model' specified for 'extsim_model_include'. It should be set to an absolute file path.

'extsim_model_include' only take full path.

Yes I created the netlist using ADEL (ADE L ~> Simulation ~> Netlist ~> Create) after attaching the symbols to their respective 'av_extracted' views (ADE L ~> Setup ~> Environment ; set the first view to av_extracted).

I also created the netlists using Assura Quantus by choosing the output format to be spice instead of av_extracted. Thanks for pointing this out, I'll try it this way. But here, I'd have to name all the .sp files (for each cell) right?

Does this mean the nmos and pmos leaf cells were being defined automatically because N_18_MM and P_18_MM weren't 'found' in the netlist?

extsim_model_include is being given an absolute path (starting from /) as shown in the question, sorry but I don't know if that's incorrect.

I also see a lot of .scs files under Models/Spectre . There's a Models/Hspice as well. There's no one file called UMC.scs or so. According to the value given to '$model' in 'set model' , how can I know if that's the wrong model file? 

Using a netlist generated from av_extracted view is not a problem. However, if the instances' names do not have x prefix, eg. Mxxx instead of xMxxx for instance of a mos device, you need -element in define_leafcell command. This affects how a device/instances is treated by Liberate during pre-analysis stage, or by inside-view. 

As to model files, you can use a wrapper to include all required files and sections(for spectre syntax). then assign the wrapper to extsim_model_include, and use read_spice to read in this wrapper. you need to read the instruction from the vendor to know which files/sections are required for each PVT. typically, vendors may provide an example wrapper file. 

For netlist, you can have an all-in-one file, or cell_based files. for cell-based files, you can use the cell name as the file name, eg. INV_X1.scs for cell INV_X1. You can use foreach cell $cell {...} loop to construct a list of all netlist file, then use read_spice to read the list of netlist. An example can also be found in the <install>/example/liberate/char.tcl.  

Regards,

Guangjun

Thank you so much for your detailed and extremely well-written answer.

I included the correct model file from 'Models' that came from the foundry.

In the MM180_SPECTRE_MAIN_V161.lib.scs file, I see this :

1. MM180_REG18_V124.lib.scs
// (UMC 0.18um Regular Vt 1.8V Mixed Mode process Spice Model )
// Model Name:
// N_18_MM ............. 1.8V NMOS Model
// P_18_MM ............. 1.8V PMOS Model

and later

include "./SPECTRE/MM180_REG18_V124.lib.scs" section=tt

in MM180_REG18_V124.lib.scs I see

include "./MM180_REG18_V124.mdl.scs"

where

model n_18_mm bsim3v3 type=n

and

model p_18_mm bsim3v3 type=p

are defined along with other resistor and capacitor models.

Liberate says this:

ERROR (LIB-926):  The program will terminate because the definition of the sub-circuit or model for instance 'M0' could not be found. Run the following checks in the given sequence: the subcircuit or model is loaded, the first line in the model file is empty or has a comment, and the netlist syntax is correct. If no problem is found in these checks, use the 'define_leafcell' command to define the sub-circuit or model, and rerun Tcl

As far as I know, the MM180_SPECTRE_MAIN_V161.lib.scs should behave like a wrapper by itself because it includes all the files that define the required models. Right?

Here is the modified char.tcl file, I am using netlists that were generated using Assura Quantus instead of the one from av_extracted.

set rundir $env(PWD)

exec mkdir -p ${rundir}/LDB
exec mkdir -p ${rundir}/LIBRARY
exec mkdir -p ${rundir}/DATASHEET

set_var slew_lower_rise 0.2
set_var slew_upper_rise 0.8
set_var slew_lower_fall 0.2
set_var slew_upper_fall 0.8

set_var measure_slew_lower_rise 0.2
set_var measure_slew_upper_rise 0.8
set_var measure_slew_lower_fall 0.2
set_var measure_slew_upper_fall 0.8

set_var max_transition 61.75e-09

define_template -type delay -index_1 {61.75 158.9 794.1} -index_2 {18.732 37.464 74.928} delay_3x3
define_template -type power -index_1 {61.75 158.9 794.1} -index_2 {18.732 37.464 74.928} power_3x3
define_template -type constraint -index_1 {61.75 158.9 794.1} -index_2 {18.732 37.464 74.928} constraint_3x3

set model "/home/TSMC/Desktop/UMC180/Designkits/Cadence_6.1/Models/Spectre/MM180_SPECTRE_MAIN_V161.lib.scs"

set_operating_condition -voltage 0.2 -temp 25

set_var extsim_model_include $model

define_leafcell -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} N_18_MM
define_leafcell -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} P_18_MM

read_spice {netlist/INVX1.sp netlist/AND2X1.sp netlist/NAND2X1.sp netlist/OR2X1.sp netlist/NOR2X1.sp netlist/XOR2X1.sp netlist/XNOR2X1.sp}

define_cell \
-input {in} \
-output {out} \
-delay delay_3x3 \
-power power_3x3 \
-constraint constraint_3x3 \
{INVX1}

define_cell \
-input {a b} \
-output {y} \
-delay delay_3x3 \
-power power_3x3 \
-constraint constraint_3x3 \
{NAND2X1 NOR2X1 AND2X1 OR2X1 XOR2X1 XNOR2X1}

char_library -extsim spectre
write_ldb ${rundir}/LDB/lowpower.ldb
write_library -overwrite ${rundir}/LIBRARY/lowpower.lib
write_datasheet -format text ${rundir}/DATASHEET/lowpower.txt
write_datasheet -format html ${rundir}/DATASHEET/lowpower.html

Thank you so so much for your patience and answers

iamKarthikBK said:

define_leafcell -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} N_18_MM
define_leafcell -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} P_18_MM

you have not added -element option to these commands, as I suggested.

Sorry I forgot to put this in the previous reply,

define_leafcell -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} -element true N_18_MM
define_leafcell -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} -element true P_18_MM

is this how I am supposed to do it?

Liberate says -element takes a 'boolflag' type

Here's the logs:

LIBERATE parameter "extsim_model_include" set to "/home/TSMC/Desktop/UMC180/Designkits/Cadence_6.1/Models/Spectre/MM180_SPECTRE_MAIN_V161.lib.scs"
too many arguments (unexpected argument(s): N_18_MM), usage:
Var/FlagName Type Value Help
------------ ---- ----- ----
(-help gives this help)
-type string () Cell type [nmos|pmos|diode|r|c|nmos_stk|pmos_stk|nmos_soi|pmos_soi|npn|pnp|black_box]
-pins list () Pins position, usually start from 0 <drain gate source [bulks]> | <d g1 g2 s b [int] | <terminal_p terminal_n [bulks]>
-pin_position list () Pins position, usually start from 0 <drain gate source [bulks]> | <d g1 g2 s b [int] | <terminal_p terminal_n [bulks]>
-length string (L) mos param name of Length (default 'L')
-width string (W) mos param name of Width (default 'W')
-multiple string (M) mos param name of Multiple (default 'M')
-area string (AREA) diode param name of area (default 'AREA')
-pj string (PJ) diode param name of pj (default 'PJ')
-nfin string (NFIN) nfin parameter of finfet (default 'NFIN')
-scale float (1.0) mos param scale factor (default '1.0')
-element boolflag (false) Enable circuit element based leaf cell, model name(s) has to be given.
-inst boolflag (false) Enable specific instance based leaf cell, instance name(s) has to be given.
-extsim_model boolflag (false) Enable user-defined extsim-model mode and use models included by extsim_deck_header
cellNames list () List of leaf cell names or model names (if -element present)
while executing
"::tcl::OptKeyParse define_leafcell $args"
(procedure "define_leafcell" line 1)
invoked from within
"define_leafcell -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} -element true N_18_MM "
(file "/home/TSMC/Desktop/UMC180/Designkits/Cadence_6.1/lowpower/liberate/tcl/char.tcl" line 29)

iamKarthikBK said:

define_leafcell -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} -element true N_18_MM
define_leafcell -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3} -element true P_18_MM

should be,

define_leafcell -element -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3}  N_18_MM
define_leafcell -element -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3}  P_18_MM

please read the reference manual for more details.

Guangjun Cao said:

define_leafcell -element -type nmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3}  N_18_MM
define_leafcell -element -type pmos -pin_position {0 1 2 3}  P_18_MM

Still gives me

ERROR (LIB-926): The program will terminate because the definition of the sub-circuit or model for instance 'M0' could not be found. Run the following checks in the given sequence: the subcircuit or model is loaded, the first line in the model file is empty or has a comment, and the netlist syntax is correct. If no problem is found in these checks, use the 'define_leafcell' command to define the sub-circuit or model, and rerun Tcl

Guangjun Cao said:

please read the reference manual for more details.

Okay! I'll do that!

Thank you so much!

iamKarthikBK said:

ERROR (LIB-926): The program will terminate because the definition of the sub-circuit or model for instance 'M0' could not be found

please share the line for instance 'M0' in your netlist. in addition, share all your read_spice commands and full logfile, the contents of your model wrapper. make sure, the first line in the model file is empty or has a comment. check if the devices names in model files and netlist are both in upper case.