Clarity 3D Solver - Recent Threads

Setting Up and Simulating Rigid-Flex Designs in PowerSI from ODB++ Imports

ALLpdf — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:36:09 GMT

The most robust and recommended approach is ODB++ > Allegro > PowerSI Workflow.

Steps:

Import the ODB++ file into Allegro.

Verify and configure:
- Rigid‑Flex zones
- Stackups for rigid and flex regions

Save the design as an Allegro .brd file.
Import the .brd file into PowerSI for simulation.

This workflow (ODB++ > .brd > .spd) is considered more stable and reliable especially for complex Rigid‑Flex designs.

You're Invited: Unlocking the Power of AWR Clarity

Renu Vibha — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:49:20 GMT

We’re excited to invite you and your team to a Lunch and Learn session focused on Clarity and AWR RF Design, scheduled for August 07, 2025, at our Cadence Bangalore office.

This session will provide valuable insights into RF design and 3D FEM simulation, and we encourage your team to participate and benefit from the learning experience.

Date: 7th August 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (3 hours)
Venue: Cadence Office, Level 1, Building 4A, Ecoworld, Bellandur

Join me as we explore the intricacies of RF Simulations using Cadence AWR and Clarity tools, from the fundamentals to advanced concepts. Gain insights into the world of radio frequency simulations

To secure your spot, send an email to Vignesh at vignes@cadence.com.

Looking forward to your participation.

Thank you!

: Correlating 3D Solvers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Comparing EM Simulation Tools

jillashiva — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:52:39 GMT

When comparing Electromagnetic (EM) simulation tools, it's essential to ensure that the results are reliable and comparable. To achieve this, we need to follow a structured approach that minimizes variability in the simulation setup. In this guide, we outline the steps to correlate 3D solvers and provide guidelines for comparing results between EM simulation tools.

Step 1: Model Preparation

Geometry: Ensure that the geometry is identical between simulations, including airbox size. Export the model from other tools in .stp or .sat format.

Port Locations: Include port shapes in the exported model file to guide port placement in Clarity.

Step 2: Materials and Stackup

Material Assignment: Provide an image or material spreadsheet describing the material assignment.

Material Properties: Include dielectric properties and frequency-dependent models (e.g., Debye model, D-Sarker model).

Conductor Information: Specify conductor types (non-copper) and properties (e.g., surface roughness, etch-dependent modifications).

Step 3: Solution Setup and Results

Solution/Meshing Frequency: Provide the solution/meshing frequency used in the simulation.

Convergent Criteria: Specify the convergent criteria used to ensure accuracy.

Frequency Sweep: Provide the frequency sweep start and stop values.

Special Metal Modeling: Mention if any special metal modeling techniques were employed (e.g., solved inside the metal or skin depth).

Runtime and Hardware: Report runtime and computer hardware information (number of cores, RAM, etc.).

Simulation Profile: Provide a simulation profile from other tools to facilitate comparison.

Step 4: Result Comparison

S-Parameter Results: Obtain s-parameter results from other tools for comparison.

Best Practices:

* Keep the simulation setup as similar as possible between tools.

* Document all simulation settings and parameters.

* Verify that the simulation results are reliable and accurate.

By following these steps and guidelines, you'll be able to ensure a fair and accurate comparison of EM simulation tools, allowing you to make informed decisions and optimize your design.

You can also refer to the link here for more interesting information

Cheers,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Clarity 3D Layout Multiple Structure Simulation Workflow

jillashiva — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:27:27 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm excited to share a walkthrough on creating a multiple-structure simulation in Clarity 3D Layout with you.

This feature allows us to analyze the behavior of multiple blocks simultaneously, which is perfect for designing complex systems.

Step 1: Create three blocks and assign designs to these blocks

Create three new blocks in your Clarity 3D Layout project to get started. You can do this by clicking the "Block" button in the toolbar and selecting "New Block". Name these blocks "D2" , "PKG" and "D1".

Next, assign a design to each block. For example, you can create a simple rectangle for Blocks. Make sure to set the dimensions and properties of each design according to your needs.

Step 2: Establish a connection between the blocks

Now that we have our three blocks with assigned designs let's create a connection between them. In Clarity 3D Layout, we can use "ports" to connect blocks. Create a port on Block Pkg and another port on Block D1. Then, connect these ports to establish a link between the blocks.

Step 3: Run the simulation

With our blocks connected, we can now run the simulation. Go to the "Simulation" tab and select the "Run Simulation" button. Clarity 3D Layout will then simulate the behavior of both blocks simultaneously, considering their connection.

Step 4: View the simulation results

Once the simulation is complete, you can view the results in the "Results" tab. Here, you can analyze the behavior of each block individually and their interaction.

By following these simple steps, you can create a multiple-structure simulation in Clarity 3D Layout and gain valuable insights into the behavior of complex systems. Here is a Video detailing the process. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to ask in the comments below!

Best Regards,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Efficient Inductance Extraction with Clarity 3D Layout

SimTech — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:18:39 GMT

Efficient Inductance Extraction with Clarity 3D Layout

Are you struggling with inductance extraction for your complex IC package and PCB designs? Look no further! This post highlights the latest Clarity 3D Layout v2024.1 workflow for inductance extraction, providing a fast and accurate solution for inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction using the Quasi-Static Solver.

Introducing Clarity 3D Layout Inductance Extraction

The new Inductance Extraction workflow in Clarity 3D Layout provides Quasi-Static-Solver-based RLCG extraction without the need to predefine ports for the source/sink. This means you can create source/sink automatically based on selected components or manually based on nodes on traces/shapes.

Key Features and Benefits

Fast and accurate inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction
No need to predefine ports for the source/sink
Automatic source/sink creation based on selected components or manual creation based on nodes on traces/shapes
Supports complex 3D structures with adaptive FEM refinement technology
Reduces simulation time with parallelization technology

Results

After running the inductance extraction flow, you can view the inductance summary results by selecting the L Full Matrix option on the workflow pane. The results are displayed for a frequency of 1 KHz, and you can export the results to a .csv file. The resulting L matrix shows the self-inductance values on the diagonal and mutual inductance values on the non-diagonal terms.

You can also generate a SPICE model from the R/L/G/C results, which can be used by other tools.

Lastly, you can plot the R/L/C/G values against frequency using the R/L/C/G vs Freq option on the workflow pane.

The resulting plots showed the frequency-dependent behavior of the inductance, resistance, capacitance, and conductance values.

Conclusion

Clarity 3D Layout Inductance Extraction is a powerful tool for efficient and accurate inductance extraction and SPICE RLCG extraction. With its Quasi-Static Solver and automatic source/sink creation, it streamlines the simulation process and reduces simulation time. Try it out today and experience the benefits of fast and accurate inductance extraction for your complex IC package and PCB designs!

Explore this Interesting Workflow

Inductance Extraction and SPICE RLCG Model Generation of IC Package by Using Quasi-Static Solver in Clarity 3D Layout

Verifying Design Integrity Before Simulation: Pre-Simulation Validation

jillashiva — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:59:15 GMT

Before running simulations, it's essential to ensure that your design as well as the overall simulation set up is accurate, complete, and consistent. Pre-simulation validation is a critical step in the design flow that helps you identify and fix potential issues early on, saving time and resources.

What is Pre-Simulation Validation?

Pre-simulation validation is a process that checks your design for errors, inconsistencies, and potential problems that could affect simulation results or even prevent simulation from running altogether. This step helps you verify that your design is correct, complete, and ready for simulation.

Why is Pre-Simulation Validation Important?

Performing pre-simulation validation helps you:

Catch errors early: Identify and fix design errors, such as Spice syntax errors, connectivity issues, or incorrect component values, before simulation.
Ensure design consistency: Verify that your design is consistent across all levels of hierarchy and that all components are properly connected.
Improve simulation efficiency: By fixing issues before simulation, you can reduce the risk of simulation failures or incorrect results, saving time and resources.
Enhance design reliability: Pre-simulation validation helps ensure that your design is reliable and functions as intended, reducing the risk of costly rework or redesign.

The reason is Pre-simulation Validation also check set up consistency, for example, In clarity 3D Workbench:

a) If the Solution frequency is less than Freq Max/2 the tool will display a warning
b) If the set up include Wave ports and you want to extract low frequency points, the tool will tell you that if is not possible while using Waveports and that interpolation will be used instead.
c) More examples: no port defined, no boundary conditions defined, etc

How to Perform Pre-Simulation Validation

To perform pre-simulation validation, you can the below option:

By performing pre-simulation validation, you can ensure that your design is accurate, complete, and ready for simulation, saving time and resources in the long run.

Best Regards,

Shiva Prasad Jilla

Clarity: Streamline Your Antenna Designs with Clarity's Component Library

SimTech — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:56:12 GMT

Are you tired of starting from scratch when designing antennas? Look no further! Clarity 3D Workbench now includes a powerful Component Library that lets you use predefined 3D component templates or add existing ones to create 3D designs and simulation models. In this post, we will explore the benefits and features of the Component Library and how it can revolutionize your antenna-design workflow.

Antenna design is a complex and time-consuming process that requires significant expertise and resources. One of the major pain points is the lack of a library of pre-designed antennas that can be easily customized and simulated. This is where Clarity's Component Library comes in – a game-changing feature that simplifies the design process and saves you time.

The Component Library is a new feature in Clarity 3D Workbench that allows you to access and manage 3D components for your designs.

To access the Component Library in Clarity 3D Workbench, simply follow these steps:

Click on the "Tools" menu.
Select the "Component Library" option.

The Component Library offers several benefits, including:

Easy access and management of 3D components for your designs
Utilization of predefined component templates to streamline the design process
Customization and configuration of 3D components based on your simulation needs
Enhanced efficiency of creating 3D models and components

Component Library GUI:

We would love to hear about your current antenna-design workflow and how you think the Component Library can help. Share your experiences, tips, and questions in the comments below!

Happy Simulating!

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Optimality Intelligent System Explorer: The NextGen AI-Driven Design Optimization tool for Accurate 3D FEM Simulation

ShivaShankarM — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:14:50 GMT

For accurate 3D FEM simulations in PCB or IC package design, what is the best way to optimize design parameters and meet design goals? Our Cadence Optimality Intelligence Explorer tool is the solution, enabling efficient exploration and optimization of design parameters for optimal performance.

The Optimality Intelligence System Explorer uses artificial intelligence (AI)- driven multidisciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO) technology that enables you to optimize your design quickly and efficiently with no accuracy loss.

With the increasing complexity of electronic system design and greater performance requirements, Optimality Explorer breaks through the limitations of the conventional human-intensive optimization process by replacing a traditional interactive flow of design, test, and refine loop with generative AI-driven technology that results in the optimal system design solution expeditiously and without compromising accuracy.

The Optimality Intelligence System Explorer offers you the following benefits:

Design Insight: Enables design engineers to determine optimal electrical performance, keeping away from suboptimal local minima and maxima, while mapping massive variations for increased considerations and exploration of the complete design space
Greater Productivity: Empowers design engineers and teams to efficiently achieve optimized system-level designs and boosts productivity (on an average, 10 times faster) when compared to manual, exhaustive, brute-force parametric table studies
Intuitive UI: Lets designers quickly learn, use, and adopt Optimality Explorer from the Clarity and Sigrity X environments for fast invocation of MDAO
Extensible Solution: Allows designers to extend the machine-learning optimization solution across multi-physics technologies of Cadence with an integrated and comprehensive simulation solution.

You can leverage our Optimality Intelligence System Explorer to perform design optimization and thereby extract accurate models in Clarity 3D FEM simulation.

Click here for more details on Optimality in Clarity 3D FEM simulation.

How do you optimize your design parameters and fine tune them to meet your design goals? Share your thoughts, views and questions in the comment section below.

Happy Learning!

Clarity: Tip of the day – Streamline Your Clarity 3D Simulations with Queue

Sumith — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:06:41 GMT

Are you tired of simulating multiple Clarity 3D Layout or Clarity 3D Workbench files one by one, waiting for each simulation to be completed before starting the next? We have a solution for you!

Did you know that the Sigrity Installation directory contains a tool that can help you queue and simulate your test cases automatically?

Introducing the Clarity 3D Setup tool!

This tool lets you queue and simulate multiple test cases sequentially.

1. Navigate to C:\Cadence\Sigrity2024.0\tools\bin and launch exe.

2. In the Clarity 3D Setup GUI, configure your computer resources and add your test cases.

3. Click on the Simulate button and let the tool take care of the rest!

The Clarity 3D Setup tool will run your simulations one by one, freeing up your time.

How do you currently manage simulation queues? Are you using scripts or manual workflows?

Try Clarity3DSetup.exe today and share your experiences, tips, and questions in the comments below!

Happy simulating!

Showcase your expertise: Port Configurations in 3D FEM Simulation

ShivaShankarM — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:50:55 GMT

Which of the following port configurations (Waveport and Lumped port) do you believe will be the most effective in 3D FEM simulation?

Please answer with the letter of your choice, or feel free to include any reasons to support your answer. All opinions are welcome.

Clarity Workbench Far Field Plotting Template

mensh — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:54:52 GMT

Hello!

Is there anyway to save and load a template for far field plots? I know this is a thing for s-parameters but what about far field plots? Plots don't refresh after I run another simulation, so do I need to recreate the plots every time?

Thanks,

Ahmed

System Analysis Knowledge Bytes - A new way to tackle System-Level Power Integrity and PDN analysis

Renu Vibha — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:33:35 GMT

The System Analysis Knowledge Bytes blog series explores the capabilities and potential of the System Analysis tools offered by Cadence. In addition to providing insight into the useful features and enhancements in this area, this series aims to broadcast the views of different bloggers and experts, who share their knowledge and experience on all things related to System Analysis.

No one wants to be stuck fixing issues late in the design cycle. Designs are getting too complex and schedules too short to wait until the end for analysis. Operating early in the design cycle allows for “what if” scenario exploration, sets more accurate design constraints, and reduces design iterations.

Cadences next-generation Sigrity solutions are redefining SI and PI analysis with a performance increase of up to 10X while maintaining the trusted accuracy for which Sigrity tools are known.

Cadence releases SIGRITY/SYSANLS 2024.0 to equip designers with redefining Signal and Power Integrity helping deliver accurate SI/PI Analysis with a Comprehensive Solution to meet Compressed Schedules of High-Speed Electronic Products. Sigrity 2024.0 also provides a user experience that streamlines setup time for detailed system-level SI/PI analysis by transitioning seamlessly across different analysis workflow.

Sigrity tools read and write directly to the Allegro PCB and IC package design database for fast and accurate integration of results. It provides a SPICE-based simulator and embedded field solvers for extraction of 2D and 3D structures. It supports transistor-level and behavioral I/O modeling, including power-aware simulation using IBIS models. Parallel bus and serial channel architecture can be explored pre-layout to compare alternatives, or post-layout for a comprehensive analysis of all associated signals.

All-In-One SI & PI Analysis solve your signal and power integrity design challenges across the board, at any stage of the design flow, from crosstalk interference to IR drop.

Embedded Sigrity Engines for Speed & Accuracy Access the unparalleled accuracy and speed of the Sigrity engines for SI & PI analysis and qualification in one easy-to-use platform.

Analyze & Collaborate in Context Run analysis and view results directly overlaid on the PCB design data, eliminating common issues and transcription errors found in disjointed flows.

The Cadence System Analysis solutions offer the following advantages as compared to the other tools available in the market:

Scalability and Performance: Virtually unlimited scalability and up to 10X performance gain enabled by massively parallel execution, via the cloud or on premises.
Accuracy: Depiction of the physical configuration of system designs using true 3D model extraction and simulation.
Risk Mitigation: Multi-domain analysis with minimal risk due to higher analysis coverage because of scalability and integration with the most industry-proven IC, package and PCB design environments

The Cadence Online Support portal also leveraged and built a one-stop learning resource for the Sigrity 2024.0 release

This page is carefully designed to provide an integrative and intuitive learning experience to enrich your experience using Sigrity 2024.0. It gives you all the information you need to start with and organized in a way that helps you find information on any topic easily. You can learn about key benefits, hands-on Rapid Adoption Kits (RAKs), an extensive library of videos, product manuals, step-by-step tutorials, and troubleshooting articles.

You can effortlessly gain new skills, knowledge, and information at your own pace. This single resource helps you find a fine balance between your learning, training, and troubleshooting needs.

Whether you are a beginner to the Cadence environment or an expert building on your knowledge database and staying relevant is essential. The Resources is a repository of information that enables you to explore a wide range of collaterals under the following categories to meet your specific requirements on your Single-Stop Learning Resource for Sigrity accessible at COS

Getting Started is Super Easy! Follow these simple steps to register!

RAK’s and Application Notes

An aggregation of absolutely everything you want to know and learn! The whole (kit and) caboodle at your fingertips, give it a try.

Click here to view all RAK’s and Application Notes

Troubleshooting

Sigrity 2024.0 Release Page - Check it NOW!
You can find more knowledge resources here.

Ready to evaluate the updated version? Scan now to get started!

Want to Learn More?

Check out some of our brand new created Training Bytes here:

Using Clarity 3D Workbench to View Return Loss and Insertion Loss in a Connector and PCB

Using Clarity 3D Workbench to View Return and Insertion Loss of a Connector

Using Clarity 3D Layout to View Return and Insertion Loss in Differential Pairs

Insertion Loss and Return Loss of a Simple Structure

And our new released Clarity 3D Solver Training.

You can become Cadence Certified after you complete the course.

We are also offering various Online Trainings and Digital Badges assigned to the Sigritiy solutions, trainings are also available as Instructor-Led Trainings currently available in the former version but they will be updated soon so stay tuned!

You can find a complete overview of available trainings here in our learning map.

Get Started Today!

How display near and far field plots in Clarity 3D Solver.

SimTech — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:42:41 GMT

Starting with Clarity 2024.1 Release, the near and far-field results have been consolidated under a common GUI in both Clarity 3D Layout and Clarity 3D Workbench.

The consolidated GUI lets you view the Near Field, 2D Far Field, and 3D Far Field plots which is useful in debugging large and complex structures. You can display the mesh using the following steps.

Near Field:

After the simulation, right-click on Field-Plot from Project > Results and select Field Plot as shown below.

If MagE is the Field option, it will display the E Field as shown below.

You can use the Parts Selector tab to select the metal parts and uncheck parts for better visualization.

Far Field:

In the Field Canvas, choose Far Fields > 3D. Then, right-click 3D and select Add 3D Plot.

It will open the Far Field pattern, as shown below.

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

[Clarity 3D 23.1.312171.472612 300]: ERROR:MCAD internal error

dangminhduc — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:25:10 GMT

Hello Cadence experts and everyone

I faced an issue with MCAD. I have a file that can run on Clarity 3D version 2021 but when I upgraded to version 2023, this issue happen. I have no idea with it. Please help me.

Here is the output from miscellaneous

Simulation Starts ...
Log into: E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023/MAIN_240305_CHA_clarity_sim_logs_2024-04-29_10-16-40/MAIN_240305_CHA_run.log
ARGS: None
Starting runloop
240429:031641.277 | atlas_launch | WARNING | Unable to create sylink ./atlas_launch-latest to ./atlas_launch-240429-101641.276 : [WinError 1314] A required privilege is not held by the client: './atlas_launch-240429-101641.276' -> './atlas_launch-latest'
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<

E:\Project\Project_2024\test_performance\2023\MAIN_240305_CHA_clarity_sim_logs_2024-04-29_10-16-40>set /p all_args= 0<"E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023/MAIN_240305_CHA_all_args_file"

E:\Project\Project_2024\test_performance\2023\MAIN_240305_CHA_clarity_sim_logs_2024-04-29_10-16-40>set CLARITY_CONFIG=E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023/MAIN_240305_CHA.config

E:\Project\Project_2024\test_performance\2023\MAIN_240305_CHA_clarity_sim_logs_2024-04-29_10-16-40>python C:/Cadence/Sigrity2023.1/ClarityWindowsRunner/Trinity_script/run_atlas_clarity.py --run-dir "E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023" --design-name "MAIN_240305_CHA.spd" --feature-name FEATURE_V32 --log-dir "E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023/MAIN_240305_CHA_clarity_sim_logs_2024-04-29_10-16-40" --proxy tcp://192.168.50.168:50099

The long-path-support is enabled in current Windows system.

---------------------------Load CryptUtil on Windows---------------------------
-------------------------Load ClarityLicense on Windows-------------------------
--------------------------Load CryptUtilPub on Windows--------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------Start license checking program-------------------------
----------------------------Initializing simulation----------------------------

[Elapsed time of last operation: 31.6324 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.79869 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.755523 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 34.3411 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 2.11132 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.957289 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 353.695 seconds] WARNING:Volume mesh generation failed, terminate the simulation!

---------------------------Re-trying 1: 1 failed jobs---------------------------

[Elapsed time of last operation: 32.5521 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.79161 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.77265 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 32.5789 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.945 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.785748 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 351.353 seconds] WARNING:Volume mesh generation failed, terminate the simulation!

---------------------------Re-trying 2: 1 failed jobs---------------------------

[Elapsed time of last operation: 31.3209 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.83863 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.733871 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 31.8592 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.83965 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.778876 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 351.053 seconds] WARNING:Volume mesh generation failed, terminate the simulation!

---------------------------Re-trying 3: 1 failed jobs---------------------------
--------------------------Failed to distribute 1 jobs--------------------------

[Elapsed time of last operation: 31.1474 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.82869 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.737351 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 31.6905 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21019 - system inconsistency processing edge coincidence
[Elapsed time of last operation: 1.80455 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21048 - unexpected missing attribute on coedge
[Elapsed time of last operation: 0.793567 seconds] ERROR:MCAD internal error: 21034 - inconsistent face-body relationships
[Elapsed time of last operation: 351.841 seconds] WARNING:Volume mesh generation failed, terminate the simulation!

--Cannot perform meshing using DMesh. Switching the meshing algorithm to LMesh--
-----------------------------1 remote jobs finished-----------------------------
---------------------------------LMesh process---------------------------------
---------------------LMesh: mesh2: 0, 706 mesh3x: 707, 712---------------------
---------------------------Re-trying 1: 3 failed jobs---------------------------
---------------------------Re-trying 2: 3 failed jobs---------------------------
---------------------------Re-trying 3: 3 failed jobs---------------------------
--------------------------Failed to distribute 3 jobs--------------------------
---------------------------Cleanup intermediate files---------------------------
--------------------Post-simulation disk usage: 0.000025 GB--------------------
--------------------------------Release license--------------------------------
-------------------------License checking process exit-------------------------
-------------------------------Simulation failed-------------------------------

E:/Project/Project_2024/test_performance/2023/MAIN_240305_CHA_simulation_error.log

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:/Cadence/Sigrity2023.1/ClarityWindowsRunner/Trinity_script/run_atlas_clarity.py", line 16, in <module>
import run_atlas_clarity_impl
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 30082, in init run_atlas_clarity_impl
File "C:\Cadence\Sigrity2023.1\ClarityWindowsRunner\Python38\lib\asyncio\runners.py", line 43, in run
return loop.run_until_complete(main)
File "C:\Cadence\Sigrity2023.1\ClarityWindowsRunner\Python38\lib\asyncio\base_events.py", line 608, in run_until_complete
return future.result()
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 25247, in run
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 11219, in init_mesh_process
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 11507, in run_init_mesh
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 11123, in run_init_mesh_imple
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 10111, in generate_lmesh_partition
File "run_atlas_clarity_impl.pyx", line 10232, in lmesh_submit_jobs_to_atlas
NameError: name 'errStr' is not defined
<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<
Simulation finished

Clarity: Tip of the day – Script Recording in Clarity 3D Layout

SimTech — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:40:46 GMT

Have you ever found yourself needing to automate an EDA simulation process but struggling to remember all the necessary commands? Well, Clarity 3D Layout has you covered with its Tcl script recording feature!

With this feature, you can easily record, save, and play back your Tcl scripts, making it easier to automate your simulation projects.

Here is how to use the script recording feature in Clarity 3D Layout:

1. Go to Tools > Script Recorder > Record to start recording your scripts.

2. Use the Tools > Script Recorder > Stop command to stop recording.

3. Save the recorded Tcl file by using the Tools > Script Recorder > Save option.

4. To open a recorded Tcl file, click on the Open a Tcl File button.

5. Click on the Play Tcl button to run the loaded Tcl file.

That is it! With this feature, you can streamline your simulation workflow, reduce errors, and increase productivity. Give it a try today and share your experiences and questions in the comments below.

Happy simulating! 

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Clarity – Tip of the week: Waveport solve only option in Clarity 3D Workbench.

SimTech — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 23:38:37 GMT

For any design with wave ports, it is recommended that you select the Waveport solve only option to ensure that the field behavior at the port interface is as expected, before running a full 3D-EM simulation. The Waveport solve only option solves the 2D Maxwell's equations and calculates the wave port parameters (impedance and propagation constant). You can adjust the wave port size if the fields at the port interface are not as expected to get the correct behavior.

Clarity 3D Workbench:

Go to menu Solver -> Analysis Setup -> Simulation Options

Figure 1, 2, 3 and 4 show fields behavior at port interface, characteristic impedance, Gamma real and Gamma imaginary, respectively.

Figure 1. EM field at port interface (Microstrip)

Figure 2. Transmission line characteristic impedance

Figure 1. Propagation constant – Real part

Figure 4. Propagation constant – Imaginary part

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Clarity Solution for 5G using Virtuoso-Clarity Integration.

jillashiva — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:41:12 GMT

Cross-fabric extraction combines designs from multiple fabrics and creates a merged model for 3D simulation. The workflow Easily reads design data from chip, IC package, and PCB and offers unique integration with Cadence implementation platforms. The architecture allows solver to be run on hundreds of CPUs optimized for both cloud and on-premises distributed computing and gold-standard accuracy. Clarity Co-simulation with Virtuoso RF Solution have the Seamless integration with GDS, MCM, BRD files and provides system level analysis. Ex. IC+PKG+PCB+Connector.

It’s a true 3D model extraction eliminates risk from manually reducing the size of structures being modeled. Easily reads design data from all standard chip, IC package, and PCB platforms.

Tip of the day – Changing scale of an imported 3D geometry by using Scale function in Clarity 3D Workbench.

SimTech — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 12:47:41 GMT

Sometimes, you might need to change the scale of an imported 3D geometry to fit into your specific application. Parameterized models can be resized by changing the values of variables. For non-parameterized models, it requires a lot of manual effort. Therefore, the Scale function, available in the MCAD environment, is widely used to resize an imported geometry.

Clarity 3D Workbench offers a scale function, which can help you resize the imported geometry on all axes or a particular axis.

Example:

Imported geometry

Using Scale function

Resized geometry

This Scale function should help you modify the imported geometries for your simulation.

Share your thoughts on this feature.

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Clarity – Tip of the week: How to set Max edge length for signal net in Clarity 3D Layout

geda — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:36:49 GMT

Max edge length for signal net is also referred to as Signal Net Refinement or SNR. In Clarity 3D Layout, the option to specify Max edge length for signal net is set in the Geometry Options settings and is enabled when you select Local Map in DMesh options.

Shown below is the setting in Tools > Options > Edit Options > Clarity 3D Layout > Geometry Options. Here, you can set Max edge length for signal net.

When you select the Auto option, which is also the default selection, the tool automatically calculates the seeding value based on the trace dimensions during mesh generation. This is particularly useful for cases where there is large variation in trace widths. Select the Frequency dependent option to select the frequency-dependent initial mesh seeding.

To specify a value of your choice, select the Manual option and specify a non-negative value in the given field.

Setting a smaller Max edge length for signal net will create a denser initial mesh, which may result in the Adaptive Mesh Refinement process completing faster as compared to a larger Max edge length.

However, setting Max edge length for signal net too small may result in an overall larger mesh to be simulated, resulting in longer simulation times.

Bondwires inductance with differential or common mode signal

OlafA — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:06:57 GMT

Hello,

I am making a PCB interface using bondwires from a chip to a PCB waveguide. The signal is a differential signal and the bondwires are placed close to each other. I would have expected this differential signal would reduce the inductance of the bondwires. However, when I only simulate bondwires as shown in the image below (two ground bondwires on the outside, a ground plane and Ro4350b medium) the inductance given by clarity doesn't change whether the ports are differential (left) or not (right). I used the general RLGC view and the ports are 50 ohm lumped ports between the copper GND plane and the copper signal layer. The ports are indicated as differential ports when checking "edit differential ports" and are properly linked. Does clarity 3D require additional settings to simulate 2 simultaneous signals or does it always just simulate one port at a time (which it seems like it does). I also compared it to a bondwire simulation in ADS and there I do get a lower inductance with a differential net compared to a common port.

If additional info is required i will gladly give it.

Thank you in advance

Clarity – Tip of the week: Setting Up Modal Waveport in Clarity 3D Workbench

SimTech — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:21:51 GMT

A wave port represents the excitation from a semi-infinite waveguiding structure whose cross-section is the same as the wave port. For each wave port, the solver extracts the mesh in the 2D-port plane and performs an eigenmode analysis on the structures in the that plane the solution frequency.

The solution is more accurate than a lumped port because the excitation field pattern is calculated from the cross-section. As a result, it is closer to real excitation and does not introduce any additional parasitic effects.

The following figure shows a typical waveguide with a rectangular cross-section.

To create modal waveport go to Excitations – Create Excitations – Mixed type wave Port from the Solver menu, then specify the number of modes and define the sampling vectors.

To see the detailed steps, click here and watch the video.

Have you used Modal Waveport in your extractions? Let us know your experience.

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Perfect Matching Layer (PML) boundary conditions in Clarity 3D Workbench

SimTech — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 03:02:31 GMT

PML is used widely as a boundary condition along with Finite Element Method (FEM) and Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) solvers. PML absorbs the electromagnetic fields at the boundaries of a computational domain by introducing fictitious anisotropic layers of materials that are designed to mimic an infinite medium.

PML layers can be applied to the boundaries of a radiation box and are designed to gradually absorb the electromagnetic fields as they enter the layers.

The PML boundary condition is considered more accurate than the ABC terminations, and its accuracy is less dependent on the angle of the incident waves.

PML can absorb the electromagnetic fields in all directions at a much closer termination distance typically needed by ABCs, making them highly effective at reducing reflections and minimizing numerical errors in these types of simulations.

The PML boundary conditions are the preferred choice when simulating complex radiating structures such as antennas.

The PML boundary condition in Clarity 3D Workbench provides three different quality levels: low, medium, and high, where 5, 10, and 15 layers of PML material can be defined around the radiation box, respectively.

The greater the number of layers, the better the absorption. However, increasing the number of PML layers leads to an increase in the simulation time. The default value of five layers is good to cover most of the scenarios.

Clarity – Tip of the week: Setting Up Circuit Ports in Clarity 3D Layout

SimTech — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:49:43 GMT

Clarity – Tip of the week: Setting Up Circuit Ports in Clarity 3D Layout

Circuit ports are like lumped ports and can be used when lumped ports and coaxial ports are obstructed by metal or other nets. Unlike lumped ports, circuit ports can be horizontal, vertical, or at any angle. You can use circuit ports to connect the nodes in the same layer or in different layers.

It is recommended that you use circuit ports only when it is not feasible to use lumped or coaxial ports, for example, when there are metals obstructing the port surface between its positive and negative nodes.

To create circuit port, go to Setup > Port and select New from the context menu

Then Hook Positives and Hook Negatives nodes

The circuit port will be added in the Port dialog box, as shown below.

Have you used circuit port in your extractions? Let us know your experience.

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Crash Reporting in Clarity

SimTech — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:07:02 GMT

We often see the issues of tool crashing because of various environment settings and the tool compatibility issue when working at the system-level design.

Here is the quick way to report the crash to Cadence R&D directly.

When a crash occurs, two dialog boxes are presented to the user. First, the following to prepare them:

When the first dialog box is dismissed, the following dialog box appears:

The user can enter their email and a description for the steps leading up to the crash.

A privacy policy is included to describe what goes into a report. The user may view exactly what goes into their report by clicking the “What does this report contain?” link.

When the user clicks Send report, the report is sent to a cloud server and after a short interval, copied local to Cadence and processed automatically.

Overall, this level of crash reporting helps track crashes better and gets them fixed quicker than before.

Team SimTech

Cadence Design Systems

Clarity 3D showing significantly higher losses in a coplanar waveguide than ADS for the same structure

OlafA — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:45:20 GMT

When following a Clarity 3D tutorial, which makes a coplanar waveguide, the simulated S-parameters show that it is a very lossy system. I obtain the same results as the tutorial shows, but these results do not make sense to me. It shows an impedance matched waveguide (S11 < -15 dB) with an S21 of -3 dB at 20 GHz for a PCB waveguide of 2.5 mm. The dielectric used is Rogers 4350b with a loss tangent of roughly 0.0037. A loss of over 1 dB per mm seems quite large to me, especially when compared to results from the datasheet of Ro4350b (This shows an insertion loss of < 0.5 dB/inch at 20 GHz) and when performing a simulation in ADS with the same dimensions and materials for the waveguide it also shows a loss of <0.1 dB for a 2.5 mm waveguide.

I tried changing the loss tangent to 0, but this didn't change the loss significantly.

I tried increasing the conductivity to reduce ohmic losses, but this also didn't lead to a significant change.

Also increasing the dielectric constant while keeping the waveguide impedance matched to reduce the radiative losses didn't yield a improvement.

Is someone able to explain if there is a loss which is taken into account in Clarity 3D and not in ADS or whether the loss indeed should be lower.

Thank you in advance

Below are images of the waveguide in Clarity 3D

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Clarity Solution for 5G using Virtuoso-Clarity Integration.