Simulation Driven Routing
Rapid Adoption Kit (RAK)
Product Version: ICADVM18.1.83
November 2018
Copyright Statement
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registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All others are the property of their respective
holders.
Learn more at Cadence Support Portal - https://support.cadence.com
© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
Contents
Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 4
Audience ...................................................................................................................... 4
Terms .......................................................................................................................... 4
Interactive Router Bindkeys and Legends ................................................................... 4
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 5
SDR Flow .................................................................................................................... 6
Before You Begin......................................................................................................... 7
Module -1 Overview of SDR features .......................................................................... 8
Lab 1: Source/Sinks Map ......................................................................................... 9
Lab 2: Routing the net outp .................................................................................... 12
Lab 3: Check the routed net outp ........................................................................... 34
Module - 2 Routing with Tapering .............................................................................. 36
Lab 1: Route the net outm ...................................................................................... 36
Lab 2: Check the routed net outm .......................................................................... 41
Module - 3 Controlling the Twig generation ............................................................... 42
Lab 1: Route net net044 ......................................................................................... 42
Lab 2: Check the routed net net044 ....................................................................... 53
Module - 4 Fixing violations ....................................................................................... 54
Lab 1: Identifying and fixing violations .................................................................... 54
Summary ................................................................................................................... 67
Support ...................................................................................................................... 67
Feedback ................................................................................................................... 67
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
Purpose
The purpose of this RAK is to guide you through the following basic commands of
Simulation Driven Routing (SDR):
• Current distribution visualization
• Current estimation based on simulation
• Auto-wire width/vias sizing
• Auto-twig connection to devices
The scope of this RAK is solely intended for SDR usage and not dataset generation from
simulation or for ICT file creation for the extractor.
Audience
This document is intended for layout engineers working in Virtuoso EXL and for those
who want to promote SDR capabilities in a layout design team.
Terms
Terms and Acronyms
Definitions
SDR
ADE
EAD
EM
LMB
MMB
RMB
Virtuoso Simulation Driven Routing
Analog Design Environment
Electrically Aware Design
Electro Migration
Left Mouse Button
Middle Mouse Button
Right Mouse Button
Interactive Router Bindkeys and Legends
Terms and Acronyms
Definitions
Shift + Mouse Wheel click
= (increase) / - (decrease)
{
t
Blue Circle
Yellow Circle
Cycle Current Estimation
Twig Layer controls. Layer Up/Down
Cycle Auto Twig Mode
Toggle Taper Mode
Connected Pin
Current Contributor
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
Overview
Virtuoso Simulation Driven Routing (SDR) is a step towards "correct by construction"
routing driven by electrical requirements. It provides an environment to consider the
current density and maximum resistance design rules during interactive routing. It is a
solution where you take into consideration the current information and automatically
resize wires and vias during interactive routing.
Electromigration (EM) has a major impact on IC reliability and lifespan, a long-term
concern for automotive, aerospace, and medical IC providers. EM has been an increasing
problem and has become a challenge for the entire microelectronics industry as we move
from higher to lower process nodes.
SDR uses the electrical information derived from circuit simulation to drive optimal routing
widths in layout implementation while maintaining EM compliance.
The key features of Virtuoso® simulation-driven routing are as follows:
• Visualize the current distribution per net.
• Control simulation-driven routing to calculate the current according to the net
topology
• Auto-size wires and vias according to the estimated current.
• Auto-connect devices according to the estimated current.
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
SDR Flow
In the SDR flow, the parasitic extraction and EM checks happen concurrently while the
layout is implemented. In this case, the electrical impact is unknown until the layout is
complete. In simulation driven routing, the EM constraints are considered during the
layout implementation. This in turn decreases the number of iterations.
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
Before You Begin
Module and lab contents include the following database:
SDR_RAK.tar.gz
Action 1: In your terminal window type:
tar -zxvf SDR_RAK.tar.gz
Action 2: Go to the RAK directory
cd SDR_RAK
NOTE: You can refer to the setup.csh file to set the different environment variables
and paths required to run the RAK. Modify the file as per your environment and
source it.
source setup.csh
Action 3: Launch virtuoso
virtuoso &
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Simulation Driven Routing (RAK)
Module -1 Overview of SDR features
In this module you are going to explore the main features available in Simulation Driven
Routing (SDR). You will route net “outp” using SDR and check for its EM compliance.
SDR Toolbar
Checker Type
Checker Mode
Current Estimation Mode
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© 2018 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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