Course Description
This advanced Engineer Explorer course provides a focused exploration of SKILL® programming in the Virtuoso® layout environment. You are required to have a working knowledge of SKILL programming and the Virtuoso Layout Editor or to complete the course prerequisites.
In this two-day course, you use the SKILL programming language to write code for layout design tasks for cell design, cell validation, library updates, and parameterized cells (Pcells). You also learn to
- Run example SKILL programs to automate those tasks
- Analyze key program constructs for each program
- Customize the programs to meet new requirements
- Explore options for enhancements to the programs
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
Create and modify SKILL programs to
- Measure cellview database objects (polygons, paths, rectangles) for area and capacitance
- Hierarchically locate, highlight and report on I/O pads and cell locations
- Compare pins and pin attributes on two cellviews and interface using a custom form
- Copy a design and replace or update cell references in a design hierarchy
- Analyze a Parameterized cell (Pcell) library to locate and update each Pcell, its associated parameters and Component Description Format (CDF) using a custom tabbed form
Software Used in This Course
SKILL development environment
Virtuoso Layout Suites L
Software Release(s)
Course Agenda
Day 1
Cell Design: Measuring Cellview Data
- Run a program to report shape areas to reduce manual computations
- Implement a table data structure to make programming easier
- Create technology-independent code to reduce code maintenance
- Add labels to improve usability
Cell Design: Locating I/O Cell Data
- Run a program to locate instances of I/O cells based on cell names
- Implement regular expression pattern matching to locate I/O cells
- Enhance a program to determine the bond pad location at the top level
Cell Validation: Comparing Pins on Cellviews
- Run a program to match pins on two different views of the same cell
- Use a report field to display pin information
- Modify the program to process all cells in a design hierarchy
Day 2
Library and Design Updates: Copying a Design and Replacing Cell References
- Run the Library Manager copy utility
- Reference sub cells to new masters to update the design
- Run a SKILL program to copy, update references, and rename sub cells
Parameterized Cells: Analyzing Pcell Libraries
- Look up Component Description Format (CDF) information for Pcell parameters
- Display Pcell parameters with a tab field
- Link to Pcell documentation with a hypertext field
Audience
Physical Layout Designers
Cadence® Application Engineers
Layout Designers
CAD Developers
CAD Engineers
Cadence SKILL Programmers
Prerequisites
You must have the
- Ability to develop or maintain SKILL programs
or you must have completed at least one the following courses:
Related Courses
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Course ID: 84453
