Re: Build contact nodes

Ming Deng wrote:

>
>
> Steven Rubin wrote:
>
>> At 03:35 PM 3/12/2005, you wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Steven Rubin wrote:
>>>
>>>> At 03:47 PM 3/11/2005, you wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'm trying to build a new technology in Electric 7.00. For contact 
>>>>> nodes, I specify metal layers and via layer as boxes for main 
>>>>> example and other examples. Do the size of those boxes, or ratio 
>>>>> of sizes between those boxes has effects on such nodes used in 
>>>>> actual layout? If the size matters, do I have to keep the 
>>>>> size/ratio for all examples in addition to the main example?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The technology editor expects to see four examples of a contact node.
>>>> The smallest of the four becomes the default size contact.  The 
>>>> larger ones help define rules for stretching in X, Y, and both 
>>>> X&Y.  Since the cells that define such nodes are done in the 
>>>> Artwork technology, the size will match the final node, but 
>>>> adjusted for the difference in technologies.  Thus, if the contact 
>>>> is 4x4 lambda (in Artwork grid units) then the layout will be 4x4 
>>>> lambda (in grid units of the target technology).
>>>>
>>>>    -Steven Rubin
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What do you mean by "the size will match the final node, but 
>>> adjusted for the difference in technologies"?
>>>
>>> The main example of a contact usually has four embedded squares: the 
>>> highlight, the upper layer, the via layer, the lower layer and the 
>>> port. If I have the size of all layer squares set right, will the 
>>> final arcs have the correct data so we can stream them out for tape 
>>> out?  If yes, should I also have all size right for other examples 
>>> of a contact node?
>>
>>
>>
>> I gave an example...let me go into even further detail.  The Artwork 
>> technology usually has a lambda of 2000, which (in half nanometers) 
>> means that each grid square is 1 micron.  You might be designing a 
>> technology with a lambda value of 200 (0.1 microns).  When you draw a 
>> contact in the technology editor, you are placing and sizing Artwork 
>> primitives.  If you make the highlight, upper, and lower layers all 
>> be 4x4 lambda (4x4 microns), then Electric will scale this down to 
>> the desired size of your technology.  Thus, the technology will have 
>> a contact that is nominally 0.4 x 0.4 microns in size.
>>
>> The same applies to the arc that you draw in the technology editor: 
>> it's size will be scaled appropriately.
>>
>> The other 3 examples of contact nodes need only be larger than the 
>> main example...the amount does not matter.  Generally, the larger 
>> sizes are set to illustrate the multi-cut spacings.
>>
> Thanks for your answer. One more question, :)
>
> In the main example of a contact node, there are quite a bit 
> geometrical data information, i.e. the X/Y size data of each box. 
> Which of them really matter? My guess is only size of the box of layer 
> via (or poly cut for metal1 and poly contact), but I think it' better 
> to get confirmed from you.
>
> cheers,
>
> Ming

Never mind. I didn't catch this part: "the size will match the final 
node,".  So I think the size can be set when the instance is placed onto 
a layout.

thanks,

Ming

>
>>> If we setup a set of  design rules for a technology, will the Maze 
>>> Route or River Route respect those rules when they are looking for 
>>> the route path?
>>
>>
>>
>> I do not know how these routers work.  I believe that they examine 
>> the design rules, so they should work right.
>>
>>   -Steve 
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