Re: Build contact nodes

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

>> 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