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Message started by jaylin79 on Dec 20^th, 2005, 5:09pm

Title: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout edit
Post by jaylin79 on Dec 20^th, 2005, 5:09pm

Hi guys,

Does anybody know how to import the .sf layout database into virtuoso layout edit for modification,
Do I need to creat a new display.drf and techfile.tf myself to support this importing?

Thanks a lot

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by bernd on Dec 21^st, 2005, 1:27am

You first have to figure out what data format .sf is.
I'm unfortunately not aware of these .sf extension.

Cadence Virtuoso currently support two layout exchange
formats.

First, most common used in industry GDSII 'Graphic Data System' (File -> Import/Export -> Stream),
for further information have a look at Cadence Online Docu (cdsdoc)
Design Translators Reference, Appendix A Stream Format

Second CIF 'Caltech Intermediate Form' (File -> Import/Export -> CIF),
http://caltechcstr.library.caltech.edu/431/
which is more used for education on Universities because it is an ASCII format and you can hack it whether GDSII is binary.

Bernd

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by Andrew Beckett on Dec 22^nd, 2005, 2:06pm

Bernd,

I've seen people use ".sf" to mean Stream Format. Whilst the format is often known as GDSII or GDS, it's really called Stream Format. GDSII was the name of the Calma workstation where Stream Format originated as its archiving format.

CIF used to be used more commonly before Stream Format became the industry standard. It's simple, but tends to suffer a bit from incompatibility between tools as different tools have extended it in different ways over the years. Stream is a much more rigid format.

Regards,

Andrew.

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by jaylin79 on Dec 22^nd, 2005, 5:40pm

Dear Andrew&Bernd,

I can just use import-->stream in with a default.tf supplied by Cadence to convert the .sf file into a layout library, but the layer names showed in the LSW is L1, L2..., how can I change this name from the LSW?

Thanks a lot

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by Andrew Beckett on Dec 22^nd, 2005, 9:40pm

You'd need to create a proper technology file with appropriate layer names. Read the documentation on the technology file, and take a look at some of the sample tech files in the installation...

Andrew.

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by bernd on Dec 23^rd, 2005, 6:48am

I think since DFII Version 5.0.33 there is an option
'Attach Techfile Of Library'
under the Stream In Form 'Options'.

So if you already have a proper Technology Library
with a defined Techfile you can fill in there the name
of these library.

You may need also a layer mapping table.

Check it out.

Bernd

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by jaylin79 on Dec 25^th, 2005, 5:35pm

what is the formation of the layer mapping table, should I put it at "User defined data"? BTW, should the layer number in the techfile be the same as that in the Input-layer description of the DRC and LVS rule file, Can I choose this layer number at will?

Thanks a lot

Title: Re: Can .sf file be imported into virtuoso layout
Post by jaylin79 on Dec 25^th, 2005, 7:34pm

My way to transfer the *.sf from foundry into library is that :
(1)use import-->stream in to create a techfile aaa.tf from the *.sf, then layer names are L1, L2...L99, I modify only the layer names as Ndiff, Nplus, Nwell..
(2)use import-->stream in to create a library bbb from the *.sf and techfile aaa.tf.
(3)Open the bbb library top cell view, modify the display format of each layer in the LSW and save.

Is it correct?

And there is only one purpose definition P0, can it work?

the aaa.tf contains:
layerDefinitions()
techPurposes(
;( PurposeName Purpose# Abbreviation )
( P0 1 P0 )
)
techLayerPurposePriorities()
techDisplays()
layerRules(
streamLayers(
;( Layer streamNumber dataType translate )
)

Have a nice days