DRC errors when switching tools

Discussion in 'Cadence' started by Saran, Aug 24, 2005.

  1. Saran

    Saran Guest

    Hi All,

    Good morning. I am working on a project where I have to use some
    layouts designed in Tanner tools. I converterd the layouts to gds
    format and imported them back in cadence and so far so good! Everything
    imports fine.

    The DRC errors I am getting when I run a DRC on the layouts imported
    confuses me a little. The first error was "Edge not on grid". I
    displayed grid lines on my design window and I can see them off grid.

    Why so, I am not able to figure out. I tried to find information about
    it online...but nothing seems to help.

    The second error was "active contact size, exactly: 0.60 x 0.60 um",
    SCMOS Rule 6.1.

    I can see that both these DRC failures correspond to submicron design
    rules. The layouts in Tanner were originally in AMI ABN 1.5u and it was
    saved to AMI C5 0.5u gds file. Now, the DRC I am using has submicron
    rule design check.

    Is there a way to fix these errors without having to redesign the
    complete layouts? Is there any setting or changes I have to
    incorportate?

    Any help will be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks a lot and Warmest Regards,
    Saran
     
    Saran, Aug 24, 2005
    #1
  2. I think you first need to find out how they got off grid in the first place
    ....

    You state that you started with AMI ABN 1.5u. What is the database grid
    here?

    You converted to AMI C5 0.5u. What is the database grid here?

    If the second grid was an exact subset of the first grid, then everything
    will stay on the grid.
    (But may not be DRC correct.)

    Since you get off grid errors, this may be the beginning of your problem.

    I have written several custom tools to aid in this type of translation, but
    it is not easy.

    You can use a combination of strategies.

    All of this depends on the layout style going in.

    (My best success was to translate cell libraries with a different strategy
    from routing and custom blocks)

    Good Luck

    -- Gerry
     
    Gerry Vandevalk, Aug 30, 2005
    #2
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