Environment Setup for Automated Device Placement and Routing Flow

To run the automated device placement and routing flow, ensure that you have access to the following:

Virtuoso Release:
Device Placement: ICADVM18.1 ISR4 or later
Device Routing: IC23.1 or later

License:

Device Placement	Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL or higher tiers The Create Constraints step checks out the Virtuoso Schematic Editor XL (95115) license. The Transparent Modgen Array Editing and M0 trim insertion feature for certain technology nodes requires the Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL tier.
Device Routing	Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL Use Routing Assistant for assisted and auto device routing in the Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL tier.

Device Placement

Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL or higher tiers

The Create Constraints step checks out the Virtuoso Schematic Editor XL (95115) license.

The Transparent Modgen Array Editing and M0 trim insertion feature for certain technology nodes requires the Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL tier.

Device Routing

Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL

Use Routing Assistant for assisted and auto device routing in the Virtuoso Layout Suite MXL tier.

PDK Settings:
Usually PDK settings are available either from the foundry or you can build one from the techLEF from the foundry.
Key PDK settings required for the automated device placement and routing flow are:
- Support for Virtuoso Placer and Virtuoso Space-based Router
- A LAM file that defines the component types for row templates
- Device registration for circuit finders to recognize Circuit Prospector structures and create constraints
- (Optional, can be created as part of the flow) Width Spacing Patterns (WSPs) for placement and routing
- (Optional, can be created as part of the flow) Row templates
- (Optional, can be created as part of the flow) Poly Snap Patterns
Common library for all layout and abstract views:
The layout and abstract views for device-level designs are in the same library.
Before running the device-level router, ensure that:
- Devices are placed inside the PR Boundary and needs to be snapped to Poly and Diffusion Grids/Row.
- The placement is LVS correct and DRC compliant as specified in the technology file.
- Layout design has rows or diffusion grids. One or more flow components malfunctions if rows or diffusion grids are not present. In addition, the router can run into pin escape issues due to absence of rows or diffusion grids.