Aligning Level-1 Pins with Level-1 Routes

Pin Planner lets you align level-1 pins with level-1 routes that belong to the same net. You can also use environment variables to define the following pin settings:

• Re-layer the level-1 pin to the same layer as the level-1 route: alignMatchRefLayer
• Resize the level-1 pin to match the width of the level-1 route: alignMatchRefSize

To align pins with the level-1 routes:

1. Set the required environment variables in the CIW.
2. Select the required pins in the Edit section of Pin Planner.
3. Select Level-1 Route from the Edge drop-down list.
4. Click Apply.

Alignment of level-1 pins with level-1 routes is supported in the following scenarios:

• In the Presence of a Guide Pin
• In the Absence of a Guide Pin

In the Presence of a Guide Pin

In the following example, a single net connects the following pins:

• Pin 1 - A level-1 pin clk, located in a subcell
• Pin 2 - A top-level pin placed on a level-1 route, within a layout cell instance
• Pin 3 - A level-1 pin, which is the guide pin, located in the layout cell

The alignMatchRefSize environment variable is set to t.

With the Edge set to Level-1 Route, Pin Planner aligns Pin 1 with the Level-1 route. The guide pin helps retain the net connectivity during pin placement and optimization.

In the Absence of a Guide Pin

In the following example, there are no guide pins. Pin A, a level-1 pin, is located in a subcell. It is aligned with a Level-1 route and is resized as per the width of the level-1 route.

Related Topics

Pin Placement Form

Planning Placement of Top-Level and Level-1 Pins

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