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Using the Technology Database Checker

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This manual provides information on the Cadence Virtuoso^® Technology Database Checker (TechDB Checker). TechDB Checker lets you inspect an OpenAccess (OA) technology database and provides comprehensive reports. It queries an OA technology database for the required and optional data needed to function with Cadence tools and provides detailed reports.

This guide is intended for the following audience:

• Technology file developers who can use TechDB Checker to verify that their technology database accurately represents the semiconductor process they are using to implement intellectual property and verify tool enablement. They can obtain detailed information about the content of the technology database, including missing or duplicated information.

Circuit and layout designers who can use TechDB Checker to verify that their designs created using intellectual property from other foundries or providers support Virtuoso physical design tools. Using TechDB Checker, they can check if their technology file, which they may receive from other sources, supports their intended use of the Cadence tools.

This chapter provides information on running Cadence Virtuoso^® Technology Database Checker (TechDB Checker). It includes the following topics.

• Overview
• Prerequisites for Using TechDB Checker
• Running TechDB Checker
• Viewing the Technology File
• Viewing Tool Requirements
• Viewing Logs

For information on how to review the results of a run, see Chapter 2, “Analyzing Results.”

Overview

This section provides information on the following topics:

• OpenAccess Technology Database
• TechDB Checker Features
• TechDB Checker Flow

OpenAccess Technology Database

An OpenAccess (OA) technology database is an integral part of a process design kit (PDK). It defines process data like layer definitions and attributes, design constraints, and via definitions, and device definitions that are used throughout the design flow.

Typically, Virtuoso design technology data is initially defined in an ASCII technology file. This technology file is compiled into a binary OA technology database.

You can create and edit the ASCII technology file and compile it into a technology database. You can use Virtuoso Technology File Manager to compile a technology file into a technology database. For details, see Virtuoso Technology Data User Guide.

TechDB Checker Features

TechDB Checker queries an OA technology database for the required and optional data needed to function with Cadence tools.

TechDB Checker:

• Inspects the technology database for compliance with:
  • Tools in the Virtuoso Layout Suite (VLS) XL and higher product tiers
  • Physical Verification System (PVS)
  • Design Exchange Format (DEF) files
  • Library Exchange Format (LEF) files
• Highlights missing required and optional sections in the technology database
• Highlights missing, duplicate, and mutually exclusive constraints
• Supports incremental technology database (ITDB) structure
• Provides summarized, detailed, and structured reports
• Provides options to view technology file content and tool requirements
• Provides options to choose the tools and layers for which inspection of technology data must be conducted

Important Notes

• TechDB Checker does not verify if a technology database accurately represents a specific process technology. It queries the technology database for the required and optional data needed to function with Cadence tools.
• This guide uses Virtuoso technology file terms instead of OpenAccess terms when referring to specific technology content. For example, this guide uses the term functions instead of oaMaterialTypes.
• TechDB Checker can identify the following types of constraints.
  

  Constraint Type	Description
  Required constraints	Constraints that a Cadence tool requires for its functioning.
  Optional constraints	Constraints that a Cadence tool does not require for proper functioning, but can use.
  Duplicate constraints	Same constraint defined multiple times for the same layer.
  Exclusive constraints	Potentially conflicting constraints, when two or more constraints are defined for the same layer or pair of layers.
  Mutually exclusive constraints	Constraints that have different names, with potentially identical operation with same layers.
  Advanced constraints	Constraints applicable to all process nodes smaller than 45nm.
  Mature constraints	Constraints applicable to all process nodes.

TechDB Checker Flow

The following figure illustrates the flow in which you use TechDB Checker.

To check a technology database:

1. Start TechDB Checker and select the PDK library that contains the technology database.
2. If required, limit the scope of tools being checked.
   By default, all tools are selected.
3. If required, limit the scope of layers in the technology database being checked.
   By default, all layers are selected.
4. Run TechDB Checker.
   For details on step 1 to step 4, see “Running TechDB Checker”.
5. View results of the technology database investigation.
   For details, see Chapter 2, “Analyzing Results.”.

You can view the technology database content and tool requirements that TechDB Checker uses as a basis for its analysis. TechDB Checker also logs the details of a technology database analysis in a file, which you can view.

Prerequisites for Using TechDB Checker

The Cadence library definition file cds.lib must have a reference to the PDK library that contains the technology database you want to check.

Running TechDB Checker

This section illustrates how you run TechDB Checker to check the OA technology database in the sample Cadence 45nm generic PDK (gpdk045) library.

To start inspect a technology database:

1. Choose Tools — Technology File Manager from the Virtuoso CIW menu bar.
   The Technology File Manager form appears.
   
   
2. Click TechDB Checker.
   The Virtuoso Technology Database Checker form appears.
   
   
3. Select the PDK library containing the technology database from the Process PDK Name list.
   
   You can view the technology database content and the technology database requirements for a specific tool.
4. If required, select the tools for which TechDB Checker must inspect the technology database. All tools are selected by default.
   To select tools, click Tools Checked to open the Check These Tools form, select the tools, and click OK to confirm your selection.
   
   The tools available for selection depend on the tools available in the Virtuoso version.
   
5. If required, select the layers in the technology database. By default, all layers are selected.
   To select layers, click Layers Checked to open the Layers Checked form. Select the section from the Layer Source drop-down list, and select the layers. Repeat to select more layers from other sections. Then click OK.
   
   
6. Select the Display Logfile checkbox if you want to automatically display the log file immediately after TechDB Checker completes investigating the technology database.
   The log file contains information that TechDB Checker stores for reference.
7. Click Run TechDB Checker.
   TechDB Checker starts investigating the technology database.
   After completing the investigation, TechDB Checker displays the results in various tab sections. It also enables the View Summary and View Detailed buttons.
   
   

Viewing the Technology File

TechDB Checker lets you create an ASCII dump of the technology database and store it as a technology file in the run directory. The technology filename matches the PDK library name and has a .tf file extension.

To view the technology file:

1. Select the PDK library containing the technology database from the Process PDK Name list.
2. Click View Techfile.
   TechDB Checker runs the Virtuoso Technology File Dumper utility to create the technology file. It then displays the technology file.
   
   

Viewing Tool Requirements

You can view the required and optional constraints in a technology database for each Cadence tool that TechDB Checker supports. This information helps you identify the technology database sections that TechDB Checker uses as a base for reports.

To view technology database requirements for a Cadence tool:

1. Select the PDK library containing the technology database from the Process PDK Name list.
2. Select the Cadence tool from the Tools tab section.
3. Click Dump Tool/Constraint Spreadsheet.
   TechDB Checker displays the TOOL - ToolName form with details about the required and optional information in various sections of the technology database for the selected tool.
   The text required indicates that the technology file must include this information for the selected tool. The text supported indicates that the tool can use this technology file content.
4. To save displayed information, scroll down to the end of the report and click Save To File.

Viewing Logs

TechDB Checker logs useful information while checking a technology database, which you can refer.

To display the log file automatically immediately after TechDB Checker finishes investigating a technology database:

1. Select the PDK library containing the technology database.
2. Select the Display Logfile checkbox.
3. Click Run TechDB Checker.
   TechDB Checker starts investigating the technology database and stores details in a log file. After completing the investigation, it displays the log file.

To view the log file at any time after the technology database investigation is complete:

• Select the Display Logfile check box.