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Introduction to Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL

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Virtuoso^® Layout Suite EXL (Layout EXL) is the most advanced editing environment in the Virtuoso Layout Suite, providing access to the first electrically- and simulation-driven layout design environment available in the electronic chip design industry.

The Layout EXL cockpit offers full access to all the Layout XL functionality in addition to providing access to all the functionality that was accessible under Layout EAD in previous releases. The Layout EXL cockpit is also the default cockpit for all advanced nodes features supported in the ICADVM20.1 release, such as concurrent layout team design, design planning, and interactive simulation driven routing.

Layout EXL is also the required base platform for all 5nm designs, the Virtuoso RF solution, the Virtuoso Photonics Solution, and for a new set of in-design technologies to facilitate advanced design planning and congestion analysis. Some of these capabilities have feature-specific license requirements in addition to the base Layout EXL license.

Layout EXL is required to edit any design that uses 5nm process technology or which includes specific design data generated by any of the technologies mentioned above. Designs containing such data must be edited only in Layout EXL to maintain compliance and to ensure that the design remains correct by construction at all times.

Consequently, when you open such designs from the Library Manager, CIW, or schematic or layout window menus, the design opens in Layout EXL automatically. The same applies to any design that was previously saved using Layout EXL.

Related Topics

Launching Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL

Virtuoso Layout Suite EXL Features and Flows