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Contents

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1

Voltus-Fi Licensing Information

Voltus-Fi-XL Licensing Requirements

Voltus-Fi-XL Compatibility with MMSIM/SPECTRE and EXT Product Versions

Voltus-Fi-XL Compatibility with Voltus IC Power Integrity Solution

2

Getting Started with Voltus-Fi-XL

Overview of Voltus-Fi-XL

Key Features of Voltus-Fi-XL

Installation Information

Running Voltus-Fi-XL in Batch Mode

Running Voltus-Fi-XL in GUI Mode

Starting the Virtuoso Studio Design Environment

Opening the Schematic or Layout View

Launching Voltus-Fi-XL

Specifying Simulation Settings in ADE L/ADE XL

Specifying EMIR Analysis Settings in ADE L/ADE XL

Generating Simulation Database in ADE L/ADE XL

Accessing Documentation and Help

Voltus-Fi-XL Console Description

3

Data Preparation

Voltus-Fi-XL Flow Overview

Spectre APS/XPS EMIR Flow Overview

Data Requirements for Voltus-Fi-XL

xDSPF Requirements

Simulation Requirements and Setup

EMIR Control File Options Supported in Voltus-Fi-XL

Output of EMIR Analysis

4

EM Rules Specification

EM Rule File Requirements in Voltus-Fi-XL

Parameters for Limit-Based EM Analysis in Voltus-Fi-XL

Supported Current Density Keywords in Voltus-Fi-XL

EM Model Syntax

Special Variables in ICT-EM File

Rules for Defining EM Parameters in Voltus-Fi-XL

Rules for Specifying Via Area

Rules for Specifying the EM Analysis Type for Power and Ground Nets

EM Rule Selection Priority

Process

EM Data File in Voltus-Fi-XL

iRCX Files for EM analysis

Support of iRCX Files in the qrcTechFile Flow

Support of iRCX Files in the emDataFile Flow

Conversion of EM Data File into ICT File

convert_emdatafile_to_ict

Supported EM Rules for Converting EM Data File into ICT File

Unsupported EM Rules for Converting EM Data File into ICT File

5

xDSPF Generation using Quantus

Overview of Detailed Standard Parasitic Format file

Generating xDSPF File

Specifying Input Data Information

Specifying Process Node-Specific Information

Specifying Technology Data Information

Specifying Output Information

Extract xDSPF Form Description

Customized Extract Commands File

Voltus-Fi Quantus Log File

Voltus-Fi Extract xDSPF GUI Last File

Missing Number of Vias in Third-Party DSPF Files

Solution

6

Static Current Analysis

Overview of Static Current Analysis

Types of Static Current Analysis

Running Peak Static Current Analysis

Tcl Command for Peak Static Current Analysis

Running Average Static Current Analysis

Tcl Command for Average Static Current Analysis

Static Current Analysis Report

7

IR Drop Analysis Results

Overview of IR Drop Analysis

Signal Net IR Drop Analysis

Power Gate Support in Voltus-Fi-XL

Power-Up Summary Report

Static EMIR Analysis

Static Power Grid Solver

Solid Shape Highlighting

Quantus Shape Database-Based Flow

Support for Specifying Cut-Layers for Metal Layers while Highlighting Solid Shapes

Display of Finer Color Gradient for Selected Layers in IR and EM Plots

Specifying Multiple Simulation Result Files for EMIR Analysis

Specifying Multiple Bin Files in Different Directories

Specifying Multiple Bin Files in the Same Directory

Batch Mode Support for Specifying Multiple Bin Files

Viewing the IR Drop Analysis Results

Displaying and Querying EMIR Results

Viewing EMIR Violations in Annotation Browser

Querying EMIR Results

Specifying the Display Options for IR/EM Plots

Types of IR Drop Analysis Plots

IR, IRAVG – IR Drop Plots

RC, RCAVG, and RCRMS – Resistor Current Plots

IV – Transistor Voltage Plot

TC, TCAVG, TCRMS – Tap Current Plots

POWER – Resistor Power Plots

PI – Powergate Current Plot

PV – Powergate Voltage Plot

REffective – Effective Resistance Plot

Plotting the Least-Resistive Path

Batch Mode Support for LRP Analysis

Batch Mode Support for LRP Analysis

GUI Support for LRP Analysis

Calculating Effective Resistance between any Two Nodes on a Net

Batch Mode Support for Calculating Effective Resistance

GUI Support for Calculating Effective Resistance

Generating EMIR Analysis Reports in Voltus-Fi-XL

Reports Generated Using the EMIR Control File

Format of IR Reports

Default Reports Generated for EMIR Analysis

RLRP Report

Reports Generated for Multiple Bin Files for Different Nets from the Same Testbench

Reports Generated for Multiple Bin Files from Different Testbenches in a Design

Reporting a List of Devices from a Subnode

Use Model

Sample Command File and Results File

Reporting On-Resistance (RON) Values

Overview

Generating the RON Report

Output

8

EM Analysis Results

Overview of EM Analysis

Types of EM Analysis

Average (avg) Analysis

Root Mean Square (rms) Analysis

Peak (max) Analysis

AC-Peak (AC Peak) Analysis

Avg-Abs (avgabs)

Design Resistor EM Current Analysis

Viewing the EM Analysis Results

Displaying Current Directions for EM Plots

Reporting the Direction of Currents in the EM Result File

Generating EM Reports in Voltus-Fi-XL

Types of EM Analysis Plots

RJ JMAX – Current Density/Limit and J_MAX – Current Density Plots

JAVG – Current Density/Limit and J_AVG Current Density Plots

JABSAVG – Current Density/Limit and J_ABSAVG – Current Density Plots

JACRMS – Current Density/Limit and J_ACRMS – Current Density Plots

JACPEAK – Current Density/Limit and J_ACPEAK – Current Density Plots

9

Self-Heating Effect Analysis

Overview

Self-Heating Effect Analysis

Thermal-Aware DC EM Analysis

Hierarchical SHE Analysis

Data Requirements

Compatible Software Versions

Flow Overview

Performing the Analysis

Running Pegasus or PVS LVS

Running Quantus Parasitic Extraction

Running Post-Layout Simulation using Spectre APS

Viewing the Analysis Plots in Voltus-Fi-XL

Types of Plots

Thermal-DeltaT Regions

Thermal-DeltaT Tiles

RJ_SH - Current Density/Limit - max (SH)

JAVG_SH - Current Density/Limit - avg (SH)

JACRMS_SH - Current Density/Limit - rms (SH)

Re-Evaluation of EM Limit Based on dTemp

EMIR Control File Options

Batch Mode Support for Running SHE Analysis and Thermal-Aware DC EM Analysis

Command for Encrypting Data in param.sh File

Generating Reports

10

What-If EMIR Analysis

ECO Commands Supported in Voltus-Fi-XL

Performing What-If (ECO) Analysis in Voltus-Fi-XL

Pre-Filling the Run Simulation Form

Output

Options for Performing What-If (ECO) Analysis

Layout Modification Options

Adding Pins and Modifying the Layout

Deleting Pins and Modifying the Layout

Adding Resistors and Modifying the Layout

Deleting Resistors and Modifying the Layout

Adding Vias and Modifying the Layout

Deleting Vias and Modifying the Layout

Design Rule Checking

11

Structural Analysis

Overview of Structural Analysis

Checks for Running Structural Analysis

Top Via Missing Check

Bottom Via Missing Check

Missing Via Connections Check

Via Coverage Ratio Check

Skewed Via Ratio Check

Running Structural Analysis

Results of Structural Analysis

Show Unconnected from Top

Show Unconnected from Bottom

Bottom / Top Via Ratio

Missing Via Connections

IR/EM Results Form — Structural Analysis Tab

12

Least-Resistive Path Analysis

Running LRP Analysis in GUI Mode

Running LRP Analysis in Batch Mode

Shorting Layers for LRP Analysis

Analyzing LRP in Power-Gated Designs

Analyzing LRP in Annotation Browser

RLRP Report

IR/EM Results Form — LRP Browser Tab

13

PGV Generation in Voltus-Fi-XL

What is Power-Grid View?

Data Requirements and Flow for PGV Creation

Open Access (OA)-Based Library Generation

Automatic Generation of Layer Map Files

Automatic Generation of the LEF layer map File

Generating Power-Grid Views in Voltus-Fi-XL

Troubleshooting Information for PGV Generation in Voltus-Fi-XL

14

Statistical ElectroMigration Budgeting

FIT Reduction Method

Metal FIT Reduction

VIA FIT Reduction

Inputs for the SEB Flow

SEB Flow emirutil Command Option

Sample EMIR Configuration File

SEB GUI Variable

SEB Report

15

Batch Commands in Voltus-Fi-XL

extract_xdspf

ground_pins

power_pin

run_static_simulation

setup_simulation

load_ir_results

print_ir_report

print_rlrp_report

pin_2_pin_res

print_subnode_to_tap_path_report

load_em_results

print_em_report

load_view

print_thermal_report

setMultiCpuUsage

setDistributeHost

create_pgv

update_pgv

set_mmsim_pgv_nets

report_vfi_XL_ron

search_res_id

res_id_info

search_node_id

node_id_info

16

Environment Variables

Environment Variables Setup in Voltus-Fi-XL

foundry

vfiAutoChkBox

vfiBlocking

vfiCouplingmode

vfiColoring

vfiCompression

vfiCustom

vfiDatatype

vfiEnableGUI

vfiExtractmode

vfiGndNet

vfiInputdir

vfiMaxviarrcount

vfiMulticpu

vfiNetsfile

vfiOutdir

vfiOutdspf

vfiPgnets

vfiPinorder

vfiProcess

vfiReduction

vfiRunname

vfiSignalem

vfiSubckt

vfiSubCondModel

vfiSubNode

vfiViaArrayspacing

vfiViaCnt

vfiViaSpacingEdit

vfiViaSpacingEditChk

vfiTechCorner

vfiTechLib

vfiTechName

vfiTechType

vfiTemperature

vfiDfiiLayerMapFile

vfiElementCount

vfiEMOnlyIctFile

vfiIRThreshold

vfiLayermapFile

vfiLayerIndex

vfiNoOfThreads

vfiQrcRunDir

vfiQrcRunName

vfiResultDirectoryIr

vfiSetShrinkFactor

vfiTechFile

vfiTypeCheckboxMax

vfiTypeCheckboxAvg

vfiTypeCheckboxAvgAbs

vfiTypeCheckboxAcpeak

vfiTypeCheckboxRms

vps_results

vps_results_plots_OutofRange

VFI_LIC_QUEUE

VOLTUSFI_DELTA_T

VOLTUSFI_DYNAMIC_AC_PEAK

VOLTUSFI_SPLIT_ACDC_RULES

VFI_USE_OLD_SHAPE_DB

VFI_POINT_QUERY

VFI_ENABLE_INTERSECTING_SHAPE

VFI_SPLIT_NON_RECTANGULAR_SHAPE

vfi_dfii_unmap_skip

vfi_ignore_conf_file

CDS_MMSIM_VOLTUSFI_ROOT

17

Variables

Variables Setup in Voltus-Fi-XL

Batch Mode

GUI Mode

applyRThreshold

connectingODLayers

consolidatedReport

coupledSH

deltaT

deltaTLayers

disableODSH

disableHRSH

disableLayoutScale

dynamicACPeak

emLimitScale

emVariableValues

enableContextAwareSrmsRelaxation

enableDesignResistorPeakFactor

enableDesignResistorScaling

enablePWLDensityInterpolation

enableReportScaleParam

enableRMSHotSpotWaiving

enableSHHeatSink

extendHeatSinkRange

extendHRRange

extendJouleHeating

extendODRange

extendMetalRange

extendedPeakReport

extendPWLMatch

extendSHRegion

geounit

geounit_wl

geounit_xy

layermap

mdLayers

mergeMDLayers

multiplePeakPercentThreshold

optimisticEMRuleSelection

powerRailGroundNets

powerRailRules

powerRailSupplyNets

process_scale

prioritizedPwlRulesLayers

removeBulkShorting

reportUnmatchedRuleResistor

rmsMetalLineNumberPower

rmsMetalLineNumberSignal

rmsMultiplierPin

rmsMultiplierSignal

shEMEffect

shParamFile

shRmsLimitThreshold

shXMLFile

simpleSingleViaDefinition

splitACDCRules

Tj

Tambient

Tlife

toggleNetFrequency

toggleNetFrequencyFile

useEncryptedWidth

useRecoveryFactor

viaCountFromResistance

18

SKILL Functions

vsaCreateMarker

vsaOpenLayout

vsaOpenLayoutForRead

vsaLoadNets

vsaLoadSecondaryLayers

vsaSetLayersToMergeDuringResultsLoading

vsaSetInputType

vsaSetEMIRConfig

vsaSetEMResultsFile

vsaSetEMLayerMapFileName

vsaSetEMTechFileName

vsaSetEMTypes

vsaSetDfiiLayerMapFileName

vsaShowAllResistors

vsaSetQRCData

vsaSelectFailedNets

vsaSetEMOnlyICTFile

vsaSetEMPlot

vsaLoadEM

vsaSetIRResultsFile

vsaSetIRThreshold

vsaSetIRPlot

vsaSetLRPShortedLayers

vsaLoadIR

vsaSetFinerDisplayOff

vsaSetParallelLoading

19

File Formats

Activity File

Clock File

Value Change Dump File

Power File

ICT File

EM Only ICT File

EM Data File

Layer Map File

DFII Layer Map File

shParamFile

Trigger File

LEF layer Map File

PGDB layer Map File

Common Command Language File

20

Voltus-Fi Form Descriptions

Create Power Grid Views Form

IR/EM Results Form - IR Tab

IR/EM Results Form - EM Tab

Setup and Run Current Analysis Form

Hierarchical Top Simulation Form

Extract xDSPF Form

582

Index

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