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The Misc Config Button: Misc. Extraction Settings

The Misc. Extraction Settings panel appears in response to pressing the Misc Config button in the Edit Menu. The controls in the panel correspond to general extraction-related variables. In addition, the full extraction operation can be initiated or invalidated from the panel. As the extraction state is automatically controlled by general commands and functions, it is not likely that this will be needed, but is available for trouble-shooting or other uses.

The Visual Attributes control group contains controls which affect terminal display, in both electrical and physical windows. These are the only controls in the panel which a general user is likely to need.

Erase behind physical terminals
This will cause the area under terminals in physical windows to be erased, to promote visibility. One can choose to not erase, to erase only under the cell's terminals, or to erase under all terminals. This tracks the setting of the EraseBehindTerms variable.

Terminal text pixel size
This sets the text height, in pixels, of the text associated with terminals in both physical and electrical windows. This tracks the setting of the TermTextSize variable. The default text height is 14 pixels.

Terminal mark size
This sets the pixel size of the mark used to indicate terminal locations in both physical and electrical windows. It tracks the value of the TermMarkSize variable. The default mark size is 10 pixels.

The Ground Plane Handling group controls how the extraction system treats a ground plane. The is only required if the technology file defines a ground plane layer, which is unlikely to be true in semiconductor processing. The ground plane handling features were included specifically for Josephson junction process support, but can be applied to other technologies should the need arise.

Assume clear-field ground plane is global
If a clear-field ground plane has been identified in the technology file, when this box is checked, all areas of this layer are assigned group 0, the ground group. When not checked, only the largest area group in the top-level cell is assigned group 0. This tracks the <a GroundPlaneGlobal variable.

Invert dark-field ground plane for multi-nets
If a dark-field fround plane layer has been identified in the technology file, if this box is checked, the ground plane layer will be polarity inverted internally for extraction purposes. The inverted layer will be used to establish connectivity. This tracks the state of the GroundPlaneMulti variable.

Inversion method menu
When using an inverted gound plane, this menu provides a choice of methods. The default is to invert in each cell, then clip out the area occupied by subcells. The second choice will create the inverted layer in the top-level cell only, using the entire hierarchy as the source for geometry to invert. The third choice is similar, but will create the inverted layer in each cell, using as the source all geometry in that cell and its subcell hierarchy. This tracks the state of the GroundPlaneMethod variable.

The remaining check boxes control obscure flags most likely only needed for debugging.

Skip device parameter measurement
When this box is checked, device parameter measurement will not be performed during extraction. This may save time if the user is interested only in topology. This tracks the state of the NoMeasure variable.

Skip device terminal permutations in association
When checked, terminal permutations are not attempted when associating physical and electrical devices. This is mostly for debugging. This tracks the NoPermute variable.

Extract opaque cells, ignore OPAQUE flag
Checking this will cause the extraction system to ignore the OPAQUE flag applied to subcells, and attempt to extract the contents as for a normal cell. This tracks the state of the ExtractOpaque variable.

Finally, there are two buttons which will invalidate or initiate extraction.

Clear Extraction
Pressing this button will clear the internal structurs and flags associated with extraction. This is normally done automatically if the layout changes, or a setup variable is changed.

Do Extraction
Pressing this button will perform the full extraction and association. This is normally done automatically when needed within commands.


next up previous contents index
Next: The Edit Tech Params Up: The Extract Menu: Extraction Previous: The RLC Extraction Panel   Contents   Index
Stephen R. Whiteley 2012-04-01