Custom EMIR Analysis with Voltus-Fi

and Third-Party Extraction Flow

Bin Wan, Xingang Wang

Skyworks Solutions, Inc

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Outline

Introduction to Voltus-FI
Cadence EMIR flow with Voltus-Fi
Skyworks tailored EMIR Voltus-Fi flow with third-party extraction tool
DSPF netlist and DSPF parser
ADE DSPF Integration
Voltus-Fi EMIR results and layout analysis
Conclusion

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Introduction to Voltus-Fi
Transistor-Level Electro-Migration & IR-Drop (EMIR) Analysis
Integrated into Analog Design Environment (ADE)
Native Detailed Standard Parasitic Format (DSPF) netlist support with
iterated method in Spectre APS
EMIR results visualization in Virtuoso layout editor

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Cadence EMIR Flow with Voltus-Fi

Schematic

Layout

Assura/PVS
LVS

Testbench
Schematic

Quantus
QRC

DSPF
Netlist

Run Spectre APS

with EMIR Option
in ADE

View EMIR Results

in Virtuoso Layout
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Skyworks tailored Voltus-Fi Flow with Third

Party Extraction Tools
Schematic
Layout

Calibre
LVS

Calibre
xRC

DSPF
Parser

Query
SVDB

Quantus
QRC

DSPF
Netlist

Testbench
Schematic

Run Spectre APS

with EMIR Option
in ADE

View EMIR Results

in Virtuoso Layout
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The DSPF Netlist

DSPF netlist requirement for Voltus-Fi EMIR analysis:

All power and ground nets extracted

Layer information on each parasitic resistor
(x,y) coordinates on each parasitic resistor
Decoupled RC for all signal nets
Numbers of vias extracted

SPF Checker utility available to check DSPF format in ADE EMIR setup form

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DSPF Netlist Parser

Perl script to parse Calibre xRC created DSPF to be Voltus-Fi
compatible
Design kit specific parser
Main fixes:

Layer name replacement

Units replacement
Substrate node conversion
Via count replacement
Parameter name addition

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Parser: Layer Name Replacement

The emDataFile provided by the foundry probably coded with QRC flow
The metal layer names defined in QRC are probably not the same as in Calibre
LVS/xRC
emDataFile: M1

Calibre DSPF netlist: m1_par

Several possible solutions:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Modify Calibre LVS/xRC deck to use QRC layer names

Modify emDataFile to use Calibre LVS/xRC layer names
Use some kind of mapping file
replace Calibre $layer=layer_name with QRC layer name

Use Solution 4 for DSPF parser development

Globally search and replace Calibre layer names with QRC layer names
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Parser: Units Replacement

By default, QRC extracted DSPF will report width/length of wires in microns
By default, Calibre xRC extracted DSPF will report width/length in meters

Both QRC and xRC report the (x,y) coordinates in microns

Two solutions:
1.
2.

Look at every $w= and $l=. If value < 1e-3, multiply by 1e6
In EMIR setup, set geounit_wl to 1 (default is 1e-6)

Use solution 1 for DSPF parser development

Multiply all width/length < 1e-3 by 1e6

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Parser: Substrate Node Conversion

Most RF design kits model passive elements like resistor with the 3rd
terminal as substrate
Some design kits extract devices like resistor with 2 terminals and treat the
3rd terminal as a device parameter

The DSPF parser will parse this parameter to create a proper simulation
netlist
Parsed netlist:

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Parser: Add Parameter Name

For some design kits, Calibre extracted DSPF doesnt put the parameter
name for the extracted parameter
Typically it is for passive device value parameter
r=600
c=500f

Will cause simulations to crash if just a number was passed in

DSPF Parser will need to add a parameter name such as r= or c= before the
parameter value to the netlist
Original netlist
Parsed netlist

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11

Parser: Via Count Replacement

Voltus-Fi requires number of vias extracted in DSPF netlist for via EM
checks
QRC extracts vias and reports via count with $N parameter

However, Calibre xRC doesnt use $N but use $count

Parser will globally replace $count with $N, for valid vias layers

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12

Summary of DSPF Parser for Calibre

Layer name replacement
Due to layer name differences in Calibre LVS/xRC deck and
emDataFile

Units replacement
Microns vs. meters

Substrate node conversion

Some design kits use external script to create the substrate node in
extracted view

Add Parameter name

In some design kits, Calibre extracts the device value without a
parameter name

Via count replacement

$N vs. $count
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13

Including DSPF in ADE

DSPF must be included in ADE Setup -> Simulation Files
Custom form created to parse DSPF and include it in ADE Simulation Files
Also sets simulator to APS

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14

Setting up EMIR Analysis

In ADE, click Setup -> EMIR
Analysis
Use the select button and select
the DUT on schematic
Check the analysis desired, and
click Add
Make sure the enable button
below is checked
Click OK

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15

The DSPF Checker

Useful tool to check DSPF syntax

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16

EMIR Report
EMIR Report is a text-based report of all the nets
Search for the word fail+
Report contains

Current in the net

Layer/via name, width, length
Current density
Current density limit
Needed width/vias
XY location

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17

EMIR Layout Analysis

Layout Analysis provides a graphical way to overlay the EMIR results onto
the layout

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18

EMIR Layout Visualization

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Conclusion
Develop an accurate sign-off EMIR flow based on Voltus-Fi
Tailored Skyworks EMIR flow with third-party LVS and extraction
flow

Develop a DSPF parser to create a proper simulated DSPF

netlist
Convert DSPF to be more QRC-like
Units conversion
Layer name
Via count
Convert DSPF to satisfy design kit models requirements
Substrate node conversion
Parameter name addition

Setup DSPF in ADE

Run Spectre APS with EMIR enabled
View EMIR results in layout
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Calibre
LVS
Calibre
xRC
DSPF
Parser
DSPF
Netlist
Run APS
with EMIR
EMIR Results
in Layout
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