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Backend Checks

In your caravel_user_project, caravel_user_project_analog, openframe_user_project, or caravel_user_mini directory, create an LVS configuration file based on digital user project wrapper lvs configuration, analog user project configuration, openframe user project configuration, or digital mini user project configuration.

mpw_precheck expects this file to be in lvs/<cellname>/lvs_config.json.

LVS check will run these checks by default:

run_hier_check: Checks layout hierarchy against verilog hierarchy
run_scheck: Soft connection check
run_full_lvs: Device level LVS
run_cvc: ERC checks

OEB check will run these checks:

run_oeb_check: Check oeb connections

Configuration File

The lvs_config.json files are a possibly hierarchical set of files to set parameters for device level LVS

Required variables: TOP_SOURCE : Top source cell name.

TOP_LAYOUT : Top layout cell name.

LAYOUT_FILE : Layout gds data file.

LVS_SPICE_FILES : A list of spice files.

LVS_VERILOG_FILES : A list of verilog files. Note: files with child modules may need to be listed before parent modules.

Optional variable lists: * may be used as a wild card character.

Extraction Options

EXTRACT_FLATGLOB : List of cell names to flatten before extraction. Cells without text tend to work better if flattened. Note: it is necessary to flatten all sub cells of any cells listed.

EXTRACT_ABSTRACT : List of cells to extract as abstract devices. Normally, cells that do not contain any devices will be flattened during netlisting. Using this variable can prevent unwanted flattening of empty cells. This has no effect of cells that are flattened because of a small number of layers. Internal connectivity is maintained (at least at the top level). Cells that actually contain devices or hierarchies may also be abstracted. If actual abstraction processing was done on a cell, a lef file will be created in the extraction diretory. Be warned that this may take up over an hour for cells with many 100K subcells. Also be aware that abstracting a cell will connect all ports by name even if they are not internally connected.

EXTRACT_CREATE_SUBCUT : List of cells to surround with the substrate isolation layer. The substrate isolation layer is used during LVS to virtually devide the substrate into regions that may be connected to different nets (ex. vssa1 and vssd1). Without this layer all substrate connections are shorted and LVS is not possible. The isolation layer must not overlap any deep nwell or other isolation layers at sub-hierarchies. Specifing the cell here results in an isolation area excluding deep nwell and pre-exisiting isolation layers. This is a temporary layer but the actual shape is stored in a gds file in the extraction directory. WARNING: This should only be used with ground nets. It allows psubstrate to be connected to any single net within the region, including power!

LVS Options

LVS_FLATTEN : List of cells to flatten before comparing, Sometimes matching topologies with mismatched pins cause errors at a higher level. Flattening these cells can yield a match.

LVS_NOFLATTEN : List of cells not to be flattened in case of a mismatch. Lower level errors can propagate to the top of the chip resulting in long run times. Specify cells here to prevent flattening. May still cause higher level problems if there are pin mismatches.

LVS_IGNORE : List of cells to ignore during LVS. Cells ignored result in LVS ending with a warning. Generally, should only be used when debugging and not on the final netlist.

Checks Description

  1. Check design hierarchies. A fast check for digital designs to ensure that design hierarchies match.

    Output:

    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/verilog.hier: The netlist hierarchy.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/layout.txt.gz: If input is gds/oas, the layout hierarchy converted to text.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/layout.hier: The layout hierarchy.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/outputs/reports/hier.csv: Comparison results.

    Algorithm:

    • Convert gds/oasis to gds text file.
    • Extract netlist hierarchy.
    • Extract layout hierarchy.
    • Compare.

  2. Soft connection check: find high resistance connections (i.e. soft connections) through n/pwell.

    Output:

    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/ext/*: Extraction results with well connectivity.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/ext.log: Well connectivity extraction log.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/nowell.ext/*: Extraction results without well connectivity.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/nowell.ext.log: No well connectivity extraction log.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/soft.log: Soft connection check LVS log.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/outputs/reports/soft.report: Comparison results.

    Algorithm:

    • Create 2 versions of the extracted netlist.
    • Version 1 extracts well connectivity.
      • Remove well connections and disconnected signals.
    • Version 2 does not extract well connectivity.
      • Remove disconnected signals.
    • Compare with LVS.

    Analysis:

    • Any discrepancies should be the result of well/substrate taps not connected to the correct power net.
    • Use the precheck_results/<tag>/outputs/reports/soft.report file to find problem nets.
    • Use the problem nets to find a connected device in the precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/nowell.ext/<top_layout>.gds.nowell.spice file.
    • Use the corresponding precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/nowell.ext/*.ext file to find the coordinates of error devices. (divide by 200 to get coordinates in um).

  3. Full device level LVS

    Output:

    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/ext/*: Extraction results with well connectivity.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/ext.log: Well connectivity extraction log.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/lvs.log: LVS comparison log.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/outputs/reports/lvs.report: Comparison results.

    Hints:

    • Rerunning with --noextract is faster because previous extraction result will be used.
    • Add cells to the EXTRACT_FLATGLOB to flatten before extraction.
    • Cells in EXTRACT_ABSTRACT will be extracted (top level?), but netlisted as black-boxes.
    • Add cells to the EXTRACT_CREATE_SUBCUT to isolate the psubstrate. Use this when you have blocks with different substrate connections.
    • LVS_FLATTEN is a list of cell names to be flattened during LVS. Flattening cells with unmatched ports may resolve proxy port errors.
    • netgen normally flattens unmatched cells which can lead to confusing results at higher levels. To avoid this, add cells to LVS_NOFLATTEN.
    • Add cells to LVS_IGNORE to skip LVS checks.

  4. CVC-RV. Circuit Validity Check - Reliability Verification - voltage aware ERC. Voltage aware ERC tool to detect current leaks and electrical overstress errors.

    Output:

    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/ext/<top_layout>.cdl.gz: CDL file converted from extracted spice file.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/cvc.error.gz: Detailed errors results.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/cvc.log: Log file with error summary.

    Analysis;

    • Works well with digital designs. Analog results can be obscure.
    • If the log file shows errors, look for details in the error file.
    • Error device locations can be found in the respective precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/ext/*.ext files. (coordinates should be divided by 200).

  5. OEB check. Check for user oeb signal output to gpio cells. The following conditions are errors.

    • gpio with both digital (io_in/io_out) and analog (analog_io/gpio_analog) connections
    • gpio with analog (analog_io/gpio_analog) and oeb not high
    • gpio with only input (io_in) but oeb not high
    • gpio with output (io_out) but oeb never low The following condition is a warning.
    • gpio with both input (io_in) and output (io_out) and oeb always low

    Output:

    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/ext/<top_layout>.cdl.gz: CDL file converted from extracted spice file.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/tmp/cvc.oeb.error.gz: Detailed errors results.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/logs/cvc.oeb.log: Log file with error summary.
    • precheck_results/<tag>/outputs/reports/cvc.oeb.report: List of each gpio, connection counts, and errors