Convert Helic Process File to Sonnet ".matl" File dialog box

This dialog box is opened when you click on the Load Helic button in the Substrate File Setup dialog box or when you select the command Tools => Convert Tech Process Files => Helic Technology File from the main window of the Cadence Virtuoso Interface. This dialog box allows you to input a Helic technology file and translate it into a Sonnet .matl file which can be used in the Cadence Virtuoso Interface. The controls are detailed below.

This section of the dialog box allows you to specify the Helic process file you wish to translate into a .matl file. Helic process files are defined by which corner model they use. The corner model controls the values (nominal, maximum or minimum) used for metal thickness, sheet resistance, dielectric resistance, substrate resistivity, and substrate thickness when performing corner analyses. Corner analyses refer to testing all combinations of extreme and nominal values of the selected properties in order to test the “corners” of the design. For more information on the corner models, please refer to the Helic documentation.

You specify the corner model you wish to use and enter the location of the desired Helic Technology File.

Corner Models: Helic process files are defined for corner models with a different process file for each corner model. The corner model selected determines which Helic process file is translated. You may select one of five available corner models The extension used for each process file is based on the corner model. You may enter this extension as part of the file name or use these radio buttons and the correct file will be input in the Technology File text entry box. The choices are described below:

typ is Typical
hiL is High Inductance
loL is Low Inductance
bcQ is best case Q
wcQ is worst case Q

Technology File: Enter the desired Helic process file in this text entry box. You may click on the browse button to open a browse window which allows you to select the desired file or you may directly edit the filename within this text entry box. The extension of the Helic process file is “.vlc.tech.<corner model>” where <corner model> are the extensions defined above.

This section of the dialog controls how the Helic file is converted to a Sonnet .matl file.

Planar Metal Modeled as: This field determines how the metal used for metal polygons is modeled in the Sonnet analysis. You may select Thin or Thick. For more information about Sonnet’s metal types, please refer to the Planar Metal Editor dialog box. The “Thin” setting uses the Normal metal model.

Thick metals do not affect the dielectric thickness definitions. Sonnet thick metal models will always penetrate the dielectric above so that no extra space between metal levels is required.

Default Via Conductivity: This sets the conductivity of all vias modeled using this .matl file. This may be changed later by editing the resulting .matl file. Enter the Conductivity in S/m in the text entry box.

Separate Via Metal Types by drawing layer: Select this checkbox if you wish to create a unique via metal type for each drawing layer in which a via appears. Each via metal type will use the same conductivity, but have a unique name.

This section of the dialog box defines the .matl file which is created when you translate the Helic process file.

Sonnet .matl File: Specify the name of the .matl file to which you wish to save the translated Helic process file. There is a browse button available above the entry field which will open a browse window and allow you to select the desired file or you may directly enter the path and filename of the file by editing within the text entry box.