How do I define a new via metal type?

When you create a via metal type in your project, you can use your own custom metal by manually entering the loss parameters or you may select a via metal type from the metal library. To define a new via metal type by manually entering the loss parameters, do the following:

1. Select Circuit => Metal Types from the project editor main menu.

The Metal Types dialog box appears.

2. Click on the Add Via button.

3. The Via Metal Editor dialog box appears.

This dialog box is also opened when you click on the New or Edit button in the Technology Layer dialog box when editing a Via Technology Layer.

A default metal name appears in the Name text entry box. If you wish to change the name, edit the Name text entry box.

4. If you do not want to use the default cell fill pattern provided, click on the up or down arrow in the pattern list until you find a cell fill pattern you wish to use for this via metal.

5. Select the via metal model you wish to add from the Model drop list.

The input fields for the metal properties are updated to reflect the Model you select. For help on deciding which type of loss model to use, see Selecting the best loss model for via metal loss.

6. If you are using Volume or Array, then select which parameter you wish to use to define loss from the Specify Using drop list: Conductivity, Resistivity, Sheet Resistance at DC or Resistance Per Via.

The dialog box is updated to display a text entry box for the chosen parameter.

7. Enter the parameters for the metal loss model in the appropriate text entry boxes.

For more details about how the parameters are used, see the Via Metal Editor dialog box.

8. When you have completed defining the metal, click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

This metal now appears in the metal list in the Metal Types dialog box.

9. Click on the OK button in the Metal Types dialog box.

This via metal type is now available to apply to via polygons.