Component Port Properties

The following controls appear in the Port Properties dialog box when a Component port is being edited.

Terminal Number: This is the terminal number of the component to which this port is attached.

Level number: Select the metal level on which you wish to place the component port. Components may be multi-level with the component ports being placed on different metal levels.

Ground reference: Please see Ground Reference  in the Sonnet User's Guide. Note that if you change the ground reference for one port in a component, the change is applied to all of the ports for that component.

Terminal Width: Please see Terminal Width in the Sonnet User's Guide.

Reference Plane: Em has an automatic de-embedding capability. When invoked, em negates the port discontinuity and a desired length of transmission line, moving the reference plane into the interior of the box. The reference planes, as well as the calibration length, used for de-embedding are set in this dialog.

Type drop list: Select the desired way of defining the reference plane length from this drop list; you may choose None, or Fixed for a component port.

None: Selecting None means that no reference plane is used. Only the port discontinuity is de-embedded. If you wish to use a calibration length for this port, select the Use fixed calibration length checkbox and enter the calibration length in the text entry box. The checkbox is only enabled when None is selected as the reference plane type.

Fixed: Allows you to assign a fixed length to the reference plane. After selecting this radio button, you may set the length one of two ways. You can enter a length in the text entry box. Alternately, you may click on the Use Mouse button, then click at the place in your circuit to which you wish the reference plane to extend.

The project editor may change the reference plane slightly so that it is aligned with the edge of a cell.Fixed length reference planes are indicated by solid arrows.

To remove a reference plane or calibration length, click on the None radio button and clear the Use fixed calibration length checkbox.

Advanced - Reference plane length sharing is disabled for Component ports. Component ports on the same side of the component always use the same reference plane length and are always orthogonal.

 For a detailed explanation of ports and how they are modeled, please refer to Ports in the Sonnet User's Guide.