Dielectric Setup dialog box

Cadence Virtuoso Interface -- Substrate File Setup dialog box

The Sonnet Dielectric Setup dialog box allows you to define the dielectric layers and metal levels for your Sonnet project. Once these layers are defined, they may be used as a destination for layers being mapped from Virtuoso. The Sonnet Dielectric Setup dialog box is opened when you click on the Dielectrics button in the Substrate File Setup dialog box.

The dielectric layers are listed in the dialog box. Sonnet circuit geometry consists of alternate dielectric layers and metal levels. The dielectric layers and metal levels are enclosed in a six-sided metal box. Each time you add a dielectric layer you add a metal level.

It is important to note that the metal level is associated with the dielectric layer ABOVE it. If that dielectric layer is deleted from the circuit, then the metalization below it is also deleted and this will change the Virtuoso to Sonnet mapping. The default for a Sonnet project is a two layer circuit with two metal levels GND and Level 0.

To add a dielectric layer, click on an existing dielectric layer in the list, then click on the Add Below or Add Above button to add a dielectric layer. Select the new layer and click on the Edit button to open the Edit Sonnet Dielectric dialog box.

To change a dielectric's location in the stackup, select it in the list and click on the Move Up button to move it higher, or the Move Down button to move it lower. Each time you click either of those buttons, the dielectric layer is moved by one position.

As an advanced feature, you may define the conductivity of the dielectric as a frequency dependent variable. This may only be done by directly editing the .matl file. Please see the Sonnet Substrate File Format document for more details.