Physical Design Kits (PDK) using OpenAccess for the LayoutEditor
User LayoutEditorFull Wednesday 22nd December 2021
I notice on your website you mention OpenAcess Script. Does this mean
that a device library (PDK) developed with OpenAccess for Cadence or
Synopsis layout tools will work with this tool?
Jürgen LayoutEditorFull Wednesday 22nd December 2021
Your question is a bit more complex than it seems in the first view. The LayoutEditor fully supports OpenAccess. So any PDK using pure OpenAccess will run with the LayoutEditor as well. For the PDK of most foundries that means that all digital libraries will work without any further adjustments. The analog/primary libraries usually use some kind of parametric cells. Here different extensions of OpenAccess exist. The LayoutEditor supports here the Synopsys PyCells. (needs to be installed separately, no further costs) Parametric cells only available with the Cadence skill system will not run with the LayoutEditor. But luckily most PDK are available with Synopsys PyCell as well. More or less part of the Synopsys PyCells are so-called callbacks written in TCL. These scripts will check/adjust the entered parameter. For example, if you change the length of a resistor the resistance will be calculated. Here some kind of a standard exists that is as well supported by the LayoutEditor, but most PDK use extensions nowhere documented. So in this part usually some adjustments are required to get a PDK fully running with the LayoutEditor. That is not a big deal, however as these scripts are usually encrypted it is only possible with the support of the foundry. We are happy to support anyone who wants to do these adjustments.
Currently, X-Fab suppliers and fully support PDK for the LayoutEditor for several of their processes. From other foundries, Synopsys PDK will run only partly.