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VLSI Physical Design  ›  Ch 6. PD Tool Inputs & Outputs

Z in Routing

  • It refers to the tool's 45-degree routing capability.
  • It is used for RDL routing or analog designs.

KEY Z routing is 45-degree routing, used for RDL and analog designs.

Fixing Opens and Shorts

Opens - the tool normally does not leave any open net.

  • If a net has special attributes such as skip_route or freeze, reset those attributes and re-run the routing commands (route_zrt_eco or ecoRoute). Shorts:
  • For shorts against a cell-internal blockage, move the cells if possible, re-run the ECO router with settings that let it detect these shorts, or via TCL create a full blockage over the short area and re-run legalize placement.
  • Power-to-signal shorts can be cleaned automatically by the ECO router.
  • Power-to-power, power-to-ground and ground-to-ground shorts cannot be cleaned by the tool.
  • Clock-to-signal shorts can be cleaned by the ECO router.
  • Clock-to-clock shorts can technically be cleaned by ECO route, but ECO route is not preferred here.
  • Simply re-running the router commands can also fix shorts, since the tool may have left them only because it hit its maximum runtime.
  • In ICC you can call ICV to fix shorts using signoff_autofix_drc.

KEY Reset blocking attributes for opens; for shorts use ECO router, blockages, or ICV - power/ground shorts need manual fixes.

Changing the Metal Layer of a Net

  • By setting an attribute.
  • By applying an NDR.
  • Manually.