Calibre xRC Parasitic Extraction

Course Highlights

Post-layout simulation is both necessary and expensive. As process nodes shrink, the job of extracting the parasitics required for post-layout simulation is becoming both more critical and more difficult. In-house expertise and foundry-supplied PDKs are no longer the solution; they are the starting point. Performing extraction using Calibre® xRC™ requires that you fully understand the many trade-offs you must make as well as the analysis needs presented by your designs.

Upon completion of this course, students will understand the many trade-offs required to address the analysis needs presented by cutting edge designs and processes.

You will learn to

• Generate extracted netlists in six standard formats.
• Take advantage of the Calibre xRC 3-stage extraction process to generate multiple parasitic networks from a single extraction run.
• Leverage design hierarchy to obtain accurate results while keeping netlists manageable.
• Run Calibre xRC using the mode of your choice: GUI or batch.
• Review and interpret extraction results.
• Use advanced reduction techniques to minimize netlist size while maintaining a high level of accuracy
• Customize foundry-supplied calibrated rules.
• Perform multi-corner extraction representing any or all of the process corners modeled by your foundry.
• Extract accurate parasitics in the presence of in-die variation or metal fill.
• Tailor your extraction runs to fit your design type (digital, memory, and analyog/RF and mixed signal) and process.

Hands-on labs

• Running Calibre xRC in either Batch or GUI mode.
• Interpreting transcripts and reports.
• Cross-probing parasitics in an open layout.
• Exploring possible treatments for hierarchical designs, from flat to full hierarchical to hybrid.
• Generating extracted netlists in a variety of formats.
• Running simulations to compare pre-and post-layout netlists to reduced netlists.
• Working with a foundry-supplied PDK .
• Modifying PEX rules to avoid double counting of device parasitics.