A Portable Layout Approach Well Adapted to Education

摘要

This paper presents a thin fixed grid symbolic layout approach that combines portability with simplicity. This approach is very satisfactory from the educational point of view, as it is well formalized, uses a small number of predefined objects, and simple design rules. The symbolic layout can be targeted on virtually any technology provided a parameter file exists. This drawing method as been extensively used in undergraduate and graduate courses since 1989. As a result, 6 macro block generators and over 500 cells have been designed mainly by students. Several research and education circuits laid out using this method have been successfully fabricated on various CMP technologies from 2.0mum to 0.5mum.