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ASM3500 is a bidirectional translator between
AutoCAD's DXF database and Calma's GDSII stream
data base used for integrated circuit design. This
stand alone product enables any program capable
of generating a valid DXF file, to transfer data
to any program capable of reading a valid GDSII
stream file.
ASM3500 carefully checks entities in the DXF file and confirms that they are compatible with the GDSII stream definition. If possible, illegal entities are filtered out, for example, zero length segments. If ASM 3500 cannot correct the illegal entity, it discards it and sends a message to the error file describing the problem and coordinate of the offending entity. This ASCII error file can be examined to quickly identify the source of the problem and it's location.
ASM3500 can accept output from the command line: the input data file and an ASCII configuration file. All output is written to two files: the output data file, and an ASCII error file. ACAD2GDS can send "incomplete" boundaries to a user specified error layer so that bad data can be easily isolated.
|
| DXF Entity |
GDSII Entity |
Comment |
| Line: not part of a boundary |
Path |
GDSII supports a maximum of 200 vertices per trace definition. An error will be generated if the line has more than 200 vertices |
| Arc: not part of a boundary |
Path |
GDSII has no arc entity. Arcs are broken into vectors using the ARCRES parameter in GDS.CFG file. |
| Lines and arcs that form a closed boundary |
Boundary |
ACAD2GDS attempts to form closed boundaries from lines and arcs whenever possible. Arcs are first broken into vectors using the ARCRES resolution parameter, then linked. Note that GDSII has a 200 vertices per boundary limitation. |
| Circle |
Boundary |
Resolution determined by ARCRES parameter |
| Polyline (constant width) |
Path |
ACAD2GDS checks to see if the polyline has constant width. If so, it translated into a path. If not, it is translated into a boundary |
| Hatching |
Ignored |
Not supported in GDSII |
| Insert¹ |
Structure Reference |
Inserts may be nested 10 deep |
| Layer² |
Layer |
GDSII supports layers 0-63. The user can control layer name to number mapping or let the program do this automatically |
| Minsert |
Array reference (AREF) |
no comment |
| Point |
Ignored |
no comment |
| Solid |
Boundary |
no comment |
| Ellipse |
Boundary |
no comment |
| Polyline of non constant width or incorporating arc sections |
Boundary |
ACAD2GDS will calculate the outline of the polyline and translate to a GDSII boundary. Remember the limitations on vertices=200. |
| Text |
Text |
Text size, mirroring, and rotation are supported. Slant and width parameters are ignored. Font data is ignored--mapped to FONT in GDSII |