GDSII Stream Output

Netex-G can write out a GDSII stream file that is organized by net. (this may require a separate license option.) The GDSII file has the following properties:

• All entities are boundaries

• All boundaries belonging to a net are aggregated into a structure whose name is the net name. This makes is very easy to pick out individual nets.

Artwork offers a GDSII viewer that is able to highlight the so called nets so that you can follow them through the entire design. Further, if a coupling file has been generated the viewer can display a net and the nets that are close enough to couple to it.

Why is this GDSII file useful? Our customers have given us two reasons:

• A silicon designer can bring this GDSII file (it includes node labels) into his design environment and run a complete LVS from chip to the bottom of the package. This is a good check against a package that may have a design error (or design intent error) in it.

• Even if you are not a chip designer, the GDSII file combined with Artwork's Qckvu viewer makes is very easy to view each net -- there are times when this is quite valuable.

Bond wires for IC packages can be treated as conductors but special care has to be taken to avoid wire crossing and also to provide a connection from the ends of the wires to the metal below. The wirebond page explains in some detail how this works.

Page    1    |    2