File Menu
New
Click on File-> New in order to restart the software with an empty screen. The current design should be saved before asserting this command, as all the graphic information will be physically removed from the computer memory. No Undo is available to disable the New command.
Open
Click on the above icon. In the list, double-click on the file to load. " .SCH " is the default extension that corresponds to the layout files. The IBIS files " .IBS " can also be loaded. In that case, the IBIS interface appears.
Load Ibis
The command File -> Load Ibis is used to download the IBIS information related to a given integrate circuit. Select the IBIS file. The following window appears. The list of I/Os is extracted from the IBIS file, as well as the buffer models. The package information is also updated. The IBIS text appears on the left side of the screen.
- One pin
may be converted into RLC. Select the desired pin and click "One pin
into RLC"
- Several
supply may be merged into single R,L,C elements. Select the desired supply
network and click "Supply merged into RLC"
- One
model (input or output) may be converted into RLC and associated clamp
devices. Select
the desired model and click "Model into RLC"
Save
Click on File -> Save to save the schematic diagram with its current name. The default name is " EXAMPLE.SCH ".
Save As
In the case of "Save As…", a new window appears, into which you are to enter the design name. Use the keyboard and type the desired file name. Press " Save ". Your design is now registered within the .SCH appendix.
Select Technology
Click on File à Select Technology. The list of available processes appears. The initial design rule file is "default.tec". Various technologies are available from 1.2 down 65 nm. Click on the rule file name and the software reconfigures itself in order to adapt to the new process.
Lithography
Year
Metal layers
Core supply (V)
Core Oxide (nm)
Gate density (/mm²)
Gate current peak (mA)
Gate capacity (fF)
IC-EMC rule file
1.2µm
1986
2
5.0
25
8K
1.1
60
0.7µm
1988
2
5.0
20
15K
0.9
40
0.5µm
1992
3
3.3
12
28K
0.75
30
Cmos06.tec
0.35µm
1994
5
3.3
7
50K
0.6
25
Cmos035.tec
0.25µm
1996
6
2.5
5
90K
0.4
20
Cmos025.tec
0.18µm
1998
6
1.8
3
160K
0.3
15
Cmos018.tec
0.12µm
2001
6-8
1.2
2
240K
0.2
10
Cmos012.tec
90nm
2003
6-10
1.0-1.2
1.2
480K
0.1
7
Cmos90n.tec
65nm
2005
6-12
1.0-1.2
1.2
900K
0.07
5
Cmos65n.tec
Generate Sub-circuit
Select the command Generate Subcircuit to convert the schematic diagram into a new symbol which includes the SPICE description as a sub-circuit. The following window appears. The list of I/Os appear on the left side of the screen. On the right side the following elements are found:
- The
shape of the symbol is drawn on the upper window. The horizontal size of
the symbol may be changed. The position and side of each pin may be
changed by altering the numbers and letters in the array situated on the
left (L=left, R=right, U=up, D=down).
- The
name of the symbol is the filename by default. This name may be changed
(Only aphanumeric characters).
- The
directory inside which the symbol is saved is the current directory. Alternatively, the target
directory may be modified.
Properties
The command File -> Properties provides some information about the current technology, the percentage of memory used by the schematic diagram and its detailed contents.
In the Technology part, details on the time unit, voltage supply, typical delay and typical wire delay are provided, which configure the delay estimation and current estimation during logic simulation.
Monochrom/Colors
Switch to monochrome: the layout is drawn in black and white. This type of drawing is convenient to build monochrome documentation. Press "Alt"+"Print Screen" to copy the screen to the clipboard. Then, open "Word", click "Edità Paste". The screen is inserted into the document.
Print
Click on File ->Print Schema to transfer the graphical contents of the screen to the printer. Automatically, IC-EMC is switched to monochrome mode prior to printing. Alternatively, you can make a copy of the window into the clipboard in order to import the screen into your favourite text editor by pressing <Alt>+<Print Screen>. In the text editor or in the graphic editor, simply click on " Edit àPaste".
We recommend that you switch to monochrome mode first by invoking the function File -> Monochrom/Color. In that case the layout will be drawn in a white background color using gray levels and patterns.
Exit IC-EMC
Click on File -> Exit IC-EMC in the main menu. If you have made a design or if you have modified some data, you will be asked to save it. After confirmation, you can return to Windows.