RELEASE NOTES
This file is also installed in the root of the installation directory.
Dec 21, 2016, version 5.4.8+
---------------------------
demo/sub3term The prepass option -%1 is obsolete, now
using the option -%Z (doing only the prepass).
demo/switchbox Changed the backannotation option -x into
parameter -Sbackannotation=2.
icdman Default PAGER is "more".
lictool Removed the debug output.
sls New version; can longer simulate; uses funcsls.
sls_exp New version; makes now funcsls.
simeye New version; update for longer simulation.
simeye2 New version; update for longer simulation.
xspf/xspef New version; some code improvements.
Jul 13, 2016, version 5.4.8
---------------------------
dbcat Added the possibility to list "nethead", "netsub",
and net "mc..". Added two new options -t and -w.
demo FreePDK45/ringosc added spefMfile and space.def2.s
and space.def2.p for "use_corner_nodes" extract.
makegln Fix for merging of slanting (45 degree) edges.
makesize Fix, when in two resize conditions in the tech.file
an absent mask is used, second resize was wrong.
seadif Added env.var. NO_SEADIF_LOCK to omit locking.
space(3d) Parameter "delete_dangling" removed.
Improved parameter "equi_line_new".
Improved "use_corner_nodes" with contact area joins
and keep of contact nodes. Added "lay=<mask_nr>"
attribute to the outputted circuit "net" stream
(needed to generate output for "-M" in spef format).
Note that zero ohm contacts get a dummy contact
resistor of "1e-200" ohm.square meter.
Fixed prepass hang-up problem by "use_corner_nodes".
Added parameter "max_degree" (default 500). Always
>= pre_elim_degree. Added param. "debug.max_degree".
Added hidden options to manual page. Option "-R" is
not more hidden, it also sets "low_contact_res=0".
Added parameter "compact_attr_vals" (default "on").
The netlist attribute values are now default compact
outputted, but maybe you want the old format.
Added parameter "join_contacts" (default "off").
When used, the points of the contact area are joined
together (the contact_res itself is not changed).
Added parameter "remove_unfixed" (default "on").
Extra points on the tile edges are normally removed,
if possible. The points cannot be removed in 3C mode.
Added parameter "use_rectangle_extra" (default "off").
When used, this function shall split rectangular tiles
with extra edge points in rectangular pieces in place
of triangular pieces. With no negative res as result.
Revised the manuals.
space2 Added fast space 2D extractor (see manual).
net2net Added circuit format conversion tool (see manual).
Xspace Added "A"-key to use "display.out" from circuit view.
xsls Added options "-g" and "-n".
Added "a" for "e-18" values.
A "g" (conductance) attribute value is converted into
a "v" (resistance) attribute value (in "mc" stream).
Now a "netsub" stream can be used".
xspice Convert "g" attribute values into "v" values.
Now a "netsub" stream can be used".
xspef Added options "-c, -d, -G, -s" and "-M file".
Can now also use the "nethead" and "netsub" streams.
Feb 19, 2015, version 5.4.7
---------------------------
libddm Changed DM_MAXSTREAMS, needed for program
makeboxl to have more open layer streams.
There is no hard limit for DM_MAXCELLS anymore.
makeboxl Can now handle more open layer streams.
space(3d) Changed NCOL, more than 2000 layers are now possible.
Fixed speed degradation problem (due to big NCOL).
Improved option -z (the mesh refinement). And
added parameter "split_ratio", which can be
used in place of parameter "max_obtuse".
Removed parameter "elim_order".
Added parameter "equi_line_new".
Added parameter "pre_elim_degree".
Update of statistics sections. Added parameters
"equi_line_width" and "use_corner_nodes".
Added path preserving for resistance extraction
and parameter "use_corner_ratio".
Changed parameter "backannotation" (now integer).
seadali Fixed start-up problem.
tecc Can now handle more than 2000 layers.
trout Fixed routing problem (due to recursion).
Mar 24, 2014, version 5.4.6
---------------------------
doc Update of "Space User's Manual". Changed default
of parameter "compensate_lat_part" back to 1.
putdevmod Added "spectremod" possibility.
Added "prefix" check.
Added text to the manual page.
Added terminal arrays (see multiplier demo).
space(3d) Added conductance and capacitance filters.
Update for reading new tech.file format.
Made some (resistance/bemfem) code improvements.
Parameter "low_contact_res" default 0.1 ohm um^2.
Improved code of selective res extraction. Now,
(in sel_con) more than one netname may be used.
Wildcard may be used, see "space" manual page.
Changed/Improved code of "compensate_lat_part".
space3d Parameter "cap3d.edge_be_ratio" now needs to
be > 0 and <= 1.0 (also "sub3d.edge_be_ratio").
Parameter "cap3d.edge_be_split" now needs to
be > 0 and <= 0.5 (also "sub3d.edge_be_split").
Made some cap3D code improvements.
spaceman Some changes in section 4.2 of the document.
spicemod Added the manual page.
tabs Added user's manual (an1403.pdf).
tecc Added conductance and capacitance filters.
Changed minor number in tech.file format.
xspectre New netlist tool for Spectre simulator.
See also the manual page.
xspice Small control file format changes.
Library file format and reading changes.
Also some changes in the manual page.
File "espicemod" not more supported.
Added control file keyword "rename".
Added more control file keywords.
Added option -P for PSpice.
Jan 25, 2013, version 5.4.5
---------------------------
clambda Update, can give back lambda w/o change of value.
Fixed a too small buffer (more than 4 lines).
flatten Update, added sub-cell terminals and manual page.
makemesh No bounding box inconsistency messages.
nspice_bs Added reading of hspice output.
simeye(2) Added reading of hspice output.
tabs Added compensate options for lateral cap values.
Fixed bug in generation part2 lateral cap values.
tecc Fixed contact maskname (option -T for tabs).
Changed static arrays into dynamic arrays.
Added warning for >= 8 minterms in mask condition.
Added omissing bits of std.masks to filterBitmask.
Improved the keep_cap2d option for edge caps.
space(3d) Only real masks are printed in messages and by -%q.
Changed missing labels messages. Now we take
allways the filterBitmask from the technology file.
Fix for: "Ho, problems with schur memory".
space3d Fixed coarse for refine of contact sidewall faces.
Modif. the spider hash. Center spiders not hashed.
Fixed the keep_cap2d option (tecc) for edge caps.
Fixed problem using 2d diffusion capacitances.
Added parameter "do_bemfem" (def. "on" by wafers).
Added parameter "cap3d.connect_ground", default is
"@gnd", you may choice "@sub" or "distributed".
Added parameter "cap3d.spider_hash" (default "off")
spiders are not more hashed (but can set on again).
Added parameter "cap3d.new_via_mode" (default "on")
all calculated cap values are assigned to the top
via nodes, because in case the bottom conductor is
a diffused conductor the cap values are omitted.
Added parameter "cap3d.contacts_sub" (default "on")
**new** these contact faces are now also done.
Added parameter "cap3d.new_refine" (default "on")
**new** gives very fast cap3d extraction because of
the mesh reduction (only for be_mode "0c" && "0g").
Added parameter "cap3d.new_convex" (default "on")
for some detailed mesh corrections.
Added parameter "debug.check_green" (default "off")
to check green values written/read to/from file.
Added posibility to specify conic contact vias.
Revised the Space 3D Cap. Extraction Users Manual.
Parameter "y_stretch" (green module) is obsolete.
Improvement of crossover sidewall face code.
spaceman Update of section 4.2 (lost space between args).
Xspace Added real mask test for the precense of new masks.
xspice Added SPECTRE SPICE option -R.
May 14, 2012, version 5.4.4+
----------------------------
doc Update of maskdata.pdf document. Update of "Space
User's Manual" (document spaceman.pdf), the default
of parameter "compensate_lat_part" is changed.
space(3d) Fixed lateral cap. assert failure on line 403/425.
Fixed also the lateral assert failure on line 381.
Fixed problem with horiz. lateral cap recognition.
Fixed lump/init.c assert failure, currIntNod != 1.
Improved in lump/init.c the left in core messages.
Improved lump/lump.c for the left in core messages.
Improved to delay ready nodes with polnode link.
Improved the node elimination code (also SNE).
Improved the weight calculation code (for SNE).
Improved the code for the "max_par_res" heuristic.
Improved the code for the "no_neg_res" heuristic.
This heuristic is now done before "max_par_res".
Improved the "min_res" heuristic (delete_dangling).
Speed-up improvement of the "min_res" heuristic.
Added parameter "debug.ready_group2" to improve the
ready group debugging (needs a node_nr argument).
Added printing dots for each 10 elim's done, when
parameter "max_delayed" is reached for nodes.
tecc No tor dscap resistivity warning message anymore.
Added/changed (distance,cap)-pair warning messages.
xspice/xpstar Modified the params code and fixed some bugs.
Some warnings can be given by control file parsing.
Jan. 13, 2012, version 5.4.4
----------------------------
cgi Fixed orth. boundary test for writing terminals.
Added warning message for unknown property.
cig Negative properties in bmlist are skipped.
dali Added displayment of sub terminal names when array.
dbcat Extended the brief option with array indices.
doc Nine new application notes (an1101 - an1109).
seadali Added displayment of sub terminal names when array.
space(3d) Output parameter "print_time" changed (extra digit).
GND and SUBSTR can be the same net using parameter.
Added stack backtrace facility.
Option -c makes only ground caps for couple caps if
the nodes are in different node groups.
No "min_coup_cap" heuristic for nodes in same group.
Added "lowest_min_res" for "min_res" heuristic.
Added "delete_dangling" node for the res heuristics.
Improved the lateral capacitance procedure.
Improved the "max_par_res" heuristic.
space3d Improvements in Schur inversion module (10% faster).
Removed the schur parameters (are only for testing).
Changed unigreen control flow.
tabs Improved the use of the precision.
No outcommented messages in technology file.
Improved the edge-surface capacitances lists.
Fixed bug in output mask order (using new cache).
Added vert. cap via conditions or use "--omit-vias".
Now using the vdim conditions or use "--fix-vdim".
To generate other lateral caps use "--add-lcaps2".
To test against the cache results: "--test-cache".
tecc Changed unigreen control flow.
Added contacts to the .tcl file (option -T).
xpstar Changed e_net's into r_net's.
xsls Removed option -M.
xspef Improved; Added options -g, -l, -o, -p, -q and -r.
xspf Added option -r.
xspice Removed option -l. Changed vnet's into rnet's.
Jan. 13, 2011, version 5.4.3
----------------------------
dali Changed max. points reading nor elements into 10000.
dbcat Added brief option for circuit net/term streams.
FreePDK45 Changed tech.file; don't extract res for nwell area.
makesize Fixed assertion "e -> xr >= 0" failed in sort.c:301.
seadali Changed max. points reading nor elements into 10000.
space(3d) Added parameter "debug.ready_group". Changed default
value of parameter "max_delayed" nodes into 100000.
Fixed node join for touching TOR drain/source areas.
Changed connect, no node join of different types.
Removed parameter "separate_ds_boundaries". Too many
d/s terminals are not more skipped (if unconnected).
Added parameter "add_ds_terms", default no second
d/s terminals are more added (if missing).
Only the first found conductor is used (last one in
the technology file), when the same conductor is
more than once found in a tile (layout part).
Removed option -%1, space3d cannot more be used as
makesubres. Made also some other code improvements.
Subnodes of different type are not more joined.
Updated printing of parameters ("param_verbose").
Parameter "debug.ready_group" is integer, thus only
groups with nodes >= debug.ready_group are printed.
Removed param. "max_tan_slice_y", use "max_obtuse"
and param. "elim_sub_con", use "elim_sub_term_node".
Improved the code of (selective) node elimination.
Fixed problem for missing BEM/FEM conductor in demo
"suboscil" when using technology file "tech3.t".
Boolean parameter value "off"/"on" may be "0"/"1".
Changed command line option processing and messages.
Changed output of the info option "-i" a little.
Preprocessing can be done without prePass/extrPass.
space Added "public" configuration for "public" compile.
tabs Fixed problem running out of too many minterms.
tecc Removed false conductor pin warnings. Added separate
dscap specification for transistor source.
xspice Fix for equal terminal names (when using node nrs).
Mar. 23, 2010, version 5.4.2
----------------------------
dali Changed displayment of terminals with array indices.
demo Added Tcl scripts for usage on Windows platforms.
impcell Fixed problem with spaces in the project path.
libddm Fixed problem with spaces reading impcelllist.
makedela Fixed "Error: no orthogonal set of coupsubres ...".
makesubres Fixed check for minor technology file number.
seadali Changed displayment of terminals with array indices.
space(3d) Added progress timer support w/o using alarm signal.
Progress lines start with "progress: ...".
Progress gives first a line about the program pass.
Changed some code in the bipolar elements module.
Changed xspicerc file of dimes01 process. Base width
is only for lateral bipolar tors. Changed the Space
User's Manual (npnBW example on page 49/50).
Bug fix for the mesh inside via/contact.
Bug fix for mesh refinement of crossing interface.
Added code to handle asymmetric FETs.
If needed, array terminals are now used as head net.
Fixed net name choice for label versus terminal.
Fixed net name x,y coordinates for backannotation.
Connect elements can now be used without polnodes.
Code improved, nodes directly placed in same group.
Fixed capacitance problem with equi-line nodes.
Improved the message for terminals by supply test.
Added polarity check for subnode copy and join.
Removed local options (-H, -J, -K, -M, -N, -O) and
code. Added parameter "separate_ds_boundaries".
Fixed area/perimeter/backannotation for lateral BJTs.
Removed parameter "lumped_bjt_models" and code.
space(3d) Disabled the element cache.
Added parameter "debug.gettech".
Option -t adds now all coordinate positions.
Don't use option -x to get coordinate positions,
it generates backannotation data for tool highlay.
Optimized selective resistivity extraction. The
file 'sel_con' can also be in technology directory.
Changed program flow for prepass 1.
spice3 Added to the linux distribution.
tabs Bug fix for the z-window option.
Fixed Tcl 8.5 package install problem.
tecc Added polarity check for connect and bjt elements.
Added the possibility to define asymmetric FETs.
Added check if connects have two edge pins.
view3d Changed the normalization of the polygons.
xsls Fixed output for terminals with array indices.
xspice Fixed output for terminals with array indices.
Now array brackets are used for HSPICE output.
Added asterix for title card.
July 6, 2009, version 5.4.1+
----------------------------
cga Added option -w, the no-wrap mode.
Changed fopen mode into rb; Removed padding message.
Fixed reading special strings (like fonts, etc.).
cga2gds Added this tool to convert cga (ascii) into gds.
cig Changed fopen mode into wb; Removed write of padding.
csls/cspice Fixed problem with spaces in CPP_OPTIONS.
dali Added list to write terminals back in correct order.
FreePDK45 Added match_prim file to the FreePDK technology.
match Fixed problem with d/s-caps in the mc-stream.
nspice Removed option -y to connect vss/VSS to ground.
space(3d) Added separate statistics about d/s capacitances.
Added parameter "omit_incomplete_tors" to skip
transistors which has only one d/s connection.
Changed some messages given about 3d-parameters.
Xspace Fixed 3d drawing problem in bbox window.
Added new method for clipping and displaying tiles.
May 07, 2009, version 5.4.1+
----------------------------
- cgi: Fixed swap problem for boxes with wrong coordinates.
Added test for terminal/label property attributes.
Added test for duplicate terminal/label names.
Changed option processing; fixed check for properties.
- cig: Added option -T, to process only the top cell.
Changed option processing; added the -L option.
- dali: Modified the read_cell menu for long cell names, added
also a new search method. Also 'y' and 'n' hotkeys may
be used. Added hotkey 'U' to reread the current cell.
Added hotkey 'x' to give a coordinate to center window.
Revised the dali user's manual document and manual.
- FreePDK45 Added FreePDK 45nm technology and demos.
Added Nangate 45nm open cell library.
-(sea)dali: Fixed display problem for boxes with wrong coordinates.
Changed the place of the layer menu. More layers can
be used. Added 'y' and 'n' hotkeys to answer questions.
- space(3d): Added parameter "param_unused". When "on", space
prints a list of unused parameters, because of the
chosen program execution or because the parameters
are not recognized. It are the parameters, which are
specified on the command line or in a parameter file.
Made some assert failures more verbose. Note that the
env.var. SAY_COORDINATES can be set to get more info.
Added "compression" parameter for makegln.
Fixed problem with the -z option for non-orth. layout.
- spock: Changed the titleBar text. Close of process asks for
closing. After close a new current process is chosen.
Fixed problem with cr/lf in .process files.
Changed space parameter "max_par_res" text.
Invisible color is used for xspace color "@000000".
Added vdimension minimum "spacing" field for tabs.
- tabs: Fixed problem with temp. files and path under windows.
Added comments about precision etc. to the tech. file.
Added default for option -L (default is 2).
Removed the generation of artificial ground caps.
Improved the conditions for edge/lateral caps.
Now, always the space3d command and output is shown.
Removed nominal spacing option from cache. Using
vdimension minimum "spacing" field for nominal spacing.
Changed internal lambda of tabs into 0.1 nm.
Changed the precision defaults (see the man-page).
- tecc: Added vdimension minimum "spacing" field for tabs.
- Xspace: Fixed problem with clipping and drawing of long lines.
- xvhdl: Fixed incorrect local signal name break-off.
Dec 18, 2008, version 5.4.1+
----------------------------
- dali: Fixed problem writing a correct cell bounding box.
- dbcat: Fixed problem with illegal mask numbers.
- icdman: Fixed file name search looping problem.
- libddm: Fixed problems in xcontrol functions.
Added fast circuit streams read w/o memory alloc.
- macro: Modified the program, can be used for xcontrol.
- makeboxl: Fixed problem with partial expansion of freemasks.
- makesize: Fixed incorrect bounding box inconsistency message.
- makesubcap: Added parameter sub3d.max_fe_size.
- makesubres: Added parameter sub3d.max_fe_size.
- seadali: Fixed problem writing a correct cell bounding box.
- sls_exp: Added skip of area/perimeter devices.
- space(3d): Fixed problem to extract area-perim junction caps
using option -c (lump/elem.c, 406: assertion failed).
Improved code of making and size of capSort tables.
Improved code of couple caps reduction function.
Improved code of sub3d/cap3d test for equal nodes.
Fixed bipolar devices bulk terminal assert failure.
Added partial 2D extraction during cap3d extraction.
Added parameter sub3d.max_fe_size.
- spock: Changed comment in .uis file (permittivity is relative).
- tecc: Added vdimensions options omit_cap3d and keep_cap2d.
- xcontrol: Fixed .dmxdata read problem. Added 64 masks test.
- Xspace: Added fixed font resource file.
- xspice: New version. Fixed problems using options -z, -O, -g.
When a terminal pin is grounded, there is made a "vnet"
to the ground node "0". The pin is not more removed
from the (sub)circuit terminal list. Terminal pins are
used (if existing) to name nets. Two special labels GND
and SUBSTR have now precedence above terminal pins.
- xspf, xspef, xpstar: New version.
Jul 10, 2008, version 5.4.1
---------------------------
- 64bit: Changed some code to use 64-bits platforms.
- cgi: Text elements are now default written as comments.
- libddm: Spaces in text labels are changed into underscrores.
Enlarged the number of possible masks to 512.
- space(3d): Fixed problem for bipolar element substrate node.
Fixed bipolar/polnode.c, 365: assert failure.
- spock: Fixed problem editting condition list.
Fixed problem to specify unit value.
Added mask type choice for bjt, cap and connect elements.
- tecc: Unknown mask in colors section is not more fatal.
- Windows: New Windows version (Tanner) needs new licproxy and
space.lic file. Added server type checking.
Added infinity expiration in space.lic file.
May 9, 2008, version 5.4.0
--------------------------
- batch files: Fixed the ICDPATH path in all windows batch files.
Added double quotes around the path, because the path
can contain spaces. Fixed also the scripts for linux.
- cldm: Duplicate labels are allowed
- runspace: Obsolete script, removed from distributions.
- space(3d): Fixed problem using the SNE method (option -G)
with different cap. sort types (junction, d/s caps).
Now with -G default no output of moment attributes,
also zero cap values are now correctly skipped.
Fixed bug, when ending with a non-empty node queue.
Improved the numbering of duplicate labels.
The ds-caps used for transistor d/s area/perimeters
are now always extracted (when specified in technology
file), you don't need to use a capacitance extraction option.
You can use parameter "omit_ds_caps" to omit the extraction of
ds-caps, also when using a capacitance extraction option.
- space3d: Fixed problem reading binary unigreen data files.
Added parameter cap3d.sensitivity_data (local version).
- tecc: Added non-keys, beautified output for option -V.
Fixed win32 bug writing binary unigreen files.
- xsls: Skips now existing ds-caps.
- xspice: Added option -T to get comments on same line.
Added '+ $' for inline comment continuation.
Added option -TT to get node coordinates.
Added option '-w 0' for infinite line width.
Feb 13, 2008, version 5.3.2
---------------------------
- csls: Added 'G' for Giga to input parser.
- libddm: dmOpenProject: sets the real absolute project path by chdir/getcwd
dmOpenProject: .dmrc file, process path may contain spaces
dmInit: sets the real absolute icdpath by chdir/getcwd
Windows version (Tanner) needs licproxy and space.lic file.
- makesubres: Fixed problem with Windows version.
- sls Fixed library linking problem.
- space(3d): Help option changed, no extraction is done.
Fixed spaces problem with Windows spawn function.
Nov 20, 2007, version 5.3.1+
---------------------------
- cedif: added caseless option; manual page update
- cfun: manual page update, new version (uses _dmRun)
- cgi/cig: new version (using dynamic mask arrays)
- cldm: added carr.return recognition
- cmsk: using dynamic mask arrays; fixed parser bug; allowed CRLF
- csls/cspice: tmpdir update; added carr.return recognition
changed system into _dmRun, manual page update
- dali: added cr in list of separators; dynamic mask arrays
- dbclean: removed unlink of maskdata, devmod, etc.
- demo's: added unset CWD to script.sh
added nodenames example demo
- esea: new manual page, separate page for cedif
- flatten: new tool version
- helios: new version; changed GMT time into local time
- icdman: added PAGER; removed grep; manual page update
changed system into _dmRun function
- layflat: new version; removed some mask arrays
- libcmap: changed system into _dmRun function
- libddm: dmOpenProject: relative path don't need to start with '.'
dmInit: added test for backslash in icdpath; removed ICDNAME/ICDUSERNAME
dmSubstituteEnvironmentVars: added test for backslash
changed execv into execvp; update for cell_dir may be a link
removed dmhostnameprefix; added test for too long projname
- liblic: improved check for cpu_id's; changed licfile search strategy
- libstd: fixed path starting with device and backslashes in icdpath
- lictool: cygwin fix for installing license file
- macro: new version (using dynamic mask arrays)
- makeboxl: changed system into _dmRun function
added freemask support for regular sub-cells
- makefem: changed system into _dmRun function
- makegln: added recognition of cygwin path
- match: made width of 1st field of bindingstable larger
- mkpr: added test for backslashes in path; manual page update
- putdevmod: fixed cr/lf problem, added -v option, removed -e option
- rmdb: added display.out; fixed remove all cells problem
manual page update; changed return status
new version with option -p
- rmpr: updated for database files / cygwin
added exp_dat and display.out; more verbose levels
manual page update
- seadali: added q hotkey, fixed button text problem, changed menu text
some other improvements and fixes
- __shell: fixed problem with DISPLAY localhost setting
- sls: manual page update
- sls_exp: manual page update
- space: contacts with missing conductor are skipped
SPACE_TMPDIR updated for cygwin
revised manual page, now separated from space3d
fix of ASSERT failure in line 81 of scan/slant.c
fix usage of torname; name may not be disposed
- space3d: exit when -3 without -c or -C; fix random number usage
added reading of unigreen technology file cache
revised manual page, now separated from space
- spock: bug fix reading process file
- subresgen: new version; not using perl
- tabs: changed color of messages into 'green'
program revision; new options; manual page update
- tabs-verify: added to distribution
- tecc: added recognition of carr.return; fixed random number
added the use of unigreen technology file cache
- xcontrol: manual page update
- xldm,...: new version
- xpstar: bulk voltages with option -m, fixed notitle problem
write resistor of zero ohm as voltage source
- xsls: added carr.return recognition
separate manual pages for xsls, xspice, etc.
changed GMT time into local time
- Xspace: revised manual page, now separated from space
improved writing of special lines and thickness
- xspf: fixed problem with core dump
- xspice: added extended params support
write resistor of zero ohm as voltage source
changed GMT time into local time
Mar 22, 2007, version 5.3.1+
---------------------------
- cygwin: changed some code for making cygwin distribution
- dali: changed maximum color_ids into 80
- icdman: fix for long keywords
- libddm: changed some functions
added test for special chars in names for cygwin
- ocean: new versions for fishbone ICELLS, mkopr,
mkropr, mkvopr, tutorial and added manuals
- xsls: added option -w width
Jan 5, 2007, version 5.3.1
---------------------------
- cfun: Demo multiplier bug fix. Man page and document revised.
- cig: New version, added options -l and -F.
- dbcat: Added reading circuit functions: fterm, fstate.
- demo: Demo updates. Added ny9t example. Added script.sh files.
- doc: Doc updates. Added examples.pdf file.
- helios: New version to extract substrate capacitances.
Bug fix for space3d execution using option -B.
Bug fix for reading manual pages.
Bug fix when using locale "dutch" language.
Changed helios.workfont into courier.
Changed "mkpr" to use an existing directory.
Changed "rmpr", added option -s.
- makesubcap: Added to calculate 3D substrate capacitances.
- makesubres: Important bug fix to calculate correct substrate conductances.
- match: New version.
- mkpr: Existing directory can be turned into a project directory.
Option -p, added test for maskdata file.
A bad formatted .dmrc file is not used, does not exit mkpr.
- ocean: Updates (trout). New digilib's.
Restored the seadali help function.
- process: All "nls2cds.lib" files are changed.
The device bulk terminals are removed (see also xedif).
When you want to use a 4-port FET, you may add
the bulks, but default the 3-port FETs are used.
Missing process "nls2cds.lib" files are added.
Update of "scmos_n" technology file.
- rmdb: Fixed cellname bug; '/' after viewname is now possible.
- rmpr: Removed option -a; added options -s and -v.
- sls/sls_exp: Demo multiplier bug fix.
- space: Node polarity bug fix (see also "invert" demo).
- space3d: Updates for bem/fem support in combination with cap3D.
Now, the bem/fem mode works also for -B without -r.
Added warning message for missing substrate (for -3C in combination
with substrate extraction and cap3d.be_mode 0c/0g).
Changed fast substrate capacitance support (use now add_sub_caps=1).
Added 3D substrate capacitance support (use add_sub_caps=2).
See space substrate resistance extraction user's manual.
Bug fix for execution in combination with helios.
Other new parameters:
- "low_contact_res" (default: 0.1e-12 (0.1 ohm um^2)). Note that
a specified contact with value <= low_contact_res is neglected.
Such a contact is a (0 ohm) connection.
- "term_use_center" (default: "on" for interconnect res extraction,
otherwise "off"). When you specify this parameter (for example
for -B extraction without -r), you can force the use of the
center point of layout terminals.
- "name_extension" (default: "") for circuit name.
Added new SNE method (see share/doc/an0603.pdf).
- spock: Added bem/fem support and substrate capacitance support.
- tecc: Added 3D substrate capacitance support (subcaplayers).
The generated technology files have a higher minor number.
Version 5.3.0 programs cannot read these technology files.
When there are wafer statements in the technology file, then
the top of the first sublayer/subcaplayer must match the bem_depth.
Now, on error, tecc removes the old .t output file.
The manual page is also revised.
Checking conductor polarity for junction caps and d/s caps.
Swapping the pins for junction caps when in wrong order.
- Xspace: Fixed problem to run space (on sun platforms).
- xedif: New version. Bug fix for cadence device bulk terminals.
The program generates warning messages, when bulk
connections are found in the netlist.
The bulk connections are now correctly skipped.
- xsls/xvhdl: New version. Option -r (see manual).
- xspice/xpstar: New version. Option -S (see manual).
May 27, 2005, version 5.3.0
---------------------------
- In this release, old technology files can not more be used. The technology files must be
recompiled with the tecc program. Below follows a list of most important updates.
- Added libunigreen and libschur (for usage of complex numbers).
- For all tools, changed the method of making temporary files.
- highlay: Made the tool more useful. Fixed a problem with optOrigMasks and some other.
- makefem: Bug fixes and updates, added channelstop code and backcontact, cs_extension, cs_bbox
The makefem program is a space3d substrate extraction interface to femlab/matlab.
- makegln: Updated, because of the new makesize version.
- makemesh: Bug fixes for slanting edges and shortened edges.
- makesize: Can now resize new masks (and makes them appear as new gln files), and can
do conditional growing and shrinking, and can create and use negative masks.
- makesubres: Some fixes and updates.
- seadali: New revision; added annotate menu.
- space3d: Added the unigreen method, thus more dielectric layers can be used.
Tested and compared the new method with the old green method, and
added greenSerie3211 for the old green method.
- space3d: Added the bem/fem (wafer) substrate res extraction method.
The substrate_extension for negative masks can now also be zero.
It makes also strips in vertical direction for bem/fem extraction.
- space3d: Added support for new gln files and infinity gln edges (negative masks).
- space3d: Separated the space3d program from the Xspace program.
Now parameter values and extraction mode can not more change during execution,
this makes the program code a lot easier to maintain, and the binary smaller.
The program writes now a display.out file for the Xspace program (if requested).
This file can also be inspected, to see which edges and tiles are generated.
- space3d: Added test/message for missing conductor vdimension (spider mesh).
Modified the stripping method (parameter be_window).
Added parameter sub3d.makefem, thus tool makefem is started in place of makesubres.
Added sub_caps_entry for substrate capacitances.
Changed the distributed subres join method; added join of extra points.
And some bug fixes and improvements.
- space: Added support for new gln files and infinity gln edges (negative masks).
- space: Made it again possible, that different cap_assign_types can be used.
And some bug fixes and improvements.
- tecc: The space technology compiler is first changed for the unigreen method.
There are special technology files generated for 3D capacitance extraction and
for accurate (3D) substrate res extraction. This can cost a lot of time, but
it speeds-up the extraction time a lot (when more dielectric layers are used).
Second, now it is possible to resize new masks (this makes them fysical masks).
Third, we added the wafer statement for bem/fem substrate extraction.
And note that the technology file format is changed.
- Xspace: The new version is now separate from space3d, it is reading a display.out file.
New hot-keys are added ('a', 'm', 's', 'I', 'O', '^c', '^l') and some menu items.
A lot of new functionality is created. Faster drawing is possible, no extraction
is more needed. It is possible to redisplay again the display file.
July 20, 2004, version 5.2.0
----------------------------
- In this release, the Ocean VLSI tools for the design of sea-of-gates (SOG)
circuits have been added. This is mainly of interest to people already using
the Ocean software.
June 2, 2004, version 5.1.1
---------------------------
- Bug fix for 3d capacitance and substrate extraction. In order to work-around
this bug in older versions of Space, use the flag -Smin_divergence_term=10000
when invoking space3d.
April 13, 2004, version 5.1.0
-----------------------------
- This release adds a new tool "tabs", which can be used to generate
capacitance rules for a given technology. Capacitance rules enable a more
efficient way of circuit extraction than full 3D extraction, at the cost of
some accuracy. Type "icdman tabs" for more information.
- dbcat: Added option -4 for a number of stream formats. Added a number
of new streams (cont_bln/bpt, cont_aln, congeo, devgeo).
- space3d: -B, made some substrate terminal improvements for prepass.
- space3d: -B, fixed bug for selective res extraction and distr. conductors.
- space3d: -B, changed substrate terminal numbering of "subres" file.
- space3d: -B, fixed problem with -U option (added to makesubres).
- space3d: -B, removed prepass stream "cont_bpt".
- space: Substrate extraction, parameter "elim_sub_node" not more supported.
- subresgen: Fixed problem with tecc file.
- space: Fixed problem with "min_res".
- space: Fixed problem with keep of nodes.
- highlay: Added wildcard (* and ?) possibility for the namefile.
- space: Selective res extraction, added default names "grpXX" to the
temporary "congeo" file (can be used by highlay).
- space: Selective res extraction, added parameter "keep_conductors".
- Xspace: The cells are now sorted in the database menu. A specified cell
is not more the first cell in the menu. By too many cells, a specified cell
can position the cells in menus.
Added parameters "disp.excl_cells" and "disp.only_cells".
- makedela/makemesh: changed option -E into reverse option -D.
- space: added parameter "delete_aln" (default "on") for makedela/makemesh.
- makedela: does now write a "subres" file in place of "delaunay".
- makedela: added options -E, -e, -n, -0 and -1 (see manual page).
- option -v now also shows output of makesubres.
December 10, 2003, version 5.0.4
--------------------------------
- Fixed problem in Helios related to monitoring of running processes.
- Fixed bug in Helios on SunOs. When the user pressed the "New ..." button
to create a new database, this immediately caused a segmentation violation.
- Fixed repainting problem in Xspace (when the user opened a window overlapping
with the Xspace window, or when the user changed to a different workspace and
back, the contents of the Xspace window was erroneously cleared.)
- Added hotkeys to Xspace. For example, the user can press 'e' to perform a new
extraction, or 'c' to clear the display, or 'q' to quit. See also the user's
manual.
- Xspace: added single step mode (see manual).
- Xspace: added zoom functions (see manual).
- Tool `getepslay' was broken in version 5.0.0. It has been fixed now.
- Improved 3D (accurate) substrate resistance extraction.
The substrate mesh is independent of all kinds of masks.
Uses a separate "makesubres" program step.
- Distributed substrate contacts are now (possible) joined.
- Now only centered terminal positions by interconnect res extraction.
- Changed area nodes count (by use of option -i).
- Added a number of new special options to space3d / Xspace.
Option -%0, skip prepass 0; option -%2, do only last pass;
option -%1, do only special prepass 1 (makesubres step).
- Re-init of random node ids. To ensure, that the same nodes are eliminated
in the last pass, independent of the number of prepasses used.
- No Green and no Schur are now working again (option -U).
Especial useful for Xspace ("be_mesh_only" mode).
- Fixed some ASSERT failures and other program bugs.
- Fixed problem in interpolation of substrate resistances. The problem occurred
for instance when running: space3d -vF -P param.p -bC oscil
(where the "oscil" cell comes from share/demo/suboscil)
- Tecc places always elements for new_masks, it uses another method to set
the color bitmask for the new_masks.
- Improved vertical mesh refinement for space option -z.
- dali: Changed the picture window resize method.
- cgi: Fixed the cell recursion problem.
- Added the tool "circuit" which is useful for inspecting circuits in various
ways.
August 22, 2003, version 5.0.3
------------------------------
- Internal release.
June 13, 2003, version 5.0.2
----------------------------
- When license files contained carriage-return characters, the license checking
would fail. We solved this problem in this release. The problem occurred when
writing license files with Microsoft Outlook and transferring them to
Linux/SunOs.
June 4, 2003, version 5.0.1
---------------------------
- Fixed segmentation-fault occurring in `lictool' on SuSE Linux 8.2, and
perhaps some other versions of Linux. Relatively not-so-new versions of Linux
do not seem to trigger this problem.
- Some improvements in color-management of Xspace.
May 2003, version 5.0.0
-----------------------
- New web-site for space has been released: http://www.space.tudelft.nl
- New arrangement of the software distribution. All machine independent
data are now stored in a directory called 'share' and all machine
dependent data (executables) are stored in a directory that is called
after the machine type. Further, it is no longer necessary to set
the variable ICDPATH; the software can be run by only including the
directory share/bin in your search path.
Current machine types that are supported are:
Linux
Sun Solaris
HP-UX is no longer supported.
- New licensing mechanism. A tool called lictool allows to automatically
retrieve and install a license. See "icdman lictool" for more details.
- New tool subresgen to automatically generate parameters for the
substrate extraction method that uses interpolation formula's.
See "icdman subresgen" for more details.
- With (substrate) resistance extraction with space, there is now the
possibility to specify pins of contact and capacitance types for which
nodes that are connected to these pins are not eliminated. See the
description of the parameter "keep_nodes" in the Space User's Manual
for more details.
- Several updates and bug fixes for spock.
- Several updates and bug fixes for helios (among other things: former
problems with fonts and with window resizing)
- Several speed improvements for space.
- New format for the compiled element definition file space.def.t.
Old .t files can no longer be used; you must recompile existing
element definition files with tecc.
- New three-dimensional viewing tool `view3d' for observing the
internal operation of Space. See "icdman view3d" for more information,
and especially the view3d HOW-TO documentation on the website at
http://www.space.tudelft.nl?page=documentation.
11 February 2002, version 4.11.0
--------------------------------
- Release of graphical technology interface spock, see "icdman spock".
- Linux version now (statically) compiled under SuSE 7.3, operating
system release level 2.4.10-4GB
- Fixed that getepslay gave a segmentation violation.
- Improved handling of maximum (due to implementation limitations)
BE window size.
- Fixed bug in space for terminals without layout polygons.
- Improved the interpolation method for computing substrate resistances
such that substrate resistances do not become negative.
- Added dimes03 (bipolar process of Delft Univeisty of Technology)
process files.
9 August 2001, version 4.10.1
-----------------------------
- Bug fix for reading old (generated by tecc versions older than Oct '98)
.t technology files.
- Bug fix for the use of the parameter node_pos_name.
- Bug fix for message: makemesh: sort.c, 329: assertion failed
when using the option -z with space.
- Messages of unconnected terminals are now only given in the last pass.
The messages are now also given for terminals which are on the right
most side of the layout.
- Messages of the usage of predefined GND and SUBSTR terminals are now
always given (previously only during capacitance extraction).
- Fixed that the SUBSTR node was omitted during selective node
elimination (option -G).
- Some other bug fixes and some speed improvements.
11 June 2001, version 4.10.0
----------------------------
- Improved modeling of distributed resistive effects for the combination
of interconnect resistance extraction and substrate resistance
extraction. See Section 3.2 of the "Space Substate Resistance Extraction
User's Manual".
- When 3D capacitance extraction is combined with substrate resistance
extraction, 3D capacitances to ground are now attached to underlying
substrate terminals (e.g. defined by non-3D capacitance definitions).
- Maximum number of masks has been increased from 32 to 64.
- Bug fix for cgi for the case when path elements have a large number of
coordinates.
8 Dec 2000, version 4.9.2
-------------------------
- Bug fix for space (error message was "mesh.c, 866: assertion failed").
- Fonts for helios were changed. Moreover, fonts can now also be read
from a resource file (e.g. $ICDPATH/lib/app-defaults/Helios).
14 Nov 2000, version 4.9.1
--------------------------
- Bug fix for option -l with space in case edge capacitances are defined
between two layers that are on top of each other (both have a '-' sign
before them in the element definition file). The bug caused the
message "latcap.c, 812: assertion failed" and resulted in incorrect
edge capacitance compensation.
2 Nov 2000
----------
- Added tool getproc to obtain information (mask names etc.) about the
current process (see "icdman getproc").
27 Oct 2000
-----------
- Using the environment variable ICDPROCESS, a default process can now be
set. This environment variable can denote a process name, a process
number or a process directory. This variable is used (if defined) by
mkpr and by helios when creating a new project directory, and by tecc
when compiling an element definition file.
Moreover, the process directory can have a file "default_lambda" that
contains a default lambda value for the new project that is created.
Both mkpr and tecc now have an option -p that can be used to specify a
process name, a process number or a process directory, and the option
-P with mkpr has become obsolete.
11 Oct 2000, version 4.9.0
--------------------------
- Released the auxiliary tool xcontrol that replaces the tools macro and
device to set the extraction status of cells. A cell can now have
extraction statusses: regular, macro, device and library, and interface
types: strict, free and freemasks, see the manual page of xcontrol.
- Added parameter cap3d.also_non3d_cap with space to extract also all non3d
capacitances in the element definition file when using the option -C3.
- Improved error messages when process directory is not ok.
- In the bmlist file it is now possible to specify the property numbers
for the GDS properties that can be used to store instance names, terminal
names and net names in a GDS file (see the manual page of cgi).
- In the maskdata file it is now no longer necessary to specify the number of
masks and to specify the mask index for each layer definition.
- Fixed bug that in some cases bulk connections of MOS transistors were not
extracted.
- Bug fix for parameter no_neg_res with space. In some cases isolated nodes
were generated that caused the message "WARNING: Circuit items left behind
in core !"
- Bug fix for getepslay. It produced a call to an unknown PostScript function
DrawArrow, and annotations were not correctedly printed.
- Program flatten updated for labels.
24 May 2000
-----------
- As a result from the feedback from the Pierre & Marie Curie Lab. we changed
the CIF parser. It supports now the Berkeley user codes 91, 94 and 95 and
the Alliance/COMPASS user codes 4I, 4N and 4X. The old interpretation of
code 94 can be reinstalled with the option -z. We added also the -r option
to suppress rounding messages. We made some other minor code changes.
- We added the -r option also for cldm.
- We made xcif compatible with the new version of ccif.
It writes terminals with user code 95. It writes now also the "annotations"
stream, labels with user code 94. Fixed a bug for long layer names.
12 May 2000
-----------
- Bug fix for tecc for when a drain/source mask is used that is defined
with the new statement.
- Improved error message in space about incomplete substrate resistance
data in element definition file.
- Substrate Resistance Extraction Manual updated with section about
determining the parameters for the interpolation method.
27 Apr. 2000, version 4.8.1
---------------------------
- Bug fixed for option -B
- Bug fixed for lateral capacitances between different masks
(message "space3d: latcap.c, 804: assertion failed" occurred).
- Bug fixed for option -r (or -z) in combination with @sub capacitances
(partly connected substrate capacitances were generated in some cases).
- Fixed problem that =maskname or -maskname could not be used before
maskname in the element definition file (error message "fatal: assertion
failed at minsym.C:25" occurred).
- Fixed problem that when OR operations are used in the condition list of
a lateral capacitance, the capacitance was not always extracted.
1 Mar. 2000, version 4.8.0
--------------------------
- The method to automatically determine when a cell should be re-extracted
with space has been improved. Child cells now only trigger the re-
extraction of parent cells when the layout of the child cell has been
changed, or when the extraction status of the child cell has been changed.
- Added possibility to specify drain/source regions with the transistor
element definitions. In that case, the parameters ad, as, pd, ps,
nrd and nrs are extracted for the transistor.
- Added possibility to specify a substrate connection for bipolar
transistors.
- Added possibility to specify a condition list for a substrate connection
of an element.
- Added possibility (in the element definition file) to resize (grow or
shrink) masks.
- Bug fix for option -c with highlay.
- Added MOSIS process TSMC CMOS025 (0.25u).
- The device program now also lists the imported cells that are devices
and it gives a message when imported projects cannot be opened.
- New version of the macro program. It now also lists imported cells that
are macro's and it gives a message when imported projects cannot be opened.
Fixed bug for cells that do not exist. Added options -aMASK, -dMASK, and
-sMASK to set/unset the expansion mask(s) for a macro cell. Added option
-t to touch the macro status for a cell.
- The dbclean program does now no longer reset the macro status of a cell.
- New version of the makeboxl pre-processor so that it can make use of
macro cells with mask lists (see new options with 'macro'), so that it
can process images separately and faster, and so that it works faster
if there are many imported cells. Also a number of bugs were fixed.
- Millennium bug fixed for print dates in xsls, xspice etc.
7 Dec. 1999
-----------
- Changed name of simeye into simeye2, and Simeye into simeye
(So the MOTIF version is now called simeye).
- Made sources available of the tools that do not require a license.
16 Nov. 1999
------------
- Added processes gatearray and octagon for the Ocean Sea-Of-Gates
design system.
12 Nov. 1999
------------
- New version of helios (version 1.4.2).
- Fixed bug that, on Sun and under Linux, csls dumps when extern network
is not yet in database.
- Bug fix for storing negative float numbers in the database.
21 Sep. 1999, version 4.7.1
---------------------------
- IMPORTANT: The tools cldm and xldm now default have a no-origin mode
for modelcalls. So the -o option has no effect anymore. To use the
orgin mode (the old default mode), use the option -x.
- Improved csls for parsing output of the C preprocessor (now all lines
that start with a # do not cause an error message).
- Fix of "Floating point exception" bug in sls.
- Added fishbone process
- Added space.basic for basic extraction without a license file.
- Rearranged the subdivision of the package in tar files.
- Fixed bug that Simeye on Sun machines did not list the command files.
15 July 1999, version 4.7.0
---------------------------
- Added Motif tools Simeye and helios for Linux version.
- New tool device added to set and unset the device status for cells.
When no device model is required, this is an easier way to set the
device status than by using putdevmod.
- Space
* Added possibility to extract drain/source area and perimeter
information attached to transistor instances, see Section 4.2
of the Space Users Manual, Section 5 of the Space Tutorial
and the example demo/invert.
* Added option -T to extract only top cell in case of hierarchical
extraction.
* Added parameter coarse_max_be_area to define a coarser boundary
element mesh for sheet conductors (planes) in case of 3D capacitance
extraction.
* Added test for presence of emitter, collector and base conductors
for bipolar transistors.
- Format of bmlist.gds (to convert database data to GDS files and vice
versa) has been changed to provide more flexibility. Using the
constructs maskname:term and maskname:label it is now possible to map
GDS text structures (with a certain layer number and datatype number)
to respectively terminals (ports) and labels.
In relation to this, the option -t with cgi and the option -x with cig
have been removed.
- New tool xvhdl added to retrieve structural VHDL descriptions.
- Xsls/xedif/xspice/xpstar/xnle/xspf/spef/xvhdl
* Added option -F for output file name.
* Added option -X, for use with options -hi, to exclude
certain imported libraries.
* Fixed groupLib problem.
* Possibility to have #if, #else, #endif constructions
in the library file and added option -D to define
variables for this.
* Improved params statement in control file to specify
the format for printing the model instance parameters.
* Added prefix statement in control file to specify a
prefix for model instance names.
* Added possibility in control file to convert junction
capacitances into drain/source area and perimeter
information attached to transistor instances.
* Bug fix for xpstar.
- Dali:
* BUG FIX FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN DALI ON SOME SCREENS:
If CACD colormap installation fails by the program setcmap, the libcmap
functions shall now use the default read-only colormap instead.
This is needed for Personal Computers which have many colors in
a read-only colormap. In that case the color mixture for transparent
drawing is possibly not correct. If this is true, then use dominant
drawing mode!
* Added "set_order" and "unset_order" commands in the settings menu
to specify the drawing order of the layers. Because the choice of
the order of the layers is very important for dominant drawing mode.
* Added "set_fillst" command in the settings menu. Also the choice
for the correct fill style is very important in dominant drawing mode.
Added 9 new fill styles (cross and 8 stipples). Stipples are bitmaps
which are used by the X-Window drawing functions to fill rectangles,
etc. They are maybe faster as the hashed fill styles, which are
written by dali itself. It is possible to choose your own stipples!
* Added "set_color" command in the settings menu. Maybe one don't like
the colors which are chosen for the layers. Now its free to experiment
with new color assignments. Can be useful for contact hole layers.
* Added a save and load function (.dalisave file).
It is nice to save your changes to the dali setup and use them again.
There is also a "load" command for the ".dalirc" file.
* Added a number of new ".dalirc" file commands.
Made ".dalirc" file more compatible with the program seadali.
* Added the "init_window" command for the ".dalirc" file. This command
makes it possible to read cells more flexible. One can start reading
with the portion of the cell which is of special interrest.
* Added also more hot keys (compatible with seadali). Now one can use
also the Arrow keys and the Home, Select, Prev and Next keys.
* Changed LAYER viewport (at the bottom of the program window). Now the
colors and fill styles of the layers are always visible (except when
visibility is off). Added little lamps above the layers, which are yellow
if the layers are activated.
* The order of the layers in the LAYER viewport is changed, when switching
from transparent to dominant. When the dominant mode is active, the
dominant order is shown.
* Changed the COORDNTS menu command (new name: X,Y,MASKS); it displays
also the layer stack in the LAYER viewport.
* Changed VISIBLE menu; removed the picture command; a newly chosen item
is directly effective. Save command works a little bit different;
there is no auto-save at entering the VISIBLE menu. Default save is
the dali default. Restore command works also a little bit different;
it saves the current settings and restores the saved settings.
* Other improvements and some bug fixes.
* The document "Dali Users Manual" (dali.ps) has been revised.
- Changed makeboxl: nxx-streams are now always closed to reduce
the number of open streams (for processes which have many layers).
- New version of makegln; added test for compress tools;
dbclean is not run anymore (only processed gln files are removed).
- The compression option for tecc (default) has been greatly speed up.
- Added option -P to mkpr to specify - instead of a process id - a path that
contains the process files.
- Revised Space Users Manual, Space 3D Capacitance Extraction Manual and
Space Tutorial.
- Updated the 'invert' demo with extraction of transistor drain/source
area and perimeter information.
- Completed the 'attenua' demo.
30 November 1998, version 4.6.1
-------------------------------
- Bug fix for use of the Space parameter 'jun_caps'.
- Updated the 'invert' demo.
24 November 1998, version 4.6.0
-------------------------------
- Maximum name length of cells, terminals, nets etc. has been increased to 255.
- Bug fix for use of option -l in combination with distance, capacitivity
pairs on Sun (it resulted in a Bus error or Segmentation violation now and
then).
- Introduced parameter "compensate_lat_part" to specify which part of the
lateral coupling capacitances is used to decrease the connected edge
capacitances.
- Area and perimeter can now be separate parameters for a junction capacitance.
(see Section 2.5.7 of the Space User's Manual and Section 8 of the Space
Tutorial).
- Bug fix for element generation with 3D capacitance extraction.
- Bug fix for when two transistors are present at the same position.
- Bug fix for use of parameter 'cap3d.omit_gate_ds_cap'
1 September 1998, version 4.5.2
-------------------------------
- Fix of bug that caused that with 3D capacitance extraction elements were
missing on conductor sidewalls at crossovers.
- Fix of bug that cellname and/or options for Xspace were not corrected set
in the menu from the commandline.
- Improvement of the annotate menu in Xdali/dali.
26 August 1998, version 4.5.1
-----------------------------
- Bug fix for drawing 3D vias in the right color.
- Fix of a bug that caused a "Bus error" with 3D mesh generation.
5 August 1998, version 4.5.0
----------------------------
- Fix of bug that caused the message: Xspace: sphash.c, 66: assertion failed
when Xspace was used for 3D capacitance extraction.
- Fix of bug that caused the message: space: update.c, 540: assertion failed
when the option -z was used.
15 July 1998
------------
- Release of helios version 1.3.4 which is fully suited for the hands-on
tutorial on http://cas.et.tudelft.nl/space/hands-on/hands-on.html
3 July 1998, version 4.4.4
--------------------------
- Bug fix for drawing finite element meshes with Xspace.
- Bug fix for option -z with Space (finite element mesh refinement) for
non-orthogonal layouts.
- Release of helios version 1.3.3: many improvements.
- Information for junction capacitance extraction, transistor bulk
connections extraction, 3D capacitance extraction and substrate
resistance extraction is now present in the default element definition
file for process scmos_n.
- Process c3tu is now part of the standard distribution.
27 April 1998, version 4.4.3
----------------------------
- Sls no longer truncates simulation output file names to 14 characters.
- Bug fix for csls/cspice when printing error messages.
- Bug fix for the interpolation method for substrate resistance extraction
- Space now prints a warning that sidewall effects are not included when
parameter 'use_multipoles' is not 'off'.
- Bug fix for the option -z with Space.
- Bug fix for extracting 3D capacitances for stacked contacts with Space.
- Release of helios version 1.0.0: several improvements.
10 February 1998, version 4.4.2
-------------------------------
- For xspice the possibility was created to define parameters, including
their value, for instances of devices.
- The maximum length of a node or instance name that is generated by
space can now be specified as a parameter.
- Fix of a bug that caused that internal nodes were not eliminated when
extracting non-linear junction capacitances in combination with
resistances.
- Fix of an integer overflow bug in the preprocessor makedela, which is
used with the interpolation method (option -b) for substrate resistance
extraction.
- With the interpolation method it is now prevented that - due to a poor
interpolation - negative substrate resistances are computed.
- Fix of a bug that occurred with the boundary-element method (option -B)
for substrate resistance extraction.
- Bug fix for drawing large coordinate values in Xspace.
26 January 1998, version 4.4.1
------------------------------
- Bug fix for cldm for off-lambda coordinates.
- Ccif does now round coordinates instead of truncating them.
- Improvement of warning about short-cut between positive supply and
negative supply.
- Fix of bug for option -l in combination with non-orthogonal layout.
It caused the message "latcap.c, 642: assertion failed".
- 3D capacitance extraction is now also possible for 45 degree layout.
- With 3D capacitance extraction, vias between wires that have a thickness
larger than zero are now also modeled.
- Improved modeling of the transition areas of conductors when their height
above the substrate changes.
- For space there is now no longer a limitation on the maximum number of
conductors as defined in the element definition file.
- When extracting 3D capacitances, in addition to capacitances between
diffusion and ground:
* 3D capacitances between two diffusion wires are now also discarded
* non-3D capacitances between two diffusion wires are now also included.
- It is now also possible to specify capacitances between wire edges that
coincide and that are on top of each other.
- Bug fix for memory usage with 3D capacitance extraction and 3D substrate
resistance extraction.
- xspf for retrieving Cadence Standard Parasitic Format (SPF) and
xspef for retrieving IEEE Standard Parasitic Exchange Format (SPEF)
have been added.
11 September 1997, version 4.3.4
--------------------------------
- The name of the environment variable TMP for specifying a list of
directories for storing temporary data (see previous release notes)
has been changed to SPACE_TMPDIR.
- Removed bug with space that caused unnecessary high memory usage during
3D capacitance extraction.
11 September 1997, version 4.3.3
--------------------------------
- The space pre-processors makegln and makemesh stored temporary data
on either /tmp or /usr/tmp. Using the environment variable TMP it
is now possible to specify an alternative list of directories,
separated by the character ':' (e.g. /tmp:/usr/tmp:/user/john/tmp)
from which the directory is chosen for storing temporary data.
- Space: fix of bug for option -l on Sun.
9 September 1997, version 4.3.2
-------------------------------
- Names of text structures in GDS II files that are too long can now
(besides truncating) be converted by cgi to other names (see option -c).
- Cgi now has an option -p for an alternative algorithm to convert GDS II
path structures to database format.
- Bug fix for storing non-orthogonal layouts in the database.
- The effect of the parameter term_is_netname has become dominant over
the effect of the parameter leaf_terminals.
- Labels now always become nodes during resistance extraction.
- Simeye: fix of bug that reported "He x2 < x1" during simulation.
- Space: fix of bug that caused "space: elim.c, 94: assertion failed".
7 August 1997, version 4.3.1
----------------------------
- Bug fix for truncating long label names (generated with the parameters
hier_labels and hier_terminals).
24 July 1997, version 4.3.0
---------------------------
- Hierarchical instances names are now generated for sub-circuits that
originate from more than one level deep in the layout hierarchy
(e.g. cpuA.mul1.addX, where 'cpuA', 'mul1' and 'addX' are the names
of separate layout instances) (see the Section "Back Annotation" in the
revised Space Users Manual).
- Net and node names may now be derived from labels and terminals in sub-cells.
(e.g. if a net is connected to a terminal 'in' of an instance
'cpuA.mul1.addX', the net may be called be called 'cpuA.mul1.addX.in').
(see the parameters hier_labels, hier_terminals and leaf_terminals in
the Section "Back Annotation" in the revised Space Users Manual).
- The name of the following parameters has been changed:
no_annotations -> no_labels
create_anno_node -> create_label_node
- With flat extraction, a cell is now also automatically re-expanded if a
(local) sub-cell is changed.
- Bug fixes for determining whether a cell should be re-expanded and/or
re-extracted with hierarchical extraction in combination with macro
usage and putdevmod usage.
- Bug fix for setting the x,y position of the substrate node.
- Fix of bug that caused the message "space: scan.c, 354: assertion failed".
- Added to xspice and xpstar an option -k for printing all circuits as
sub-circuits and omitting the title card.
- Xspice/xpstar: improvement of error messages for reading the xspicerc file.
- Xspice/xpstar: allow commas in spice model definitions in the xspicerc file.
- Several bug fixes for helios.
- Bug fix for dbclean: it does no longer corrupt the layout bounding box.
As a result, when space is interrupted during preprocessing, space will
no longer print messages about assertions failed when space is run later
on.
- For cig: fixed problems with AREF's.
- In sls command files and sls process files the character # may now also
be used as the start of comment.
18 April 1997, version 4.2.2
----------------------------
- Bug fix for the -t option with ccif.
- Bug fix for printing name arrays with xsls + improvements for xnle.
- Do no longer give a warning if terminals of sub-cells are unconnected.
- Bug fix for computing 3D substrate resistances in combination with
coupling capacitances.
- Improvement of warning message about duplicate label/terminal names.
8 April 1997
------------
- For the HP 700/800 distribution and the Sun Sparc SunOS 4.1 distribution:
added the beta-version of the Graphical User Interface 'helios' for space.
4 April 1997, version 4.2.1
---------------------------
- Bug fix for 3D capacitance mesh generation.
24 Mar 1997, version 4.2.0
--------------------------
- PC Linux version and Dec Alpha version available.
- Documents will now print correctly both on A4 (Europe, Japan) and letter
(U.S.) paper sizes.
- Sls (sls_exp) now also reads old binary files that had a maximum name size
of 14 characters.
- In the bmlist.gds file in the process directory it is now possible to
specify the maskname as a function of layer number and layer datatype
(see 'icdman bmlist').
- Bug fix for net name (label) specification in combination with resistance
extraction.
- Improvement for handling large coordinate values.
- Introduction of parameter term_is_netname to derive node names from a
terminal that is connected to the net (see Section 2.9 of the Space User's
Manual).
- An experimental program annospace to automatically back annotate net names
and instance names from a reference circuit to an extracted circuit.
Type 'annospace' without options for an explanation.
- Bug fix for 3D capacitance extraction and 3D substrate resistance extraction
(mesh generation went wrong in some occasions).
27 Feb 1997, version 4.1.2
--------------------------
- Maximum name length for MOS transistors was increased from 5 to 15.
- Improved memory usage for 3D capacitance or 3D substrate resistance
extraction on layouts that have large coordinate values.
- Increased maximum value for layout coordinates of non-orthogonal layouts.
- Cgi now gives an error message if internal coordinate values become
too large.
- Cgi now also rounds coordinates of non-orthogonal polygons to the grid
that is used by Space.
- Bug fix for using Xspace on databases that have more than 100 cells.
11 Feb 1997, version 4.1.0
--------------------------
- Bug fix for edge capacitances that are specified as a function of the
distance to neighbor wires.
- Bug fix for element recognition for the case where conductors are defined
using 'new masks' and where the original masks are not directly used in
the condition lists of the elements.
- Reduced memory usage (up to 30 %) for 3D capacitance extraction.
- New option -h with Space to print help information.
- Node name generation based on a point on the net, including the corresponding
mask at that point (see Section 2.9 of the Space User's Manual).
- Node name generation based on terminals/labels that are connected to a net
(see Section 2.9 of the Space User's Manual).
- Licensing is now based on the version of the program: new versions of the
program (not major revisions) can now be installed without installing a
new license file.
You can use version 4.1.0 while using the license file for version 4.0.0 !
21 Jan 1997
-----------
In the Space 3D Capacitance Extraction User Manual: Correction of the example
for the definition of eshapes in the space element definition file.
15 Jan 1997
-----------
Extension in tecc to allow general boolean expressions for condition lists.
Also new masks can now be any boolean expression of other masks.
This makes it easier to translate e.g. Dracula technology files to Space
technology files.
18 Dec. 1996
------------
Installation of Release 4.0.0:
Release Notes Space Version 4.0.0 (Winter 96/97)
================================================
General
-------
From now on, when a new project is created using mkpr, a project with
release number 301 will be created. In such a project, an extended
database format is used that has the following properties:
The maximum value for layout coordinates of non-orthogonal layouts has
been increased.
The maximum name length for cells, terminals and nets has been increased
from 14 to 32 characters.
If you want to use the old database format with release number 3 (e.g. to
be compatible with old tools) you have to create a project using mkpr
with the option -o.
Other new features:
Cell, terminal and net names may now contain all printable characters
except slashes.
Mkpr now has command line options to specify process name and lambda
value.
Rmpr now has options -f and -a to remove non-empty projects.
The program sls_mkdb was renamed to csls and the program putspice was
renamed to cspice.
The program simeye can now also read output of the pstar simulator
(from Philips) and the plato simulator (from Eindhoven University)
by clicking on the 'A' button besides the 'spice' button.
Sls now also recognizes $bin, $sbin and $tbin in the define command.
Maximum GDS layer number has been increased from 63 to 256.
Cgi now has an option -t to map GDS text structures to terminals/ports.
Cgi now has an option "-n ctable" to convert (cell/port) names to other
names.
The netlist can now be retrieved in (Compass) NLE format using xnle.
xedif now has an option -c for Cadence compatible output mode.
See also the new manual pages (type "icdman toolname") and new user manuals
(see the directory doc).
About Space
-----------
Substrate resistances can now be extracted using
1) An accurate numerical technique (option -B) or
2) A fast interpolation method (option -b).
The reduction of the detailed RC network to the final RC network can
now be done as a function of the maximum signal frequency (option -G).
Improved extraction of junction capacitances: the direction (polarity)
of the capacitances can now be specified.
Improved speed for (metal) resistance extraction.
More accurate extraction of lateral coupling capacitances: RC models
with lateral coupling capacitances are more accurately extracted and
the specification of edge capacitances can now be done as a function
of the lateral coupling capacitance.
Improved speed for 3D capacitance extraction (based on multipole
acceleration).
Possibility of using a finer element mesh at the edges of the conductors
during 3D capacitance extraction. This results in a higher accuracy
while using the same number of elements.
Several bug fixes for 3D capacitance extraction.
For bipolar junction transistors the basic types are now "ver" (vertical)
and "hor" (horizontal).
Bipolar transistors can now also be selected for highlighting.
Adjacent conductor layers having the same mask but different carrier types
are now no longer connected.
Introduction of two different heuristic methods for removing small
resistances: one using node elimination and one using node collocation
(the second method is used if the first method can not be used e.g.
because of the retainment of nodes with a high articulation degree).
Resistances are now no longer automatically removed when the max_par_res
parameter is set, but are removed when the no_neg_res parameter is set.
Parameters for 3D capacitances are now specified in the parameter file
using the prefix "cap3d.".
Dielectric information is now specified in the element definition file
instead of in the parameter file.
Color information for Xspace is now specified in the element definition
file instead of in the parameter file.
New options with Xspace that allow to display several of the new features
(e.g. substrate resistance extraction).
Bug fix for the connection between space and ghoti (OCEAN). The new space
produces a circuit in database format that is correctly read by ghoti.
End Release Notes Space Version 4.0.0
*************************************
29 Aug. 1996
------------
- Added possibility to specify parameter ocean_compatible to allow
to correctly run ghoti.
13 Aug. 1996
------------
- New expire date for sun version.
28 June 1996
------------
- User's manual Xdali and maskdata added.
- Correct manual page of impcell added.
2 April 1996
------------
- Bug fix for option -l (message: latcap.c, 457: assertion failed
occurred).
- Correct manual page of mkpr added.
20 Dec. 1995
------------
- Manual pages of maskdata(4), match_prim(4), dali_drc(4) and
proclist(4) added.
- Option -t with ccif added that creates a terminal rectangle
for each Magic-generated terminal label.
22 Nov. 1995
------------
- Bug fix for xspice when reading transistor parameters from the
xspicerc file.
13 Sep. 1995
------------
- New versions of xsls, xspice, xnle, xedif, xpstar (new !)
- Small improvements for space 3D user's manual.
4 Sep. 1995
-----------
- Bug fix for lateral coupling capacitance extraction.
- Bug fix for loss in accuracy with mixed resistance/capacitance
extraction.
- Prevention of large start-up time of Xspace when many (new) masks
are used.
