Navigation and analytical data correlation

Finding your way around the device is key to performing a successful analysis. NEXS Software Suite provides a complete and efficient logical-physical cross mapping solution for standard cell designs. The patented NEXS LEF/DEF cross-mapping provides a flexible link between DCG Systems design analysis, emission and circuit edit tools and a variety of EDA software tools.

NEXS Software Suite provides quick and efficient navigation for DCG Systems analytical probers and focused ion-beam systems by directly reading and cross-mapping the physical and logical design data for standard cell devices. NEXS Software Suite saves a significant amount of time and effort in making both logical and physical design data immediately and readily available to the device analyst. The NEXS framework is capable of linking DCG Systems analytical tools to both DCG Systems and non-DCG Systems NEXS-compatible physical layout and schematic viewers.

Features

• Directly reads and displays multi-gigabyte GDS2 files to display large CAD designs
• Directly reads netlist in order to provide schematics on-the-fly
• Patented cross-mapping between logical and physical domains using LEF/DEF data to directly drive system stage (US Patent 7,243,039)
• SiGPS associates cell, pin and net names with correct CAD X-Y coordinates
• Highlights SiGPS results in NEXS Layout Tool to allow easy visualization of logical data on the physical layout
• Superimpose emission data and CAD layout to navigate back to schematic
• Operating Systems supported: Solaris 2.8, Linux RedHat Enterprise 3.0 32/64-bit, SUSE Linux 32/64-bit

NEXS Layout Tool

The NEXS Layout Tool incorporates a direct GDS2 reader. The GDS2 reader scans the GDS2 file for design specifics that the user would normally need to provide manually, such as top cell name, scale, and mask layers. Once the GDS2 data is scanned and mapped, subsequent loading and viewing of the data is very fast. This makes the physical navigation data immediately available to the analyst.

The GDS reader can load and scan files up to 18GB and beyond. NEXS Schematic Viewer: Netlist to Schematic On-the-Fly NEXS Schematic tool reads raw ASCII Verilog and Spice netlist files and converts them into a hierarchical schematic display. With the logic cone window, it is possible to trace a path from the selected element through the entire circuit.

Elements may be displayed down to the transistor level. A drag-and-drop interface allows cells, pins and nets to be cross-mapped between the schematic and physical layout. The selected elements are sent to the SiGPS database and the resulting output is immediately highlighted in the NEXS Layout Tool.

Emission data from the Meridian or TriVision may be loaded into the NEXS layout tool and superimposed under the CAD layout.

NEXS Schematic

The NEXS Schematic Tool reads SPICE, Verilog or EDIF netlist files and displays them in the form of a schematic. When used with SiGPS, a drag-and-drop interface allows elements from Schematic Tool to be easily highlighted in the Layout Tool.

In addition to NEXS Schematic, other third-party schematic tools may be used to drive DCG Systems stages.

NEXS Silicon GPS (SiGPS)

When logical-to-physical or physical-to-logical cross mapping is needed, NEXS Layout Tool can incorporate the optional NEXS SiGPS, which reads hierarchical LEF and DEF files that were used in the place-and-route of the physical layout. The SiGPS database is customized for device analysts by using a combination of the GDS2 source files, the original device netlists and design place-and-route data.

Highlight logical cells, pins and nets in the NEXS Layout tool using SiGPS. When used with emission tools, a SiGPS query will quickly associate a logical name and schematic correlation with photon emission locations.

Additional Options...

• Mentor Calibre® LVS data reader for custom/non-standard blocks
• Database readers allows existing Magma Design Automation's Knights MerlinTM or CamelotTM databases to be read and displayed by NEXS Layout Tool
• Link Synopsys TetraMAX to NEXS Layout
• Link Novas Debussy to NEXS Layout