markdown/OR_docs/tools/src/pad/README.md

Chip-level Connections

The chip-level connections module in OpenROAD (pad) is based on the open-source tool ICeWall. In this utility, either place an IO ring around the boundary of the chip and connect with either wirebond pads or a bump array.

Commands

- Parameters in square brackets `[-param param]` are optional.
- Parameters without square brackets `-param2 param2` are required.

Place IO Terminals

In the case where the bond pads are integrated into the padcell, the IO terminals need to be placed. This command place terminals on the padring.

Example usage:

place_io_terminals u_*/PAD
place_io_terminals u_*/VDD

place_io_terminals
    -allow_non_top_layer
    inst_pins

Options

Switch Name	Description
-allow_non_top_layer	Allow the terminal to be placed below the top layer.
inst_pins	Instance pins to place the terminals on.

Defining a Bump Array

This command defines a bump array.

Example usage:

make_io_bump_array -bump BUMP -origin "200 200" -rows 14 -columns 14 -pitch "200 200"

make_io_bump_array 
    -bump master
    -origin {x y}
    -rows rows
    -columns columns
    -pitch {x y}
    [-prefix prefix]

Options

Switch Name	Description
-bump	Name of the bump master.
-origin	Origin of the array.
-rows	Number of rows to create.
-columns	Number of columns to create.
-pitch	Pitch of the array.
-prefix	Name prefix for the bump array. The default value is BUMP_.

Remove Entire Bump Array

This command removes the entire bump array.

Example usage:

remove_io_bump_array -bump BUMP

remove_io_bump_array 
    -bump master

Options

Switch Name	Description
-bump	Name of the bump master.

Remove a single Bump Instance

This command removes a single bump instance.

remove_io_bump 
    instance_name

Options

Switch Name	Description
instance_name	Name of the bump.

Assign a net to IO Bump

This command assigns a net to a bump instance.

Example usage:

assign_io_bump -net p_ddr_addr_9_o BUMP_6_0
assign_io_bump -net p_ddr_addr_8_o BUMP_6_2
assign_io_bump -net DVSS BUMP_6_4
assign_io_bump -net DVDD BUMP_7_3
assign_io_bump -net DVDD -terminal u_dvdd/DVDD BUMP_8_3
assign_io_bump -net p_ddr_addr_7_o BUMP_7_1
assign_io_bump -net p_ddr_addr_6_o BUMP_7_0

assign_io_bump 
    -net net
    [-terminal iterm]
    [-dont_route]
    instance

Options

Switch Name	Description
-net	Net to connect to.
-terminal	Instance terminal to route to.
-dont_route	Flag to indicate that this bump should not be routed, only perform assignment.
instance	Name of the bump.

Make IO Sites

This command defines an IO site for the pads to be placed into.

Example usage:

make_io_sites -horizontal_site IOSITE_H -vertical_site IOSITE_V -corner_site IOSITE_C -offset 35
make_io_sites -horizontal_site IOSITE_H -vertical_site IOSITE_V -corner_site IOSITE_C -offset 35 -rotation_horizontal R180

make_io_sites 
    -horizontal_site site
    -vertical_site site
    -corner_site site
    -offset offset
    [-rotation_horizontal rotation]
    [-rotation_vertical rotation]
    [-rotation_corner rotation]
    [-ring_index index]

Options

Switch Name	Description
-horizontal_site	Name of the site for the horizontal pads (east and west).
-vertical_site	Name of the site for the vertical pads (north and south).
-corner_site	Name of the site for the corner cells.
-offset	Offset from the die edge to place the rows.
-rotation_horizontal	Rotation to apply to the horizontal sites to ensure pads are placed correctly. The default value is R0.
-rotation_vertical	Rotation to apply to the vertical sites to ensure pads are placed correctly. The default value is R0.
-rotation_corner	Rotation to apply to the corner sites to ensure pads are placed correctly. The default value is R0.
-ring_index	Used to specify the index of the ring in case of multiple rings.

Remove IO Rows

When the padring is complete, the following command can remove the IO rows to avoid causing confusion with the other tools.

remove_io_rows

Placing Corner Cells

This command places the corner cells.

place_corners 
    master
    [-ring_index index]

Options

Switch Name	Description
master	Name of the master for the corners.
-ring_index	Used to specify the index of the ring in case of multiple rings.

Example usage:

place_corners sky130_fd_io__corner_bus_overlay

Placing Pads

To place a pad into the pad ring.

Example usage:

place_pad -row IO_SOUTH -location 280.0 {u_clk.u_in}
place_pad -row IO_SOUTH -location 360.0 -mirror {u_reset.u_in}
place_pad -master sky130_fd_io__top_ground_hvc_wpad -row IO_SOUTH -location 439.5 {u_vzz_0}
place_pad -master sky130_fd_io__top_power_hvc_wpad -row IO_SOUTH -location 517.5 {u_v18_0}

place_pad 
    -row row_name
    -location offset
    -mirror
    [-master master]
    name

Options

Switch Name	Description
-row	Name of the row to place the pad into, examples include: IO_NORTH, IO_SOUTH, IO_WEST, IO_EAST, IO_NORTH_0, IO_NORTH_1.
-location	Offset from the bottom left chip edge to place the pad at.
-mirror	Specifies if the pad should be mirrored.
-master	Name of the instance master if the instance needs to be created.
name	Name of the instance.

Placing IO Filler Cells

To place the IO filler cells.

Example usage:

place_io_fill -row IO_NORTH s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_10um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_5um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_1um
place_io_fill -row IO_SOUTH s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_10um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_5um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_1um
place_io_fill -row IO_WEST s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_10um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_5um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_1um
place_io_fill -row IO_EAST s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_10um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_5um s8iom0s8_com_bus_slice_1um

place_io_fill 
    -row row_name
    [-permit_overlaps masters]
    masters

Options

Switch Name	Description
-row	Name of the row to place the pad into, examples include: IO_NORTH, IO_SOUTH, IO_WEST, IO_EAST, IO_NORTH_0, IO_NORTH_1.
-permit_overlaps	Names of the masters for the IO filler cells that allow for overlapping.
masters	Names of the masters for the IO filler cells.

Connecting Ring Signals

Once the ring is complete, use the following command to connect the ring signals.

connect_by_abutment

Place Wirebond Pads

To place the wirebond pads over the IO cells.

Example usage:

place_bondpad -bond PAD IO_*

place_bondpad 
    -bond master
    [-offset {x y}]
    [-rotation rotation]
    io_instances

Options

Switch Name	Description
-bond	Name of the bondpad master.
-offset	Offset to place the bondpad at with respect to the io instance.
-rotation	Rotation of the bondpad.
io_instances	Names of the instances to add bond pads to.

Make False IO Site

If the library does not contain sites for the IO cells, the following command can be used to add them. This should not be used unless the sites are not in the library.

Example usage:

make_fake_io_site -name IO_HSITE -width 1 -height 204
make_fake_io_site -name IO_VSITE -width 1 -height 200
make_fake_io_site -name IO_CSITE -width 200 -height 204

make_fake_io_site 
    -name name
    -width width
    -height height

Options

Switch Name	Description
-name	Name of the site.
-width	Width of the site (in microns).
-height	Height of the site (in microns).

Redistribution Layer Routing

To route the Redistribution Layer (RDL) for the bump arrays.

rdl_route 
    -layer layer
    [-bump_via access_via]
    [-pad_via access_via]
    [-width width]
    [-spacing spacing]
    [-turn_penalty penalty]
    [-allow45]
    nets

Options

Switch Name	Description
-layer	Layer to route on.
-bump_via	Via to use to to connect the bump to the routing layer.
-pad_via	Via to use to to connect the pad cell to the routing layer.
-width	Width of the routing. Defaults to minimum width for each respective layer.
-spacing	Spacing of the routing. Defaults to minimum spacing for each respective layer.
-turn_penalty	Scaling factor to apply to discurage turning to allow for straighter routes. The default value is 2.0, and the allowed values are floats.
-allow45	Specifies that 45 degree routing is permitted.
nets	Nets to route.

Useful Developer Commands

If you are a developer, you might find these useful. More details can be found in the source file or the swig file.

Command Name	Description
find_site	Find site given site name.
find_master	Find master given master name.
find_instance	Find instance given instance name.
find_net	Find net given net name.
assert_required	Assert argument that is required for cmd
connect_iterm	Connect instance terminals. Required inputs are: inst_name, iterm_name, net_name.
convert_tcl	These functions read from $ICeWall::library parameters to generate a standalone Tcl script.

Example Scripts

Example scripts for running ICeWall functions can be found in ./test.

./test/assign_bumps.tcl
./test/bump_array_make.tcl
./test/bump_array_remove.tcl
./test/bump_array_remove_single.tcl
./test/connect_by_abutment.tcl
./test/make_io_sites.tcl
./test/place_bondpad.tcl
./test/place_bondpad_stagger.tcl
./test/place_pad.tcl
./test/rdl_route.tcl
./test/rdl_route_45.tcl
./test/rdl_route_assignments.tcl

Regression Tests

There are a set of regression tests in ./test. For more information, refer to this section.

Simply run the following script:

./test/regression

Limitations

FAQs

Check out GitHub discussion about this tool.

License

BSD 3-Clause License. See LICENSE file.