Connectivity Checker

Sonnet has a tool, the Connectivity Checker, available in the project viewer which allows you to visually check for opens or shorts in your circuit. You may invoke the tool directly from the Sonnet Cadence Virtuoso Interface window. This tool is especially useful after translating to make sure that the metal placement has not created any opens or shorts.

Select Tools - Check Connectivity from the main menu of the Sonnet Cadence Virtuoso Interface window.

Sonnet’s session window appears on your display with a project editor tab displayed with the Connectivity Checker on.

If Level 3 is not already displayed, select “3” from the Level drop list in the Levels tool bar.

Since most of the circuit is on Sonnet metal level 3, you need to view that level. If the Level drop list is not visible, you may need to click on the >> button in the tool bar or resize the window.

Click on any metal in the circuit.

The polygon you select is highlighted in red, as well as any metal it is electrically connected to. In our case, all of the metal in the circuit should be highlighted. If some part of the circuit was not highlighted this would indicate there was an open.

Press the Escape key to exit the Connectivity Checker.

The view in the project editor tab is updated to show the 2D view.

Select File - Exit from the main menu of the project editor tab.

The Sonnet session window is closed.

Now that setup is complete and you have checked your translated circuit, you are ready to run the simulation.