How to Create a Planar Metal Type

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When you create a metal type in your project, you can use your own custom metal by manually entering the loss parameters or you can use a metal type from the metal library. To define a new planar metal type by manually entering the loss parameters, do the following:

    1.  Select Circuit - Settings from the project editor main menu or click on the Settings icon in the tool bar. .

The Circuit Settings dialog box appears.

    1.  Click on "Metal/Bricks" in the side bar menu of the Circuit Settings dialog box.  

    1.  If it is not already displayed, click on the Planar Metals tab in the Metals/Bricks page.

    1.  Click on the Add Planar button at the top of the tab.

The Metal Editor dialog box appears on your display.

This dialog box is also opened when you click on the New or Edit button in the Technology Layer Editor when editing a Metal Technology Layer.  

A default name appears in the Name text entry box. If you wish to change the name, edit the Name text entry box.

    1.  If you do not want to use the default cell fill pattern provided, click on the up or down arrow in the pattern list until you find a cell fill pattern you wish to use for this metal.
    2.  Select the type of planar metal model you wish to add from the Model drop list.

The input fields for the metal properties are updated to reflect the Model you select. When you select a model type, the appearance of the dialog box is updated with the input parameters for that model type.

    1.  If you are using the Normal, Thick Metal or Rough Metal loss model, then select which parameter you wish to use to define loss from the Specify Using drop list: Conductivity, Resistivity or Sheet Resistance at DC.

The dialog box is updated to display a text entry box for whichever parameter you choose.

    1.  Enter the parameters for the metal in the appropriate text entry boxes.

For more details about how the parameters are used, see Planar Metal Editor dialog box.

    1.  When you have completed defining the metal, click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

This metal now appears in the metal list in the Planar metals tab. The entry is displayed with "unused" on top of the pattern since this metal type is presently not assigned to any metal in your circuit. You may also select this metal as your Default metal for new planar.

    1.  Click on the OK button in the Circuit Settings dialog box.

This metal type is now available to apply to polygons and the top and bottom metal of the Sonnet box.