Trace Analysis Action

 

Introduction

Trace Analysis is a new Analysis Action. This test measures the length of individual traces for each line width, and reports the longest and shortest trace that occurs in each line width. The test analyzes all lines in the layer whose line width falls between 0 to the value of the max_line_width ERF variable.

 

 

What is a trace?

 

A trace is a set of lines or set of arc features. A trace must begin from a pad. It can end in one of four ways:

1. Enters another Pad.

2. Stub line (this stub line will be taken into consideration when calculating the trace's length).

3. Enters a Surface or drawn area.

4. Connects with another line / arc of the same dimensions, with another line of a different width, or with a different symbol.

The length of a trace is measured by the length of the skeleton of the line containing the trace, from the beginning of the trace until its end.

 

Notes

Shaved lines and shaved arcs will not be considered as part of a trace.

Lines / Arcs which are drawn with special symbols will not be considered as part of a trace.

Lines with the following attributes will be ignored: .pattern_fill, .sliver_fill, .tear_drop.

If the pad is fully embedded in the line, it will not break the trace.

If there are features near the lines being analyzed that have the attributes .sliver_fill or .tear_drop,
these neighboring features will be ignored.

 

Filtering Traces

 

Any filters that may be applied to this check (apply to selected features, run inside window, or usage of mask mechanism)
 will be applied to the pads that begin the trace. For example, if running in inside window mode, any trace that begins with a

pad that is inside the window will be reported, even though some of its parts are outside the window.

 

Reports

 

The action will report, for each line width, the longest trace and the shortest trace that was measured.

The action will generate for output…

- two separate categories for each line width tested

- a table that summaries all measurements.

 

Summary Report

 

A table which summaries all measurements made. A sample table is given below.

 

 

Attributes

 

Each attribute displays the minimum or maximum trace_length for each line width.

The attribute name is composed of the symbol name followed by phrase shortest_trace_len or longest_trace_len.

Example

f03_r3.940_shortest_trace_len = 0.416

f03_r3.940_longest_trace_len = 0.443

f03_r4.920_shortest_trace_len = 0.007

f03_r4.920_longest_trace_len = 10.846

f03_r5.910_shortest_trace_len = 1.517

f03_r5.910_longest_trace_len = 1.5246

 

Categories

 

For each line width, two dynamic categories will be created - one for the longest trace that was measured and one for the shortest trace. Each category will contain the shapes that form the measured trace. The category name will be in the format:

<Shortest/Longest/Single_Trace>_<line symbol name>_<Layer's Name>_<length in inch/mm>_<inch/mm>.

To see the complete trace, select the desired category and select Show All. You can also search through the shapes that form the trace. The elements <line symbol name> and <Layer's Name> in the category name will be defined according to the units that were used when the action was activated.

In cases where only one trace was measured for a given line width, the category name will begin with Single.