The Signal Layer action is a read-only action intended to find potential manufacturability defects in signal and mixed layers, and generate statistics. The action can operate on any layer, but is mainly intended for signal layers. It uses the layer itself and any NC (drill or rout) layer that pierces it. Categories, reports and attributes are generated.
The following tests can be applied to signal layers, as listed in the Action Screen and below:
1. Spacing - reports
spacing violations between pads, circuits and nets, and between text to text.
Also reports shorts and spacing between different CAD nets and close distances
between non-touching features on same CAD or Layer nets.
2. Drill - reports distance
violations between NPTHs/PTHs/Vias to pads, circuits, annular rings, and
copper. Also reports missing pads.
3. Rout - reports distance
violations between edge of rout features to pads, circuits, etc.
4. Size - reports sizes of
pads, shaved lines, text, line neckdowns, arcs and shaved arcs.
5. Sliver - reports on
slivers between lines and pads or between pads and pads.
6. Stubs - reports
unconnected line endpoints.
7. Center - not implemented
at present.
8. SMD - lists SMD pads,
reports on pitch of SMD pads, and identifies SMD packages.
9. Bottleneck - reports
thin copper surfaces.
A summary of Feature and Component attributes used during the Signal Layer Checks is shown below.
Attribute Name |
Description |
.nomenclature |
This attribute defines a feature as a nomenclature legend feature. The attribute affects the fabrication analysis by directing spacing checks between such features into a new category (Text to text). |
.pad_usage |
The .pad_usage attribute can be attached to a feature and can one of five values: * toeprint * via * g_fiducial * l_fiducial * tooling_hole |
.smd |
This attribute should be attached to outer layer pads which are lands for SMD components. It is set by the 'Set SMD Attribute' Cleanup Action. |
.drill |
This attribute is attached to hole features in drill layers. It defines the type of the drill and is used extensively during fabrication analysis. |
.pattern_fill |
This attribute is attached to features which are added during a pattern fill operation, either manually or through the Copper Balance DFM action. *
If a line / arc has this attribute attached, then it will not be
reported in the line histogram display. |
Attribute Name |
Description |
.toep_spacing_req |
This attribute is specifically attached to components for reporting in the Toeprint to Toeprint category. It defines the maximum spacing within which to report pad to pad spacing measurements Range: 1-500 Units: inch/mm |
In addition to a textual listing of all the categories and histograms (for all layers), the following special reports are created:
This report lists the total length, in which spacing runs parallel between lines, for every spacing width in the design (in user definable width increments). This report is very useful in planning and forecasting yields.
Parallel Spacing Summary |
||
# |
Spacing (ml) |
Total Length () |
1 |
6.0 - 6.2 |
16.732 |
2 |
8.4 - 8.6 |
55.740 |
3 |
10.0 - 10.2 |
10.622 |
4 |
13.4 - 13.6 |
12.194 |
This report lists the total length of all lines of the same width for every line width in the design (in user definable width increments).
Line Length Summary |
||
# |
Line width (ml) |
Total Length () |
1 |
8.0 - 8.2 |
27.367 |
2 |
8.8 - 9.0 |
7.067 |
3 |
9.8 - 10.0 |
0.068 |
4 |
10.0 - 10.2 |
6.456 |
5 |
11.8 - 12.0 |
0.058 |
6 |
12.0 - 12.2 |
8.174 |
Attribute |
Description |
...typ_par_space |
Typical parallel spacing value over all parallel spacing measurements |
...min_p2p |
Minimum spacing between any two pads that belong to different nets |
...typ_p2p |
Typical pad to pad spacing |
...min_p2c |
Minimum spacing between any different net pad and conductor |
...typ_p2c |
Typical spacing between any different net pad and conductor |
...min_c2c |
Minimum spacing between any different net conductors |
...typ_c2c |
Typical spacing between any different net conductors |
...min_self_spacing |
Minimal spacing between two non-touching same net features (minimum sliver width) |
...typ_self_spacing |
Typical spacing between two non-touching same net features |
...min_text2text |
Minimum spacing between any two text features |
...typ_text2text |
Typical spacing between any two text features |
...dra_npth2p |
The DRA of the NPTH to Pad category |
...min_npth2p |
Minimum distance from an NPTH to a pad that does not touch it |
...typ_npth2p |
Typical distance from an NPTH to a pad that does not touch it |
...dra_npth2c |
The DRA for the NPTH to Pad category |
...min_npth2c |
Minimum distance from an NPTH to a non pad that does not touch it |
...typ_npth2c |
Typical distance from an NPTH to a non pad that does not touch it |
...dra_pth2c |
The DRA for the PTH to Copper category |
...min_pth2c |
Minimal measurement in the PTH to Copper category |
...typ_pth2c |
Typical measurement in the PTH to Copper category |
...dra_via2c |
The DRA for the Via to Copper category |
...min_via2c |
Minimal measurement in the Via to Copper category |
...typ_via2c |
Typical measurement in the Via to Copper category |
...dra_ar |
DRA for annular ring |
...min_ar |
Minimal annular ring measurement |
...typ_ar |
Typical annular ring measurement |
...dra_pth_ar |
The DRA for PTH annular ring |
...min_pth_ar |
Minimal PTH annular ring measurement value |
...typ_pth_ar |
Typical PTH annular ring measurement value |
...dra_via_ar |
DRA for via annular ring |
...min_via_ar |
Minimal via annular ring measurement value |
...typ_via_ar |
Typical via annular ring measurement value |
...min_reg |
Minimal PTH Registration measurement value |
...typ_reg |
Typical PTH Registration measurement value |
...dra_npth_ar |
DRA for NPTH annular ring |
...min_npth_ar |
Minimal NPTH annular ring measurement value |
...typ_npth_ar |
Typical NPTH annular ring measurement value |
...min_npth_reg |
Minimal NPTH Registration measurement value |
...typ_npth_reg |
Typical NPTH Registration measurement value |
...min_r2c |
Minimal Rout to Copper distance |
...typ_r2c |
Typical Rout to Copper distance |
...min_pad |
Minimal pad diameter |
...typ_pad |
Typical pad diameter |
...min_line |
Minimal line width |
...typ_line |
Typical line width |
...min_shaved_line |
Minimal (original) width of a shaved line |
...typ_shaved_line |
Typical (original) width of a shaved line |
...min_sliver |
Minimal sliver width |
...typ_sliver |
Typical sliver width |
...num_stub |
Number of stubs alarms |
...typ_stub |
Typical stub width |
...min_smd_pad |
Minimal SMD pad size |
...typ_smd_pad |
Typical SMD pad size |
...min_smd_pitch |
Minimal SMD pitch (distance between adjacent pad centers) |
...typ_smd_pitch |
Typical SMD pitch |
...min_smd_package |
Small dimension of the smallest SMD package |
...typ_smd_package |
Typical small dimension of the SMD packages |
...min_conductor_width |
Minimum value of all conductor width measurements |
...typ_conductor_width |
Typical value of conductor width measurements |
...min_arc |
Minimal width of arcs |
...typ_arc |
Typical width of arcs |
...min_shaved_arc |
Minimal (original) width of shaved arcs |
...typ_shaved_arc |
Typical (original) width of shaved arcs |
...num_miss_via |
Number of Missing Pad for PTH alarms |
...num_miss_pth |
Number of Missing Pad for Via alarms |
...dra |
Overall DRA of a board is the minimum of all DRAs for categories for which a DRA is defined: dra_npth2p, dra_npth2c, dra_pth2c, dra_via2c, dra_ar, dra_pth_ar, dra_via_ar |
...num_npthtc |
Number if all the cases of NPTH touches Copper alarms. |