This document provides a tutorial on using a Java GUI translator to translate Cadence pCell files to HFSS macro files. It describes operating the Java GUI, setting environment variables, and the different operate modes of fully automated translation from SKILL source or translating *.vbs files and loading them manually into HFSS after modifications. It then provides detailed steps for modifying the *.vbs output files, including adding project variables, metal/IMD definitions, boolean operations, and auto-identifying lumped ports.

1. Tao-Yi Lee
Advisor: Dr. Yu-Jiu Wang
Institute of Electronics, RFVLSI Lab
National Chiao -Tung University
pCell to HFSS Macro
Translator Tutorial

2. Operating Java GUI for Translator
• Download latest Jave runtime environment (JRE)
• For debugging, open a Java console
– Use the console in integrated design env. (e.g.
Netbeans, Eclipse)
– Use Windows “cmd” and type (PATH variable may need
to be set before use)
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X:> java –jar skill_to_hfss.jar

3. Setting an Environment Variable
• Right click on My Computer, click “properties”
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4. Console View
• Use the information in it for debugging (e.g. when
program crashes)
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5. Operate Modes
• Translate *.vbs and load manually after some
modifications
• Fully automated HFSS 3D modeling from SKILL
source only
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6. Translate *.vbs and Load Manually After
Some Modifications
• Get all the input files ready and hit “generate macro” to
translate *.il file
• Text edit the output vbs
– Prepend custom variables
– Prepend IMD/substrate variables (thickness, Z-position,
permittivity, etc.)
– Prepend metallization variables (thickness, Z-position, bulk
conductivity, etc.)
– Append Boolean operations (unite, subtract)
– Append lumped port definitions
• Setup an *.hfss project, containing frequency analysis, and
parameterized boundary conditions
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7. Translate *.vbs and Load Manually After
Some Modifications
• Use regular expression processor in MATLAB to substitute
parameters in vbs
• Modeling phase:
– Use vbs template from ANTLR to generate actual vbs’ for specific
parameters
– Use MATLAB HFSS API to load vbs’
• Simulating phase:
– Equally (or Weighted) distribute HFSS projects (*.hfss) into
different folders, depending on how many computers you have
– Call HFSS command to start remote simulations in parallel
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hfss.exe -ng -Batchsolve -Remote -machinelist
list="em0.rfvlsi.ee.nctu.edu.tw" <design_name> <filename>

8. Translate *.vbs and Load Manually After
Some Modifications
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ProjectVariables
Metallization Parameters
Dielectric Parameters
Boolean Operations
“AutoIdentifyPorts” Operations
GUI Translator
(ANTLR)
SKILL Source
Code
Vbs raw macro
for HFSS
Parameterized
vbs template for
HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSS
vbs macro
for HFSSText Substitution
HFSS API call
HFSS Setup Project
Frequency Sweep
Analysis Setup
Parameterized
Boundary Condition

9. Detailed *.vbs Modifications Procedure
• A typical *.vbs script needs to have the following
operations sequentially
– Header and Project Initialization
– Custom variables
– Metal/IMD definitions
– Vias/box creation functions
– SKILL translated functions
– Top-level function call
– Boolean operations
– Lumped port auto-identification
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10. Step 1: Header and Project Initialization
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Dim oAnsoftApp
Dim oDesktop
Dim oProject
Dim oDesign
Dim oEditor
Dim oModule
Set oAnsoftApp = CreateObject("AnsoftHfss.HfssScriptInterface")
Set oDesktop = oAnsoftApp.GetAppDesktop()
oDesktop.RestoreWindow
oDesktop.OpenProject
"F:DropboxANTLRHFSS_APIexamplesT65_SYM_CT_ANTLRnominal.hfss"
Set oProject = oDesktop.GetActiveProject
oProject.SaveAs "G:HFSS_SIMULATIONST65_SYM_CTHFSS_FILENAME.hfss",
true
Set oDesign = oProject.SetActiveDesign("BEOL_6X1Z1U")
Set oEditor = oDesign.SetActiveEditor("3D Modeler")
Set oProject = oDesktop.GetActiveProject

11. Step 2: Custom Variables
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oProject.ChangeProperty Array("NAME:AllTabs",
Array("NAME:ProjectVariableTab", Array("NAME:PropServers", _
"ProjectVariables"), Array("NAME:ChangedProps",
Array("NAME:$M9_W", "Value:=", "W_VALum")))) ‘ capitalized
letters are for text substitution in MATLAB
oProject.ChangeProperty Array("NAME:AllTabs",
Array("NAME:ProjectVariableTab", Array("NAME:PropServers", _
"ProjectVariables"), Array("NAME:ChangedProps",
Array("NAME:$M9_S", "Value:=", "S_VALum")))) ‘ capitalized
letters are for text substitution in MATLAB
oProject.ChangeProperty Array("NAME:AllTabs",
Array("NAME:ProjectVariableTab", Array("NAME:PropServers", _
"ProjectVariables"), Array("NAME:ChangedProps",
Array("NAME:$OD", "Value:=", "OD_VALum")))) ‘ capitalized
letters are for text substitution in MATLAB

12. Step 3: Metal/IMD Definitions
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Set oEditor = oDesign.SetActiveEditor("3D Modeler")
Function MetalHeight(iLayer)
Select Case iLayer
Case -2 'PO
MetalHeight=-2.0
Case -1 'OD
MetalHeight=-1.0 ‘ use hard-wired definitions
Case 0 'M1
MetalHeight="$M1_Z“ ‘ use variable definitions
Case 1 'M2
MetalHeight="$M2_Z“ ‘ use variable definitions
…
Case 8 'M9
MetalHeight="$M9_Z“ ‘ use variable definitions
Case Else 'AP
MetalHeight="$M10_Z“ ‘ use variable definitions
End Select
End Function

13. Step 4: SKILL translated functions
• Substitute sqrt() into Sqr()
• Substitute evenp() into a Mod 2 <> 0
• Substitute oddp() into a Mod 2 = 0
• Minor modifications may be needed when scripting
error pops up in HFSS, find your own solutions and
take notes
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14. Step 5: Boolean Operations
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A = oEditor.GetMatchedObjectName("Metal9*") ‘ unite all Metal9*
oEditor.Unite Array("NAME:Selections", "Selections:=", Join(A,",")),
Array("NAME:UniteParameters", "KeepOriginals:=", _
false)
A = oEditor.GetMatchedObjectName("Metal8*") ‘ unite all Metal8*
oEditor.Unite Array("NAME:Selections", "Selections:=", Join(A,",")),
Array("NAME:UniteParameters", "KeepOriginals:=", _
false)
A = oEditor.GetMatchedObjectName("Via8*") ‘ unite all Via8*
oEditor.Unite Array("NAME:Selections", "Selections:=", Join(A,",")),
Array("NAME:UniteParameters", "KeepOriginals:=", _
false)

15. Step 6: Boolean Operations
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A = oEditor.GetMatchedObjectName("Metal9*")
oEditor.Subtract Array("NAME:Selections", "Blank Parts:=", "IMD_9aEQ", "Tool
Parts:=", Join(A,",")), Array("NAME:SubtractParameters", "KeepOriginals:=",
true) ‘subtract IMD_9aEQ from Metal 9
oEditor.Subtract Array("NAME:Selections", "Blank Parts:=", "IMD_9bEQ", "Tool
Parts:=", Join(A,",")), Array("NAME:SubtractParameters", "KeepOriginals:=",
true) ‘subtract IMD_9bEQ from Metal 9
oEditor.Subtract Array("NAME:Selections", "Blank Parts:=", "IMD_9cEQ", "Tool
Parts:=", Join(A,",")), Array("NAME:SubtractParameters", "KeepOriginals:=",
true) ‘subtract IMD_9cEQ from Metal 9

16. Step 7: Lumped Port Auto-identification
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Set oModule = oDesign.GetModule("BoundarySetup")
oModule.AutoIdentifyPorts Array("NAME:Faces", 26981,
26993, 27005), false, Array("NAME:ReferenceConductors",
"M1"), "1", true ‘Indentify conductors on face 26981,
26993 and 27005. Reference conductor (GND) set to
metal 1. Get the numbers from your “HFSS nominal setup
project.” Open a face property window from ”Modeler”
tab.
oProject.Save ‘save project to HDD