Schematic
Entry with Composer
At this point, you should
have setup files in your working directory for runnung CADENCE with NCSU
CDK.
Otherwise, refer to
Setting up Unix Envrionment. We will build the lowest level library
cell, Inverter for example.
Design entry through schematic capture:
To start CADENCE, type icfb& in the command and you
should get a window with CIW(Command Interface Window) as
Figure 1.

Figure 1. CIW
We will use the NCSU CDK which automatically starts the library manager
and you should see NCSU* libraries and cdsDefTechLib similar to Figure 2.

Figure 2. Library Manager
Creating a new library:
1. Select File --> New --> Library in Library manager.
2. Enter a library name and choose Compile tech library
option exactly according to Figure 3.
Figure 3. Creating a library
3. Click OK. Now, your library manager should show new library, EE525
in this particular case as in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Library manager with EE525 library
Creating a new schematic:
1. Select File --> New --> Cell view
in library manager and choose library under which you would
like to create the new cell view.
2. Enter a cell view name and choose Composer-Schematic
as the tool . View name should be schematic exactly according
to Figure 5.

Figure 5. Creating a new cell view
3. Click OK. A blank composer-schematic window should open.
Placing instances on schematic:
To draw the inverter, you need to add PMOS, NMOS transistor, GND, power
supply, pins for input and output, and wire it together.
To add components to your schematic,
1. From Composer-Schematic menu, select Add -->
Instance This brings out Add instance form with
Component browser which is for NCSU CDK like in Figure 6.


Figure 6. Browsing for components and Adding an instance
2. To select transistors, click on N_Transistors for the nmos
and P_Transistors for the pmos4. You should have Add instance window
like in Figure 7.

Figure 7. Getting nmos and pmos4 device
3. Repeat step 2 to get vdd and gnd with click on Supply_Nets in component
browser. The components in Supply_Nets are actually global signals. The pins
for global
signals are automatically given. If you make a mistake
and need to get out of add instance mode, just press the Esc key.
So far, you should have schematic as Figure 8.

Figure 8. Creating CMOS inverter
Connecting wires with pins:
After the instances are created and placed, you can connect them by
wires to form the inverter. To add wires,
1. From Composer-Schematic menu, select Add -->
Wire (narrow)
2. Click left mouse button on the starting point, and click left mouse
button on as many transition points as you want. Then if you want to end
wire, just double click.
After wiring, you need to create pins for input and output nodes. In
order to do this,
3. From Composer-Schematic menu, select Add -->
Pin... An Add Pin form appears.
4. Type in "A Y" as pin names, and make sure the Direction
is "input" as shown Figure 9.

Figure 9. Add Pins
5. Move cursor to schematic window. Then, click left mouse button to place
pin "A".
6. Move cursor back to Add Pin form, change "Direction
" to "output". Then, repeat step 5.
7. Final schematic view of inverter will be similar as Figure 10.
8. Don't forget to save by selecting Design --> Check and Save
in Composer-Schematic menu.

Figure 10. Completed schematic
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