ECE122 Digital Electronics & Design

Tanner Tools Tutorial

Ritu Bajpai

Objective of the lab



To develop an understanding of design and simulation of digital logic circuits. To get a basic understanding of layout of electronic circuits. We will use Tanner tools for design and simulation. This lab introduces us to Tanner tools.

Introduction to Tanner tools



Tanner tool- simulation tool for the class Upgraded from last year Some slides may look different as you will see on your computer Slides will be updated to correspond with the new version of Tanner as we advance into the semester

Tanner tools consists of the following

L-Edit: Layout editing LVS: Layout vs. Schematic S-Edit: Schematic Entry T-Spice: Simulation W-Edit: Waveform formatting

This is S-Edit

For creating new design go File->New->New design

Enter design name and the folder name where you want to save your work.

Recommendations


Make a new folder in your name and always save all your work there. Use same system each time so that you dont have to transfer your old files to another system if needed. Create a backup of your work if needed as the lab computers are formatted from time to time.

Now go to Cell->New View

Hit OK to start with new cell schematic design

Levels of design in S-Edit



The highest level in the S-Edit design hierarchy is the design file. Files contain modules, which can contain primitive objects or reference to other modules. A module can further have pages. S-Edit has 2 viewing modes, Schematic mode and Symbol mode. We can switch between 2 modes using the tabs in the tool bar or using a question mark (?).

Select tool

Draw wire

Label Node

Cap Node

For more help with S-Edit go to Help->Tutorial

Library file path C:\Documents and Settings\Student\My Documents\Tanner EDA\Tanner Tools v15.0\Process\Generic_200nm\Generic_200nm.tanner
Click here to add libraries

Browse the library file from the path above and hit OK

Now we will instance first element NMOS from the library Devices and hit done.

Some useful tips



To move an object: Use center wheel of the mouse. For zoom in and zoom out use + and respectively from the key board. To view/edit object properties, select object and use CTRL+E. Do not use space in your design names. Do not use special characters in port names.

Introduction to MOSFET


A MOSFET can be

PMOS NMOS

A MOSFET is a four terminal device. Four terminals are:

Gate Drain Source Bulk

A MOSFET is symmetrical device unlike a BJT which means either terminal can be drain or source unless connected in a circuit.

Introduction to MOSFET


For a PMOS source is always connected to highest voltage in the circuit. For an NMOS source is always connected to lowest voltage in a circuit. The bulk is always shorted to the source for both devices.

Introduction to MOSFET


The bulk terminal is identified by an arrow. We can distinguish PMOS symbol from NMOS symbol as follows:

PMOS bulk has arrow coming out . NMOS bulk has arrow going in. (Tip: remember in sounds like N.) PMOS gate has a bubble attached to it.

There can be different symbols for PMOS and NMOS for example the bulk may not be shown but the above points hold good for the MOSFETS we will be using from SCMOS library in S-Edit.

Today we will design an inverter schematic in S-Edit.

Schematic design of an inverter

In this class we will design CMOS based logic circuits. Thus an inverter consists of a PMOS and an NMOS connected in series with PMOS source connected to Vdd and NMOS source connected to Gnd. Input is applied at the gates. Output is collected from the drains which are connected together.

Vdd from library Misc

Input port Output port

PMOS from library Devices

Gnd from library Misc

Now we are ready to create a symbol for the schematic design

Draw the symbol of the module which clearly represents the function if possible.

Create a new design file just as you did for inverter now to make the schematic for the inverter test bench.

Add libraries and make sure you also add inverter as a library so that you can instance it.
Print voltage probe from spice commands

Voltage sources from spice elements library

Voltage source properties can be modifies from here

Now we will set up the simulation settings

Click to pop up the set up window

Select Transient/Fourier analysis

Browse the library file My Documents\Tanner EDA\Tanner Tools v15.0\Process\Generic_200nm_Tech\Generi c_200nm.lib TT

Hit OK and click the green play button on the top left

Types of analysis


DC Operating Point Analysis. DC Transfer Analysis. Transient Analysis. AC Analysis. Transient Analysis, Powerup Mode. Noise Analysis.

Types of analysis


DC operating point analysis: It finds the circuits steady-state condition, obtained (in principle) after the input voltages have been applied for an infinite amount of time. DC Transfer Analysis: It is used to study the voltage or current at one set of points in a circuit as a function of the voltage or current at another set of points. This is done by sweeping the source variables over specified ranges, and recording the output.

Types of Analysis


Transient Analysis: It provides information on how circuit elements vary with time. AC Analysis: It characterizes the circuits behavior dependence on small signal input frequency. Transient Analysis power up mode: Some circuits do not have a DC steady state so it is difficult to specify there initial state. This is done using power up option of the .tran command. It sets entire circuit to zero for time equal to

Propagation Delay


Propagation Delay is the amount of time it takes a change of input to appear as a change on the output. Propagation Delay is measured from the 50% point on the input signal to the 50% point on the output.
Input Output

tpHL

Transition time


High-low and low high transition times at the output of a gate are defined as tHL and tLH between the 10% and 90% points.
90% 10% tLH 90% 10% tHL

Gate Delay


The load capacitance severely affects the gate delay.

Inv1

Inv2

Simulating NAND gate

Next we will make a NAND gate using p and n MOSFET and test its performance.

Note parameters W=2.50u and L=0.25u

TEST BENCH FOR NAND GATE TEST BENCH FOR THE NAND GATE TEST BENCH FOR NAND GATE
NAND GATE

NAND GATE

tpHL

Record the propagation delay

Record tpHL and tpLH for the NAND gate. Record the waveform for the same.

Lab Reports


Strictly adhere to the lab report format and other instructions on the website No late submissions without prior permission