Lab 1 - EE 421L 

Author: Kaione Daniels

Email: daniek8@unlv.nevada.edu

August 27, 2021

   

Lab Purpose
The purpose of Lab 1 is to introduce students to Cadence. In addition, students will be guided on how to generate and post html lab reports onto CMOSedu.
   

Pre-lab

All students will be placing their lab reports on CMOSedu after drafting their reports in HTML. Before the first day of lab1, I acquired a CMOSedu account from Dr. Baker. Lastly, I reviewed the materials pertaining to the editing of webpages on CMOSedu.

   

Lab

This lab goes through a step by step guide on how to use cadence. For the first step, I logged onto the terminal via Mobaxterm. 

Second, I typed cd CMOSedu in order to enter the CMOSedu directory. 

Third, I typed virtuoso & in order to launch Cadence.

Cadence Start

 

After launching Cadence, the library manager should appear.

library window

   
To create a new a new library:
1. Click file
2. Click new
3. Click Library

library window

   

This enabled me to name my library Tutorial_1. After switching to the appropriate tech library, I created the new library.

lib window

    
After creating the new library, I instantiated a schematic. I did this by:
1. Clicking file
2. Clicking new
3. clicking cell view

These steps shown above led me to the screen seen below. After I clicked OK, the schematic was created.

lib window

 

Next, I needed to instantiate a resistor. I did this by:

1. Clicking Create

2. Clicking Instance...

 

Alternatively, I could have hit the shortcut I in order to open the required window.

spectre

 

With the Add Instance window opened, I created a 10k resistor.

spectre

 

I placed the 10k resistor down onto the schematic.

q

  

If I wanted to change the resistor's values, I could do so by hitting the Q shortcut which opens up the objects properties.

q

 

Next, I added a gnd by hitting the I key. This brang up a window which allowed me to access the gnd.

1

 
The gnd was then placed onto the schematic.

1

  

Next, I added a voltage source by hitting the I key. This brang up a window which allowed me to access vdc.

   

The voltage source was placed onto the schematic.

 

I hit the W keybind in order to access the wire placing tool. This allowed me to link all the components.

   

Then, I named wires by hitting the L keybind.

I changed the voltage source value to 1V by leveraging the Q shortcut. Then, I:

1. Clicked launch

2. Clicked ADE L

  

This allowed me to access the analog design environment.

   

I ensured that the ADE was using the spectre simulator.

   

Then, I made sure that the analysis being performed was a transient.

 

I added Vin and Vout to the simulation.

   

I saved the state I created.

 

Finally, I plotted the circuit which gave me a Vin of 1V and a Vout of 0.5

Backups

No matter which field I go into, creating a backup of my work is very important. When catastrophe strikes, I rest easy knowing that all my files are kept in a safe place.
 
First, I zip a copy of my lab.


Lastly, I leverage google's emailing service by sending myself the file.

Return to EE 421L Labs