Lab 1 - ECE 421L 

Authored by Matthew Lord, lordm1@unlv.nevada.edu

September 6th, 2023

Prelab:

For this lab, we needed to get our CMOSedu accounts setup as well as the accounts will be using cadance with, and we will also need to get familiar with logging in and editing webpages using KompoZer. 

I was able to log in and access my folders on the cmoedu webpage using the account Dr. Baker setup for me on CMOSedu. This is where I'll be able to update my webpage on CMOSedu using kompoZer.

The lab reports will be drafted using html. After making the report, I be publishing the report as a webpage on cmosedu.com/.../lordm1/.

Lab Report:

Lab Overview: This laboratory session serves as an initial introduction to the various software tools that will be utilized throughout the semester, including KompoZer, Cadence, MobaXterm, and more. During this lab, our primary objectives are to set up and familiarize ourselves with the process of conducting simulations in Cadence, acquire the skills to generate and submit our lab reports using KompoZer, and ensure the security of our work through proper data backup practices.

Upon successfully logging into the UNLV servers via MobaXterm, we can initiate Virtuoso by entering the command "virtuoso &" in the terminal. Subsequently, both the Command Interpreter Window and the Library Manager Window will open, as depicted below.

Next, we created a fresh library by accessing the Library Manager through the File Tab. We designated this newly generated library as "Tutorial_1."

Following the creation of the new library, we examined the contents of the cds.lib file within our CMOSedu directory to observe the modifications. In this file, we observed the addition of the line "DEFINE Tutorial_1 /home/abenok1/CMOSedu/Tutorial_1" at the end of the text document. This line provides guidance to Virtuoso on where to locate files within the Tutorial_1 library.

 Going back to our Library Manager and selecting Tutorial_1 and going to File -> New _> Cell View where we get the New File dialog window where we can input the information we would like.

Using i to add an instance, selecting NCSU_Analog_Parts from the library dropdown lets us type in res to get to the resistor where i changed the default 1K to 10K per the instructions.

Laying down the second resistor and hitting the f key leaves us with our two resistors ready to continue building out our schematic.

Getting to the objects properties by selecting the resistor and hitting the hotkey q, but also showing where its located in the dropdown menu's

I have the ground selected and will place it below where R1 is currently.

I added the 1V vdc and also laid down the wires using the w hotkey.

Using the l hotkey to label the wires Vin and Vout.

We'll be saving our schematic as well as checking to ensure that there aren't any errors present.

We are going to launch the simulator using ADE L from the Launch dropdown menu.

Checking to ensure that the changes we made have spectre set as the simulator by default which it did.

We can now setup our simulation by setting the analysis to .tran along with selecting the outputs we are simulating, Vin and Vout. 

Saving the state for future use.

Now we are ready to simulate.

The simulation results can be seen below.

As my last step I ensured my backup to my cloud drive is completed by the green check on the folder and its subfolders incase anything ever goes wrong.

I use a RAID 1 config on my main computer with the important files being backed up to my cloud, along with a second computer in my livingroom that downloads any changes to my files in the cloud, so all in all I have 2 physical locations using RAID 1 along with my cloud backup.

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