About Technology Management

A new feature of KLayout 0.22 is technology management. Technology management summarizes features which require a certain interpretation of a layout. In particular, layout layers are assigned a physical meaning, for example via layers or active area layers in CMOS technologies. Since that interpretation often is depending on the technology the product will be fabricated with, the ability to provide multiple setups is summarized as "technology management".

A technology setup implements the following aspects:

• Layer mapping: when the layout reader loads a file that for a certain technology, it can apply a layer mapping, i.e. apply layer names to GDS layers, filter layer etc.
• Layer properties: depending on the technology, the layer display can be configured by providing a technology specific layer properties file.
• Connectivity: the layer stack and the connections made by layers for the net tracer feature.

In the future, more aspects may be added to the technology definition.

Technologies can be set up using the "Technology Manager" in the "Tools" menu. There is always a "Default" technology which provides the settings when no technology is selected. New technologies can be added or technologies can be deleted using the "+" or "x" buttons below the technology tree.

A technology has a name (a short string) and a description. The name is used to identify the technology in various places. The description is the human-readable text that is displayed in the technology selection boxes for example. The short name can be changed by selecting the technology and pressing the "Rename" button or using "Rename" from the technology tree's context menu (right mouse click). The description can be edited on the "General" page.

In the technology manager, below each technology, the components are shown that define the various aspects of a technology. Beside the "General" aspect (names, descriptions) there is a "Layers" component which defines the layer mapping table and layer properties file and the "Connectivity" component which defines the settings for the net tracer.

When more than the default technology is defined, KLayout provides a drop-down menu in the tool bar to select the current technology. The current technology is the technology used when new files are loaded. It is also possible to define the technology to be used on the command line using the "-n" switch (applies to following files and specifies the technology to use by their short name).

The technology of the currently selected layout is shown in the status bar of the main window in the left section. It is possible to switch the technology of a layout already loaded by using the "Layout Properties" dialog from the "File" menu. After switching the technology, the layer properties defined in the technology can be applied.

Technologies can be imported and exported to technology files (suffix ".lyt"). There is one file per technology. To import or export a technology, choose "Import" or "Export" from the technology tree's context menu (right mouse click). This way, technologies can be shared between users.