Logic DFE Tutorial

Use PollEx Logic to review schematic design. You can check symbols and nets in sheets.

PollEx Logic DFE is a toolset which can check electrical validity and standardizing of schematic design. PollEx Logic DFE is an option module of PollEx Logic and it helps designers to reduce recursive design errors that might be detected in the post design processes. Using standard net names in Schematic makes PCB CAD work much easier. You can use PollEx Logic DFE to set a standard net naming convention. The results of PollEx Logic DFE can be exported in an MS/Excel spreadsheet.

The tutorial related files are provided by default after installing PollEx at the following path: C:\ProgramData\altair\PollEx\<version>\Examples\Verification\LDFE

Open and Preview Schematic Design

In this step, you will open a design file and preview the schematic design.

  1. Start PollEx Logic.
  2. From the menu bar, click File > Import CAD > SDB Binary.
  3. Open the PollEx_Logic_sample_r<revision_number.sdbb file from C:\ProgramData\altair\PollEx\<version>\Examples\PollEx_Logic_sample_r<revision_number>.sdbb.
    <Version> means the version of PollEx that you are currently using.
    The LDFE_Sample schematic is displayed as shown below.


    Figure 1.
  4. From the menu bar, click Tools > Schematic Data Extractor to preview schematic design and see information about Components and Nets.
    To setup Logic DFE input, you must review the current design. The sample design consists of CPU and two DDR3 memories.

Check Connected Comp

In this step, you will launch Logic DFE and check the connected comp.

  1. From the menu bar, click Option > DFE > Input.
    The PollEx DFE Input dialog opens.
  2. Preview Connected Comp item. Normally, the easiest way to generate a reference voltage is to use Voltage Divide Logic using resistor network.
    In this case, the resistor should have 1% tolerance to ensure the accuracy of the output voltage value. You can check this requirement using the Connected Comp item.
    1. In the Check Item Category section, enable the Connected Comp checkbox.


      Figure 2.
      The Connected Comp Item Rule Entry dialog opens in the Input dialog.
  3. Define net groups.
    1. In the PollEx-DFE Input dialog, click the classification menu.


      Figure 3.
      The PollEx-DFE Input dialog opens.
  4. Define REF net group.
    1. In the Net Group Type section, double-click Net Group 1 and change the group name to REF.
    2. From the Net Name list, select REF.
    3. From the Filter tab, right-click and select Select Net List from the context menu.


      Figure 4.
    4. Select Selected Net List.
    5. Select the following nets from the net list: VCC_MCU_AREF, VCC_DDR_REF, and VCC1P8_ADC_REF.
    6. Click Add to List.


      Figure 5.
    7. Click Done.
      The selected list will register as net group, REF.


      Figure 6.
  5. Define Resistor component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, double click Component Group 1 and change the group name to Resistor.
    2. From the Comp Name list, select Resistor.
    3. From the Filter/DB File Path tab, right-click and select Select From Component List from the context menu.


      Figure 7.
    4. Select Selected Component from List.
    5. In the Search field, enter R and click Add.


      Figure 8.
    6. Click OK to close this window.
      The selected list is registered as a component group with name, Resistor.


      Figure 9.
  6. Set Connected Comp item test condition.
    1. Click Connected Comp item.
      The Connected Comp Item Rule Entry dialog opens in the PollEx Logic DFE Input dialog.


      Figure 10.


      Figure 11.
    2. Double-click the Net field of the first item.
      The Select Group dialog opens.
    3. Select the REF net group and click OK.
    4. Double-click the Item field of the first item and enter Vref_Resistor_Tolerance for the name of the sub-item.
    5. Double-click the Connected Comp field of the first item.
      The Select Group dialog opens.
    6. In the Select Group dialog, select the Resistor component group and click OK.
    7. Enable the Comp Filter checkbox and double-click the Comp Filter field of first item.
      The Component Property Filter dialog opens.


      Figure 12.
    8. Double-click the empty field.
      The Comment dialog opens.


      Figure 13.
    9. Select Part_CLASS from the drop-down list of the Title column and enable the checkbox.
    10. In the Select Type column, select List Select.
    11. In the Connected column, select OR.


      Figure 14.
    12. Double-click the field in the Contents column.
      The Comment Select dialog opens.
    13. Under Part Comment Contents, select RESISTOR and click Add.


      Figure 15.
    14. Click OK to close Comment Select dialog.
    15. In the Comment dialog, enable the Tolerance % checkbox.
    16. For Select Type, select List Select.
    17. For Connected, select And.


      Figure 16.
    18. Double-click the Contents field.
      The Comment Select dialog opens.
    19. In the Comment Select dialog, enter 1% string in the User Defined field and click Add.


      Figure 17.
    20. Click OK to close the Comment dialog.
      In the Component Property Filter dialog, the new PART_CLASS property is added in the OR section. Tolerance % is added in the AND section of the Component Property Filter dialog.


      Figure 18.
    21. Click OK to close the Component Property Filter dialog.
    22. Enable the Include Pass Data checkbox.


      Figure 19.
      With this setting, PollEx Logic DFE checks if a 1% tolerance resistor is connected to the voltage divide logic for REF signal group.
  7. Run Connected Comp Item and review Check Result.
    1. Click Save As and save the input file as training.SDFEI in the PollExLDFE folder under job folder.
    2. Click Start Checking.
      PollEx Logic DFE begins checking for selected checking items. After running, the results display.


      Figure 20.
    3. In the result tab, click Connected Comp in the Item column.
      The detail error list displays.
    4. Click the error item R227 in the Connected Comp field.
      Figure 21.
    5. Select R227, right-click and select Select Property from the context menu.
      The Property dialog opens.
    6. In the Symbol tab of the Property dialog, review the property of the R227 component.
      The R227 component should have a 1% tolerance, but with a 5% tolerance the result is failed.
    7. Click OK to close the Property dialog.


      Figure 22.
    8. In the result tab, click the No Connected Comp error item.
      There is no resistor connected to VCC1P8_ADC_REF net, so the result is failed.


      Figure 23.

Generate Excel Report

In this step, you will generate an Excel report for the result.

  1. In the result tab, click Excel Export and select User Defined Excel Format.


    Figure 24.
    The User Defined Export Excel dialog opens.
  2. Excel file setting.
    1. Click Load and open the training.SDFEE file from C:\ProgramData\altair\PollEx\<version>\Examples\Verification\LDFE\SDFEE.
    2. Accept the other default parameters.
      In the User Defined Export Excel dialog, your settings should now look as follows:


      Figure 25.
    3. Click Next.
  3. Result Data [Record] field setting.
    1. Enable the Automatically record all available Contents to MS/Excel checkbox.
    2. For Result Data Column No., enter 16 and click Apply to extend the column count to 16.
      The LDFE provides a total of 16 kinds of information.
    3. Enable the User Header Name On Excel File checkbox.


      Figure 26.
    4. Click Next.
  4. Result Data Record setting.
    The upper section shows total available result items. And the lower section shows selected item for excel report. You can manually select the items to be included in the excel report by clicking Add. Enable the Automatically record all available Contents to MS/Excel checkbox to automatically select all items.


    Figure 27.
    1. Click Next.
  5. Specify Default Record Data.
    1. Select Predefined Item and click Set Predefined Item List.
      The Predefined Item dialog opens.


      Figure 28.


      Figure 29.
    2. Click Remove All.
    3. Select all items available in the left section of the dialog except first item named [BLANK] and click Add.
    4. Select Apply Set Same Value in Column.
      Your settings should now look as follows:


      Figure 30.
    5. Click OK.


      Figure 31.
    6. Click Save As and save this report setup environment file as training.SDFEE in the PollExLDFE folder under the job folder.
    7. Click Finish/Export Excel to start Excel report creation.
      PollEx Logic DFE begins generating excel report. After running, PollEx Logic DFE shows the excel report file.
    8. Save this Excel file.

Check Polarity

  1. Polarity check
    1. In the result tab, click View Input.
      The PollEx-LDFE Input dialog opens.
    2. Enable the Component and Polarity checkboxes.
      The Polarity item rule entry dialog opens.


      Figure 32.
  2. In the PollEx-DFE Input dialog, click the classification menu above the Check Item Category section.


    Figure 33.
    The PollEx-DFE Input dialog opens.
  3. Define Tantal_Cap component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, double click Component Group 2 and change the group name to Tantal_Cap.
    2. Right-click in the Filter/DB File Path field and select Select From Component List.


      Figure 34.
    3. Select the CL05X105MR3LNHN component from part name list in lower section and click ADD.


      Figure 35.
    4. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Tantal_Cap.
  4. Define Ground net group.
    1. In the Net Group Type section, double click Net Group 2 and change the group name to Ground.
    2. Right-click in the Filter/DB File Path field and select Select Nets List.
      The Select Nets from List dialog opens.
    3. In the Select Nets from List dialog, enter GND in the Search field.
    4. Click Add to List.


      Figure 36.
    5. Click Done.
      The selected list is registered as net group Ground.
    6. Enable the Polarity checkbox in the Check Item Category list.


      Figure 37.
      The Polarity Item Rule Entry dialog opens.
  5. Set Polarity item test condition.


    Figure 38.
    1. In the Polarity Item Rule Entry dialog, double-click the Net field.
      The Select Group dialog opens.


      Figure 39.
    2. Enable the Ground checkbox and click OK.
    3. In the Polarity Item Rule Entry dialog, double-click the Item field and enter Tantal_Polarity_Check for the sub-item name.
    4. Double-click the Comp field in the Polarity Input Setup dialog.
      The Select Group dialog opens.
    5. In the Select Group dialog, enable the Tantal_Cap checkbox and click OK.


      Figure 40.
    6. Choose the Pin Name.


      Figure 41.
    7. Double-click the Pin Name field in the Polarity Input Setup dialog.
      The String List dialog opens.
    8. In the String List dialog, enter 2 for String and click Add String.
    9. Click OK to close the String List dialog.


      Figure 42.
    10. Click Save to save the current setup.
  6. Run Polarity Item and review Check Result.
    1. Click Start Checking.
      PollEx Logic DFE starts checking for selected checking items. After running, the results display.
    2. In the result tab, click Polarity to see the detailed result.


      Figure 43.
    3. In the result tab, click C241 in the Reference field.
      The positive pin of C241 is incorrectly connected to the ground, so it has failed.


      Figure 44.

Check Stress Test

  1. In the Result tab, click View Input.
    The PollEx-DFE Input dialog opens.
  2. Enable the Stress Test and Resistor checkboxes.
    The Stress Test/Resistor Item Rule Entry dialog opens.


    Figure 45.
  3. Define Power net group.
    1. Click the classification button menu.


      Figure 46.
      The PollEx-DFE Input dialog opens.
    2. In the Net Group Type section, double-click Net Group 3 and change the group name to Power.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Net List from the context menu.
    4. Select the following power nets: 5VCC, DCDC_12V, SCL_5V, SDA_5V and all other nets whose name is begin with VCC string.
    5. Click Add to List and click Done.


      Figure 47.
      The selected list is registered as the Power net group.


      Figure 48.
  4. Define All_Signal net group.
    1. In the Net Group Type section, double-click Net Group 4 and change the group name to All_Signal.
    2. Right-click the same line and select Selected Net List from the context menu.
    3. Select all signal nets except all power and ground nets.
    4. Click Add to List and click Done.


      Figure 49.
      The selected list is registered as All_Signal.


      Figure 50.
  5. Setup Power Voltage Level.
    1. In the Power Rail field, select Group in the Power Rail section and click .
      The Select Group dialog opens.


      Figure 51.
    2. Enable the Power and Ground checkboxes and click OK.


      Figure 52.
      The selected net groups are displayed in the Power Rail section.
    3. For Ground, select Voltage(V).
      This means that voltage will be assigned for all ground nets.
    4. For Voltage (V), enter in 0.


      Figure 53.
    5. For Power, select Net Name.
    6. For Net Name Filter, enter P.
      This means that voltage value is included in net name string by the rule of Number+P+Number.
    7. Click Find Voltage to extract voltage value for power and ground net.
      All net names and voltages belonging to the Power and Ground net groups are displayed in Power Rail section.


      Figure 54.
  6. Define Capacitor component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 3 and change the group name to Capacitor by double-clicking the name column.
    2. For Capacitor, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Select from Component List from the context menu.


      Figure 55.
    4. In the search field, enter C.
    5. Click Add.
      All components whole reference name begin with C will be selected.
    6. Select all components which reference names begin with CID- and CN and click Remove to remove the selected components from selected list.


      Figure 56.
    7. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Capacitor.


      Figure 57.
  7. Define Diode component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 4 and change the group name to Diode.
    2. For Diode, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter D at Search field.
    5. Select all components with reference names starting with CID- and click Remove to remove the selected components from the selected list.
    6. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as the Diode component group.
      Figure 58.
  8. Define Transistor component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 5 and change the group name to Transistor.
    2. For Transistor, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Select Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter Q and click Add.
    5. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Transistor.
      Figure 59.
  9. Define Bead component group.
    1. In the Group No. field, enter 6 and click Add Groups.


      Figure 60.
    2. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 6 and change the group name to Bead.
    3. For Bead, select Ref in the Type column.
    4. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    5. In the search field, enter FB and click Add.
    6. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Bead.
      Figure 61.
  10. Define Connector component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 7 and change the group name to Connector.
    2. For Connector, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter CN and click Add.
    5. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Connector.
      Figure 62.
  11. Define Testpoint component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 8 and change the group name to Testpoint.
    2. For Testpoint, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter TP and click Add.
    5. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Testpoint.
      Figure 63.
  12. Define Spacer component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 9 and change the group name to Spacer.
    2. For Spacer, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter T and click Add.
    5. Select all components with reference names starting with TP and TR and click Remove.
    6. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group Spacer.
      Figure 64.
  13. Define IC component group.
    1. In the Component Group Type section, click Component Group 10 and change the group name to All_IC.
    2. For All_IC, select Ref in the Type column.
    3. Right-click the same line and select Selected Component from List from the context menu.
    4. In the search field, enter U and click Add.
    5. Click OK.
      The selected list is registered as component group All_IC.
      Figure 65.
  14. In the Check Item Category list, enable the Stress Test and Resistor checkboxes.


    Figure 66.
    The Stress Test/Resistor Item Rule Entry dialog opens.

Set Stress Test/Resistor Item Test Condition



Figure 67.
  1. Double-click the Component field to select a target passive component to be tested.
    The Select Group dialog opens.


    Figure 68.
  2. In the Select Group dialog, enable the Resistor checkbox and click OK.
  3. Double-click the Item field and enter Resistor_Stress for the sub-item name.
  4. Double-click the Comp Value Property field.
    The Simulation Parameter dialog opens. You can assign a resistor value by entering resistor value or specifying the property name where the resistor value is defined.


    Figure 69.
  5. Select Property Name and click .
    The Select Component Property dialog opens.


    Figure 70.
  6. In the Component Group Name section, enable the Resistor checkbox.
  7. In the Component Properties section, enable the Resistance ohm(P) checkbox.
  8. Close the open dialogs.
  9. Double-click the Net field to setup target net group to which resistor is connected.
    The Select Group dialog opens.
  10. Enable the All-Signal checkbox and click OK.


    Figure 71.
  11. Double-click the Power Net field to setup target power net group to which resistor is connected.
    The Select Group dialog opens.
  12. Enable the Power checkbox and click OK.


    Figure 72.
  13. Double-click the Ground Net field to setup target ground net group to which resistor is connected.
    The Select Group dialog opens.
  14. Enable the Ground checkbox and click OK.


    Figure 73.
  15. Double-click the Voh field.
    The Define Value & Property dialog opens. You can assign output high voltage level by entering Voh value or specifying the property name where the Voh value is defined.


    Figure 74.
  16. In the Define Value & Property dialog, select Property Name and click .
    The Select Pin Property dialog opens.
  17. In the Select Pin Property dialog, enable the All_IC and Recommended operating Maximum V(P) checkboxes.
    When you select the property name, all components with the same property are automatically selected. In this example, the resistor has a "Recommended operating maximum" parameter, so it was selected at the same time.


    Figure 75.
  18. Close the open dialogs.
  19. Double-click the Vol field.
    The Define Value & Property dialog opens. You can assign output low voltage level by entering Vol value or specifying the property name where the Vol value is defined.


    Figure 76.
  20. Select Value and enter 0.
  21. Click OK to close the Define Value & Property dialog.
  22. Enable the checkbox in the Working Voltage Check field and double-click the Working Voltage Check field.
    The Define Value or Property and Allowable Limit dialog opens. You can assign maximum allowable rated Working Voltage level by entering value or specifying the property name where the Working Voltage value is defined.
  23. Select Property Name option and click .
    The Select Component Property dialog opens.


    Figure 77.


    Figure 78.
  24. Enable the Resistor and MAX WORKING VOLTAGE V(P) checkboxes and click OK.
  25. In the Define Value or Property and Allowable Limit dialog, enter 1 for Allowable.
    This means the allowable maximum working voltage is 1% of its rated Working Voltage value.


    Figure 79.
  26. Click OK.
  27. Enable the checkbox in the Power Dissipation Check field and double-click the Power Dissipation Check field.
    The Define Value or Property and Allowable Limit dialog opens. You can assign maximum allowable rated Power Dissipation level by entering value or specifying the property name where the Power Dissipation value is defined.
  28. Select Property Name and click .
    The Select Component Property dialog opens.


    Figure 80.


    Figure 81.
  29. Enable the Resistor and WATTAGE W(P) checkboxes and click OK.
  30. For Allowable, enter 1.
    This means the allowable maximum working voltage is 1% of its rated Power Dissipation value.


    Figure 82.
  31. Click OK.
  32. Enable the checkbox in the Stress Test Option field and double-click the Stress Test Option field.
    The Stress Test Option dialog opens. You can specify the conditions to be used to search the voltage rail and signal net. Upon double clicking this field.


    Figure 83.
  33. In the Power Net Composite section, click for Open Component.
    The Select Group dialog opens. You can assign component group that will be considered as open state during searching voltage rail.


    Figure 84.
  34. Enable the Resistor, Capacitor, and Diode checkboxes and click OK.
  35. In the Power Net Composite section, click for Short Component.
    The Select Group dialog opens. You can assign component group that will be considered as short state during searching power rail.
    Figure 85.
  36. Enable the Transistor checkboxes and click OK.
  37. In the Signal Net Composite section, click for Open Component.
    The Select Group dialog opens. You can assign component group that will be considered as open state during searching signal net.


    Figure 86.
  38. Enable the Diode checkbox and click OK.
  39. In the Signal Net Composite section, click for Short Component.
    The Select Group dialog opens. You can assign component group that will be considered as short state during searching signal net.
    Figure 87.
  40. Enable the Resistor, Capacitor, and Bead checkboxes and click OK.
  41. Select By Signal Name in the Short Pin section.
    This means that we will define pin-connection information for multi-pin component by signal name. For example, for the following multi-pin component, the short pin pairs are C11-E11, C21-E21, D11-S11, and D21-S21.


    Figure 88.
  42. For By Signal Name, enter E11-C11, C21-E21, D11-S11, D21-S21.


    Figure 89.
  43. Click for Exclude Component.
    The Select Group dialog opens.


    Figure 90.
  44. Enable the Connector, Testpoint, and Spacer checkboxes and click OK.
  45. Click OK to close the Stress Test Option dialog.
  46. Click Save to save current rule setup.

Run Stress Test/Resistor Item

In this step, you will run a stress test/resistor item and review the check result.

  1. Click Start Checking.
    PollEx Logic DFE starts checking for selected checking items. After running, PollEx Logic DFE changes its window for results display.
  2. In the Result tab, click the Stress Test/Resistor item to see the detailed result.


    Figure 91.
  3. To review the error, click on the error item marked R140 in the Component field of the Result tab.
    In the right window, you can see the error location and a picture. Review the list on the left and see the Working Voltage of R100 is 3.3V, but allowed Working Voltage is 2.0V, so it fails.


    Figure 92.