EDB: parametric via creation

This example shows how you can use EDB to create a layout.

First import the required Python packages.

import os
import tempfile

import numpy as np

import pyedb

Create the EDB project.

temp_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(suffix=".ansys")
aedb_path = os.path.join(temp_dir.name, "parametric_via.aedb")

Create stackup

The StackupSimple class creates a stackup based on few inputs. This stackup is used later.

Define a function to create the ground conductor.

def create_ground_planes(edb, layers):
    plane = edb.modeler.Shape("rectangle", pointA=["-3mm", "-3mm"], pointB=["3mm", "3mm"])
    for i in layers:
        edb.modeler.create_polygon(plane, i, net_name="GND")

Create the EDB

Create the EDB instance. If the path doesn’t exist, PyEDB automatically generates a new AEDB folder.

# Select EDB version (change it manually if needed, e.g. "2024.2")
edb_version = "2024.2"
print(f"EDB version: {edb_version}")

edb = pyedb.Edb(edbpath=aedb_path, edbversion=edb_version)

EDB version: 2024.2
PyEDB INFO: StdOut is enabled
PyEDB INFO: Logger is initialized in EDB.
PyEDB INFO: legacy v0.35.dev0
PyEDB INFO: Python version 3.10.11 (tags/v3.10.11:7d4cc5a, Apr  5 2023, 00:38:17) [MSC v.1929 64 bit (AMD64)]
PyEDB INFO: EDB C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpbgbne67p.ansys\parametric_via.aedb created correctly.
PyEDB INFO: EDB initialized.

Insert the stackup layers.

layout_count = 12
diel_material_name = "FR4_epoxy"
diel_thickness = "0.15mm"
cond_thickness_outer = "0.05mm"
cond_thickness_inner = "0.017mm"
soldermask_thickness = "0.05mm"
trace_in_layer = "TOP"
trace_out_layer = "L10"
gvia_num = 10
gvia_angle = 30
edb.stackup.create_symmetric_stackup(
    layer_count=layout_count,
    inner_layer_thickness=cond_thickness_inner,
    outer_layer_thickness=cond_thickness_outer,
    soldermask_thickness=soldermask_thickness,
    dielectric_thickness=diel_thickness,
    dielectric_material=diel_material_name,
)

True

Define parameters

Define parameters to allow changes in the model dimesons. Parameters preceded by the $ character have project-wide scope. Without the $ prefix, the parameter scope is limited to the design.

giva_angle_rad = gvia_angle / 180 * np.pi

edb["$via_hole_size"] = "0.3mm"
edb["$antipaddiam"] = "0.7mm"
edb["$paddiam"] = "0.5mm"
edb.add_design_variable("via_pitch", "1mm", is_parameter=True)
edb.add_design_variable("trace_in_width", "0.2mm", is_parameter=True)
edb.add_design_variable("trace_out_width", "0.1mm", is_parameter=True)

(True, <Ansys.Ansoft.Edb.Utility.VariableServer object at 0x0000027717375B40>)

Define padstacks

Create two padstck definitions, one for the ground via and one for the signal via.

edb.padstacks.create(
    padstackname="SVIA",
    holediam="$via_hole_size",
    antipaddiam="$antipaddiam",
    paddiam="$paddiam",
    start_layer=trace_in_layer,
    stop_layer=trace_out_layer,
)
edb.padstacks.create(padstackname="GVIA", holediam="0.3mm", antipaddiam="0.7mm", paddiam="0.5mm")

PyEDB INFO: Padstack SVIA create correctly
PyEDB INFO: Padstack GVIA create correctly

'GVIA'

Place the signal via.

edb.padstacks.place([0, 0], "SVIA", net_name="RF")

<pyedb.dotnet.edb_core.edb_data.padstacks_data.EDBPadstackInstance at 0x2771730dc30>

Place the ground vias.

gvia_num_side = gvia_num / 2

if gvia_num_side % 2:
    # Even number of ground vias on each side
    edb.padstacks.place(["via_pitch", 0], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
    edb.padstacks.place(["via_pitch*-1", 0], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
    for i in np.arange(1, gvia_num_side / 2):
        xloc = "{}*{}".format(np.cos(giva_angle_rad * i), "via_pitch")
        yloc = "{}*{}".format(np.sin(giva_angle_rad * i), "via_pitch")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc, yloc], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc, yloc + "*-1"], "GVIA", net_name="GND")

        edb.padstacks.place([xloc + "*-1", yloc], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc + "*-1", yloc + "*-1"], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
else:
    # Odd number of ground vias on each side
    for i in np.arange(0, gvia_num_side / 2):
        xloc = "{}*{}".format(np.cos(giva_angle_rad * (i + 0.5)), "via_pitch")
        yloc = "{}*{}".format(np.sin(giva_angle_rad * (i + 0.5)), "via_pitch")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc, yloc], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc, yloc + "*-1"], "GVIA", net_name="GND")

        edb.padstacks.place([xloc + "*-1", yloc], "GVIA", net_name="GND")
        edb.padstacks.place([xloc + "*-1", yloc + "*-1"], "GVIA", net_name="GND")

Draw the traces

edb.modeler.create_trace(
    [[0, 0], [0, "-3mm"]],
    layer_name=trace_in_layer,
    net_name="RF",
    width="trace_in_width",
    start_cap_style="Flat",
    end_cap_style="Flat",
)

edb.modeler.create_trace(
    [[0, 0], [0, "3mm"]],
    layer_name=trace_out_layer,
    net_name="RF",
    width="trace_out_width",
    start_cap_style="Flat",
    end_cap_style="Flat",
)

<pyedb.dotnet.edb_core.cell.primitive.path.Path at 0x277172da980>

Draw ground conductors

ground_layers = [i for i in edb.stackup.signal_layers.keys()]
ground_layers.remove(trace_in_layer)
ground_layers.remove(trace_out_layer)
create_ground_planes(edb=edb, layers=ground_layers)

Display the layout

edb.stackup.plot(plot_definitions=["GVIA", "SVIA"])

C:\actions-runner\_work\pyedb\pyedb\.venv\lib\site-packages\pyedb\dotnet\edb_core\stackup.py:2868: UserWarning: FigureCanvasAgg is non-interactive, and thus cannot be shown
  plt.show()

<module 'matplotlib.pyplot' from 'C:\\actions-runner\\_work\\pyedb\\pyedb\\.venv\\lib\\site-packages\\matplotlib\\pyplot.py'>

Save EDB and close the EDB.

edb.save_edb()
edb.close_edb()
print("aedb Saved in {}".format(aedb_path))

PyEDB INFO: EDB file save time: 0.00ms
PyEDB INFO: EDB file release time: 0.00ms
aedb Saved in C:\Users\ansys\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpbgbne67p.ansys\parametric_via.aedb

Clean up the temporary directory.

temp_dir.cleanup()