Klayout 25d View [ PC ]

The script's foundation is the z() command. Here are its key parameters, which are used to precisely define the Z-dimension of your layers:

A 25D (two-and-a-half-dimensional) view takes standard 2D layout shapes and projects them vertically based on user-defined height and thickness parameters.

KLayout is a popular, open-source, and powerful tool for viewing and editing layout files, particularly in the semiconductor industry. The 25D view in KLayout refers to a specific way of visualizing 3D structures from 2D layout data, offering insights into the third dimension (height or depth) through the use of color and layer stacking. This guide aims to cover the basics and advanced features of using KLayout for 2.5D (or 25D) viewing:

The vertical height to which the 2D polygon will be extruded.

For decades, integrated circuit (IC) layout engineers have relied on two-dimensional, top-down views to design chips. But as process nodes shrink and designs grow in complexity, a purely planar perspective often obscures critical relationships between layers. This is where comes into play. klayout 25d view

While KLayout’s 25D view is optimized, it does have constraints:

Unlike true 3D tools, KLayout does not automatically know how tall a metal1 trace should be. You must assign a to each layer:

: The most comprehensive guide on how the tool functions, including the use of Design Rule Check (DRC)

Ensure your calculation of Z-start values accounts for previous layer thicknesses. For example, if Metal 1 is at with a thickness of , Via 1 should start at Conclusion The script's foundation is the z() command

In the 25D View window, click on or look for the layer configuration table. For each active mask layer, enter two critical parameters:

values are not zero and that you have valid shapes on the specified input layers. complex script example involving multiple material groups or specific 3D navigation shortcuts? The 2.5d View - KLayout Layout Viewer And Editor

: Developers looking for the internal implementation can find it in the Class D25View API , which was introduced in version 0.28. Core Features of the 2.5D View : It is an extruded 2D view

To generate a 2.5D rendering of your layout, KLayout needs to know the physical properties of your layers—specifically their thickness and vertical position (z-offset). Step 1: Open the 2.5D View Panel Launch KLayout and load your layout file (GDS/OASIS). The 25D view in KLayout refers to a

Instead, the 2.5D view works by by a specified, configurable thickness. This allows you to see the "sandwich" structure of your chip. It provides an excellent, efficient way to visualize: Wiring congestions in a three-dimensional space.

Layer colors from your standard GDS palette are preserved, but transparency can be adjusted. This prevents occlusion when many layers are extruded simultaneously.

I hope this overview of the KLayout 2.5D view has been helpful!

| Tool | 25D Feature | Cost | Best For | |------|-------------|------|-----------| | | Extrusion-based, OpenGL, live update | Free (GPL) | Quick visual checks, MEMS, small-to-medium ICs | | Cadence Virtuoso 3D | True 3D with material properties | $$$ Commercial | Advanced node full-custom IC | | Magic VLSI | Wireframe 3D, no shading | Free | Academic, very old hardware | | OpenROAD | No native 25D; requires external renderer | Free | RTL-to-GDS flows | | Klive (KLayout extension) | Experimental voxel-based 3D | Free | Research-grade volumetric analysis |

Right-click and drag to move the model across the screen.

Because it is an extrusion-based approach, it is significantly faster than rendering a true, realistic 3D model.