Schematic Generation

Two-layer system: this skill provides topology knowledge, vcli schematic commands provide the execution layer.

CLI Commands

# Atomic operations
vcli schematic open  --lib L --cell C [--view schematic]
vcli schematic place --master lib/cell --name I --x X --y Y [--params w=14u,l=1u]
vcli schematic wire  --net N x1,y1 x2,y2 ...
vcli schematic conn  --net N --from I:T --to I:T
vcli schematic label --net N --x X --y Y
vcli schematic pin   --net N --type input --x X --y Y
vcli schematic check
vcli schematic save

# Batch from JSON spec
vcli schematic build --spec file.json

JSON Spec Format

{
  "target": { "lib": "myLib", "cell": "ota5t", "view": "schematic" },
  "instances": [
    { "name": "M5", "master": "smic13mmrf/p12", "x": 0, "y": 4,
      "params": { "w": "14u", "l": "1u" } }
  ],
  "connections": [
    { "net": "vtail", "from": "M5:D", "to": "M1:S" }
  ],
  "globals": [
    { "net": "vdd", "insts": ["M5:S", "M5:B", "M1:B"] }
  ],
  "pins": [
    { "net": "vip", "type": "input", "connect": "M2:G", "x": -4, "y": 2 }
  ]
}

Workflow

1. Collect sizing — from gm/Id design or optimization results
2. Generate JSON spec — use topology template below, fill in W/L values
3. Run build — vcli schematic build --spec spec.json
4. Verify — vcli schematic check

Topology Templates

5T OTA (PMOS Diff Pair + NMOS Mirror Load)

     VDD
      |
     M5 (PMOS tail, gate=nbias)
      |
    vtail
    /    \
  M1      M2  (PMOS diff pair)
  |        |
  nd1    vout
  |        |
  M3      M4  (NMOS mirror load, M3 diode)
  |        |
    GND   GND

Terminal mapping (SMIC 130nm MOSFET):

• PMOS p12: terminals D G S B (drain gate source bulk)
• NMOS n12: terminals D G S B

{
  "target": { "lib": "myLib", "cell": "ota5t" },
  "instances": [
    { "name": "M5", "master": "smic13mmrf/p12", "x": 0,  "y": 8, "params": {} },
    { "name": "M1", "master": "smic13mmrf/p12", "x": -3, "y": 5, "params": {} },
    { "name": "M2", "master": "smic13mmrf/p12", "x": 3,  "y": 5, "params": {} },
    { "name": "M3", "master": "smic13mmrf/n12", "x": -3, "y": 2, "params": {} },
    { "name": "M4", "master": "smic13mmrf/n12", "x": 3,  "y": 2, "params": {} }
  ],
  "connections": [
    { "net": "vtail", "from": "M5:D", "to": "M1:S" },
    { "net": "vtail", "from": "M5:D", "to": "M2:S" },
    { "net": "nd1",   "from": "M1:D", "to": "M3:D" },
    { "net": "nd1",   "from": "M3:D", "to": "M3:G" },
    { "net": "nd1",   "from": "M3:G", "to": "M4:G" },
    { "net": "vout",  "from": "M2:D", "to": "M4:D" }
  ],
  "globals": [
    { "net": "vdd!", "insts": ["M5:S", "M5:B", "M1:B", "M2:B"] },
    { "net": "gnd!", "insts": ["M3:S", "M3:B", "M4:S", "M4:B"] }
  ],
  "pins": [
    { "net": "vip",   "type": "input",  "x": 6,  "y": 5 },
    { "net": "vin",   "type": "input",  "x": -6, "y": 5 },
    { "net": "nbias", "type": "input",  "x": -2, "y": 8 },
    { "net": "vout",  "type": "output", "x": 6,  "y": 2 }
  ]
}

Folded-Cascode OTA (PMOS Input)

     VDD
    / | \
  M5  M9  M10  (PMOS current sources)
  |   |    |
vtail M7   M8   (PMOS cascode)
 / \  |    |
M1  M2 |   vout
|    | |    |
M3  M4 M11  M12  (NMOS cascode)
|    |  |    |
M13 M14 M15  M16  (NMOS current source)
     GND

Additional instances: bias mirrors, cascode devices. Fill params from sizing.

Two-Stage Miller OTA

Stage 1:          Stage 2:
M5 (tail)         M7 (output NMOS)
 / \                |
M1  M2            vout---Cc---nd1
|    |              |
M3  M4            M6 (output load)

Compensation: Cc between nd1 and vout, optional Rz in series.

Coordinate Conventions

• Schematic coordinates in microns
• Y increases upward (VDD at top, GND at bottom)
• Symmetric pairs: mirror around x=0
• Typical spacing: 3 units horizontal, 3 units vertical between rows
• Pins placed at the edges (x = +-6 or more)

PDK Master Names

PDK	NMOS	PMOS
SMIC 130nm (smic13mmrf)	n12	p12
TSMC 180nm	nch	pch
Sky130	sky130_fd_pr/nfet_01v8	sky130_fd_pr/pfet_01v8

Params are PDK-specific. Always pass W/L via --params or JSON params field.

Notes

• vcli schematic open must be called before other commands (opens cellview in GUI)
• conn uses schCreateWire for auto-routing between terminals
• wire uses exact coordinates — use when you need specific routing paths
• Global nets (vdd!, gnd!) use ! suffix in Virtuoso convention
• After build, always run check and save