Calculators + Utilities

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This page lists a few online calculators and utilities that are useful to lab users.

Fabrication Processes & Converters

Material Parameters

Wet Etching

Refractive Indices

Optical constants of many common materials. Useful for Optical thin-film analysis (ellipsometry/spectroscopic fitting), laser etch monitoring, optical filter/mirror/anti-reflection coating design, photonic devices etc.

Scripts + Programs

Analysis Programs

  • AmScope Software - microscope image analysis software
    • AmScope Calibration File containing calibrations for all NanoFab microscopes: Download Here
    • Also available on Nanofiles-SFTP / Manuals / Amscope
  • FIJI - scientific image anaylsis software
  • Gwyddion - free analysis software for Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs) and other 3D data.
    • Sophisticated leveling, slicing, roughness/particulate analysis functions etc.
    • Can open Bruker NanoScope files, from the AFM
  • ProfilmOnline.com (Filmetrics) - online analysis/storage/sharing of 3D topographical data and images.
    • You can share an interactive 3D render of your AFM or Profilm3D scans with this tool.
    • Example AFM Scan, taken with NanoFab equipment, shared online for interactive analysis (slice, flatten etc.).

CAD Layout Programs

Use these for designing your lithography mask plates.

L-Edit

Powerful multi-layer layout program. Sophisticated object instantiation and array layout, to reduce files sizes and easily push changes to multiple cells.

KLayout

A free, open-source, and fast/simple CAD tool for mask/reticle layout. Also has powerful functions, DRC, scriptiable and can handle very large files (GB's) efficiently. Download at klayout.de.

  • Available on Windows, Mac or *Nix.
  • Fast viewing of layer overlay, overlay multiple files, cell hierarchy, large (>1GB) files etc.
  • Supports the same core functionality as L-Edit - hierarchical Cell Instances, arrays, programmable Cells (PCells) etc.
  • Easily scriptable with Python or Ruby, with decent tutorials.
  • Please visit the KLayout Design Tips page for important info on making "valid" CAD files, and setting up the program for efficient use.
  • Univ. of Waterloo QNFCF produced some good video tutorials on KLayout, here.

CAD Design Tips

All major chip layout programs support "Cells" and similar structures for hierarchical layout. It is highly recommended that you understand and use the concept of "Cells" in your design. This circumvents many problems with enormous file sizes (due to huge numbers of identical polygons), and if used properly, helps tremendously with programming the Stepper lithography machines. Links to documentation below:

OASIS files tend to be much smaller than GDS files, and they also save the Layer Names (not just number). Alternatively, in KLayout the function File > Save Session will save the entire view including layer styles and window/zoom locations will be saved. You can share this file, as the entire design file is embedded within it, but it may not be as robust between KLayout versions.

Handling very large files

If you will be generating millions of identical shapes (eg. repeating array of circles), the file size can quickly become enormous due to all the stored polygon points. You can reduce the number of polygon points stored by:

  1. Reduce the number of points in each shape/circle if possible.
  2. Use Cell instancing so that only one, or a few, polygons are defined, and that same polygon is then only referenced as a repeating Cell instance. (See above for tutorials).
  3. The OAS file type generates much smaller files, and most photomask vendors can accept this. Photomask vendors are used to handling large files.
  4. Photomask vendors are able to take multiple files and insert them into the final reticle – you just need to provide a clear schematic showing the exact insertion coordinates for each file (with respect to the origin of each file). They can also do some boolean operations (for a fee).

Example CAD File

Here is an example CAD file, showing the use of Layers and Cells, designed in KLayout. The device is fictional, for illustrative purposes only.

  • CAD_Tutorial_for_ASML_Reticle_v1.OAS , or GDS version (Demis D. John)
  • Cell "Device_Layout" shows a single device, with each Layer overlaid as it would be in a fabricated device. Each Layer (eg. a "process step" such as Mesa etch, Pad Metal etc.) is placed into it's own Cell.
screenshot of KLayout view of Device_Layout
"Device_Layout" Cell showing as the "top cell"
  • Every Cell's Origin (0,0) lies on top of one another in the final Device_Layout.
    • One way this can be accomplished is by selecting the objects/polygons you want to make into a new Cell, then use the function Edit > Selection > Make Cell, and uncheck the "Put Origin at..." checkbox, so the new Cell maintains the same origin as the original view.
  • The Cell "Reticle_Layout" can be exported by itself (right-click the Cell name), for sending to the photomask manufacturer.
  • See the ASML Mask Making Guidelines page for an example of how to program this Reticle into an ASML Stepper job.

CAD Files & Templates

GCA Stepper
ASML Stepper
Heidelberg MLA150
Other sources of lithography CAD files
  • MEMS Exchange - has some useful alignment markers, registration/alignment verniers etc.
  • EPFL CMi - CMi layout template has some useful guidelines and resolution test structures.

General Calculators

  • Anaconda Python
    • A free Matlab-like IDE and GUI, using the Python language. The Spyder interface is modeled after Matlab.
    • Includes the scientific Python libraries needed for array math (numpy), plotting (matplotlib), data science (pandas) and many others. Many open-source packages are available to extend capabilities. The PyVisa module adds equipment control capabilities for automated measurements.
  • Wolfram Alpha
    • A versatile online interpreter/calculator, allowing calculations such as "Volume of 1.5g of Silicon", "melting point of SiO2" or "520°C in Fahrenheit".

Python Scripts

These scripts are best run in the Spyder IDE, which is easily installed via Anaconda, Python(X,Y).

If you use/modify these scripts in a publication, please consider citing the author(s). See our publication policy for more info.

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