layer

Create layer object from a pcbFileRead object.

Since R2025a

Description

A layer refers to an individual sheet of material – either conductive metallic (such as copper) or insulating (such as fiberglass) – making up the structure of a PCB. The layers are sandwiched together.

Create a layer object

Creation

Syntax

layer = layer(pfile,LayerNumber)

layer = layer(pfile,LayerName)

layer = layer(pfile,LayerNumber,Type)

Description

layer = layer(pfile,LayerNumber) creates a layer object.

layer = layer(pfile,LayerName) creates a layer object.

layer = layer(pfile,LayerNumber,Type) creates a layer object.

Input Arguments

pfile — Input file

string

Specified as a pdbFileRead object.

Example: layerobj = layer(filename,1) creates alayer object from filename and LayerNumber set to 1.

Data Types: string

LayerNumber — Layer number

scalar

Specified as an integer.

Example: layerobj = layer(filename,2) creates a layer object from filename and LayerNumber set to 2,

Data Types: int8

LayerName — Layer name

string

Specified as a string.

Example: layerobj = layer(filename,gndlayer) creates a layer object from filename and LayerName set to gndlayer.

Data Types: string

Properties

Type — Type

Pins (default) | Vias | Traces

Create a layer object with optional filtering on pcb entity type, or all entities.

Example: layerobj = layer(filename,1,Type='Pins') creates a layer object filtering on entity Type 'Pins'.

Data Types: string

LayerHeight — Layer height

Read-only: scalar

This property is read-only.

Height of the layer from the pcb bottom in inches.

Example: 0.0184

Data Types: double

NumSurfaces — Number of surfaces

Read-only: scalar

This property is read-only.

Number of surfaces in a layer.

Example: 1

Data Types: int8

NumTraces — Number of traces

Read-only: scalar

This property is read-only.

Number of traces in a layer.

Example: 3

Data Types: int8

NumVias — Number of vias

Read-only: scalar

This property is read-only.

Number of vias passing through the layer

Example: 2

Data Types: int8

NumPins — Number of pins

Read-only: scalar

This property is read-only.

Number of pins in a layer.

Example: 2

Data Types: int8

EntityList — Entity list

Read-only: Pins | Vias | Traces | Surf

This property is read-only.

Entities of the layer.

Data Types: struct

Object Functions

shapes	Shapes
layerData	Layer data
show	Display PCB component structure or PCB shape

Examples

Read Allegro PCB File and Extract information

This example shows how to read an Allegro file and create a pcbFileRead object. After this the following opertations will be executed:

• Create layer, cadnet, padstack, part, and component objects form the pcbFileRead object

• Create a powerDistributionNetwork object from the cadnet object

• Set the properties of the powerDistributionNetwork object for voltage and current density anlysis

• Analyse and visualize the voltage and current density

Here is the circuit:

Here is the pcb layout:

Read file

Read a native format Allegro file and look at the propeties of the pcb

pfile = pcbFileRead('native_ExampleBoard_Allegro')

pfile = 
  pcbFileRead with properties:

           FileName: 'native_ExampleBoard_Allegro'
          NumLayers: 5
         MetalLayer: [1 3 5]
    DielectricLayer: [2 4]
        LayerHeight: [0.0184 0.0104 0.0092 0.0012 0]
         NumCadnets: 7
       NumPadStacks: 6
      NumComponents: 8
           NumParts: 5

cadnetList(pfile)

ans=7×4 table
    CadnetIdx        CadnetName         NumPins    Length
    _________    ___________________    _______    ______

        1        {'Unconnected_Net'}       3           0 
        2        {'NET_OUTV'       }       2       0.615 
        3        {'NET_GND'        }       1        0.46 
        4        {'NET_IN22'       }       2       0.645 
        5        {'NET_IN11'       }       4       0.488 
        6        {'NET_INNEG'      }       2       0.515 
        7        {'NET_INPOS'      }       2       0.676 

componentList(pfile)

ans=8×3 table
    ComponentIdx    ComponentName    NumPins
    ____________    _____________    _______

         1            {'OUT_V'}         1   
         2            {'U1'   }         6   
         3            {'C3'   }         2   
         4            {'R1'   }         2   
         5            {'TP1'  }         1   
         6            {'R2'   }         2   
         7            {'IN_N' }         1   
         8            {'IN_P' }         1   

partList(pfile)

ans=5×2 table
    PartIdx       PartName    
    _______    _______________

       1       {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
       2       {'IC6ANT'     }
       3       {'CAPGEN080'  }
       4       {'RESGENH40'  }
       5       {'RESGEN080'  }

padStackList(pfile)

ans=6×2 table
    PadstackIdx        PadstackName    
    ___________    ____________________

         1         {'MHYCIRCLE009'    }
         2         {'MHYC012'         }
         3         {'MHYRECT46X59'    }
         4         {'MHYRECT80X60H40' }
         5         {'VIA'             }
         6         {'MHYRECT46X59_TOP'}

stackUp(pfile)

ans=5×8 table
    LayerNumber      LayerName         LayerType        Material     Thickness    EpsilonR    LossTangent    Conductivity
    ___________    ______________    ______________    __________    _________    ________    ___________    ____________

         1         {'TOP'       }    {'Signal'    }    {'COPPER'}     0.0012          1              0         5.96e+07  
         2         {'Dielectric'}    {'Dielectric'}    {'FR-4'  }      0.008        4.5          0.035                0  
         3         {'LAYER2'    }    {'Plane'     }    {'COPPER'}     0.0012          1              0         5.96e+07  
         4         {'Dielectric'}    {'Dielectric'}    {'FR-4'  }      0.008        4.5          0.035                0  
         5         {'BOTTOM'    }    {'Signal'    }    {'COPPER'}     0.0012          1              0         5.96e+07  

Create layer object

Create and visualize a layer object

layerobj = layer(pfile,1,Type= 'All')

layerobj = 
  layer with properties:

        pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
    LayerNumber: 1
           Type: "All"
    LayerHeight: 0.0184
    NumSurfaces: 1
        NumPins: 14
        NumVias: 4
      NumTraces: []
     EntityList: [1×1 struct]

show(layerobj)

Create a cadnet object

Create cadnet object and look at it data

cadobj = cadnet(pfile,'NET_IN11')

cadobj = 
  cadnet with properties:

        pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
     CadnetName: 'NET_IN11'
        NumPins: 4
    NumSurfaces: 2
        NumVias: 4
      NumTraces: 4
    TotalLength: 0.4880
        Voltage: 'NoDef'
     LayerRange: [1 3 5]
     EntityList: [1×1 struct]

figure
show(cadobj)

Create a padstack object

Create a padstack object and look at its data

stackobj = padStack(pfile,'MHYC012')

stackobj = 
  padStack with properties:

         pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
    PadStackName: 'MHYC012'
         PadType: 'Pin'
        PadShape: 'Circle'
         NumPads: 6
       PadCenter: [6×2 double]
    HoleDiameter: 0
     PadDiameter: 0.0120
      PinPadInfo: [6×8 table]

shapes(stackobj)

ans=6×1 cell array
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}
    {1×1 antenna.Polygon}

Create a part object

Create a part object and look at its data

partobj = part(pfile,"IC6ANT")

partobj = 
  part with properties:

          pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
         PartName: 'IC6ANT'
    NumComponents: 1
    ComponentInfo: [1×7 table]

componentData(partobj)

ans = 
  component with properties:

             pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
       ComponentName: 'U1'
            PartName: 'IC6ANT'
       ComponentType: 'IC'
             NumPins: 6
               Value: ''
            Facement: 'TOP'
    ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]

Create component object

Create a component object and look at its pin data

componentobj = component(pfile,'U1')

componentobj = 
  component with properties:

             pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
       ComponentName: 'U1'
            PartName: 'IC6ANT'
       ComponentType: 'IC'
             NumPins: 6
               Value: ''
            Facement: 'TOP'
    ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]

componentPinData(componentobj,1)

ans = 
  pinsData with properties:

             PinShape: 'Circle'
           PartNumber: 'IC6ANT'
            Component: 'U1'
            PinNumber: 'A3'
                Value: ''
             PadStack: 'MHYC012'
           CadnetName: 'NET_OUTV'
           StartLayer: 1
            StopLayer: 1

   Circular pin dimensions:
               Center: [0.1010 0.2690]
             Diameter: 0.0120
    DrillHoleDiameter: 0

Create a power distribution network object

Create a power distribution network object from a cadnet object. After this the following operations can be performed:

• Set up the the Network Parameters, DC Parameters, and DC Rules properties of the power distribution network for power integrity analysis

• Analyse and visualize the voltage and current desnsity of the power distribution network

Here is the cadnet for power integrity analysis

pdnobj = powerDistributionNetwork(cadobj)

pdnobj = 
  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: []
                 Load: []
                Sense: []
     PlatingThickness: []

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: []
          LoadCurrent: []

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set Network Parameters: setNetworkParameters
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Find the pins connected to the cadnet using the findComponents function

ConnPins = findComponents(cadobj)

ConnPins=4×5 table
    ComponentIndex    Refdes    PinList    ComponentType          Part      
    ______________    ______    _______    ______________    _______________

          1           "C3"       "1"       {'Capacitor' }    {'CAPGEN080'  }
          2           "R2"       "2"       {'Resistor'  }    {'RESGEN080'  }
          3           "TP1"      "1"       {'Test Point'}    {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
          4           "U1"       "A1"      {'IC'        }    {'IC6ANT'     }

in = ConnPins.Refdes(2);
out = [ConnPins.Refdes(1),ConnPins.Refdes(4)];
SensePin = ConnPins.Refdes(3);

Set the network parameters

setNetworkParameters(pdnobj,Source=in,Load=out,Sense=SensePin,PlatingThickness=0.0003);

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: []
          LoadCurrent: []

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Set the DC parameters

setDCParameters(pdnobj,"LoadCurrent",[10e-3,10e-3],"NominalVoltage",2)

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: 2
          LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: []
           MinVoltage: []
           MaxVoltage: []
        MaxViaCurrent: []

To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Rules: setDCRules

Set the DC rules

setDCRules(pdnobj,MinVoltage=1,MaxVoltage=2.00002,MaxCurrentDensity=4,MaxViaCurrent=2)

  powerDistributionNetwork with properties:

   Network Parameters:
              NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
               Source: "R2"
                 Load: ["C3"    "U1"]
                Sense: "TP1"
     PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04

   DC Parameters:
       NominalVoltage: 2
          LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]

   DC Rules
    MaxCurrentDensity: 4
           MinVoltage: 1
           MaxVoltage: 2.0000
        MaxViaCurrent: 2

Analyze voltage deviation

voltage(pdnobj);

Analyze current desnsity with direction enabled

current(pdnobj,Direction="on")

Version History

Introduced in R2025a