2D Layout Editor
DESIGNER’S Layout Editor has all the features users expect in an EDA tool, such as hierarchical layout, plus some essential MEMS-specific features:

• True Arcs and Curves
  • Arcs and curves are a common feature of MEMS layouts.  Most EDA layout editors fracture arcs and curves into line segments, making it difficult if not impossible to create a solid model that can be meshed efficiently.  The Layout Editor preserves the mathematical description of arcs and curves, enabling DESIGNER to create solid models that can be meshed efficiently.
    
    
• Design Rule Checks
  • Typical MEMS design rules can be checked interactively, or in batch mode.
    
    
• Predefined MEMS Generators
  • The Layout Editor includes an extensive set of predefined, parameterized MEMS-specific generators, such as combs and suspensions of various types,  and microfluidic channels.  Using these generators to create a layout not only saves time, but assures that the layout is parameterized, making it easier to investigate design variations.
• Custom Generators
  • In addition to the predefined generators, users can create their own custom generators that combine basic drawing operations to draw nearly any shape. Custom generators can be fully parameterized, and can even include design rule checks.

3D Model Building
With a single click, DESIGNER combines a 2D layout with a process description created in its Process Editor, generates a 3D solid model, and displays the model in its Preprocessor.  Not only is this automated approach fast and easy to use, but it helps insure the correctness of the layout and the manufacturability of the design.   The Preprocessor has numerous features that make it easy to prepare a 3D solid model for finite-element analysis in ANALYZER.   Users can easily partition models for efficient meshing, define symmetry planes, and automatically create meshes appropriate for the various field solvers in ANALYZER.   The user can choose from more than 5 automatic volume meshing algorithms, but users can control the mesh density by setting various parameters and constraints at any level in the geometry, from globally down to individual edges or vertices.  The Preprocessor includes unique features for preparing models for electrostatics and coupled electromechanics analysis with the MemElectro and CoSolve-EM solvers in ANALYZER.  No other tool makes it so easy to set up typical MEMS models for finite element analysis.

With the Preprocessor, users can: 

• View 3D solid models
• View properties of a solid model, including the process and layout files that were used to create it
• Capture screen shots
• Partition solid models
• Define symmetry planes
• Auto-generate efficient finite element meshes
• Run mesh quality checks that visually highlight bad elements
• Import solid models and meshes created in 3rd-party tools
• Export solid models and meshes for use in 3rd-party tools
• Measure dimensions