SUPPORTING GUIDE

CASE STUDY

High-speed Digital Board Design with Altium Designer

Istvan Nagy, Electronics Design Engineer, Blue Chip Technology

Introduction the positive and the negative net with „_P” and
„_N” suffixes. We have to add net-class names to
This is a tutorial for high-speed digital board design both nets, see later in the classes section. For the
with Altium Designer. There are some design objects differential pairs, the net class assigment will be used
and rules that are not covered in this document since for trace width rules. To add the diffpair symbol to
they are not important for understanding high-speed a net, use „Place > Directives > Differential Pairs”,
design constraints. There are different grades of then attach the symbol to both nets, then doubleclick
high-speed design from the 8-bit USB microcontroller on the symbol and adit the „Name” field to give a
boards untill the server computer motherboard unique name, for example the net names without the
designs. This article is trying to explain all possible suffixes. Give the same diffpair name to both the _P
trace length related challanges with solutions for all and the_N net.
grades. This document mainly focuses on the Altium
Designer release 10, and in few sections there are
examples with Altium Designer 6.9 as well. This
tutorial requires the reader to be familiar with the Figure 1: Net name, Differential Pair and Net Class specification in
general PCB design with Altium Designer. schematics
In the PCB layout file when we import the design the
Connection Objects differential pair objects will be created. We can see a
list of all differential pairs in the PCB Panel when we
select the „Differential Pair Editor” in the panel’s top
The connection objects define the connections in a
drop-down list. Here we can browse hierarchically,
circuit, group of connections, or the way of making
first select a diffpair class or „All” from the first list,
the connections (eg differential-pair routing). Some
then select the diffpair by its name in the second list,
of them are naturally created, and they are normally
then we can see the two nets in the third list. In the
coming from the schematics like nets and buses.
panel we can specify what should happen when we
There are other objects that have to be manually
select an object, by choosing from a small drop-down
defined. Some of these can be defined in the
list on the PCB panel. The selection can have no
schematics level, while other can only be defined in
effect („Normal”), or highlight („Dim”), or highlight
the PCB design file. This chapter describes connection
and disable editing of aother objects („Mask”). In
objects that have to be manually created, so we
the last two cases the selection can be cancelled
will be able to define the high-speed design rules
by pressing the „Clear” button in the bottom-right
properly based on them.
corner of the Altium Designer window. The level of
highlighting can be set in the „Mask Level”, which
Differential Pairs: is next to the Clear button. In Altium Designer, the
For differential signals, we create differential pair different „Panels” can be turned on or off in the right
objects. The best way is to create them in the bottom corner of the editor, by clicking on the PCB-
schematics design. We give netnames for both button.

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 we have to create these objects on every important
driver-receiver pin-pair, or in some cases based on a
standard like the Jedec DDRx memory module design
specifications, known as JESD21C documents (www.
jedec.org).

Figure 2: PCB Panel and Differential Pairs Editor

Figure 4: PCB Panel and From-To Editor

The importance of the From-To objects is the fact that
we have to control the flight time on multi-point nets
where the signal arrival time from a pin to another
pin has to be controlled. We need net segment control
normally between each driver or receiver device pair
(static timing), and between terminations and active
devices (signal integrity). Without From-Tos, Altium
Designer would do total-etch-length control which is
nothing to do with flight time on multipoint nets, it is
only suitable for point-to-point nets where we have 2
Figure 3: Altium Designer Panels components/pins on a net. In high-speed designs not
only the signal integrity is important, but the static
From-Tos: timing as well. To learn more about static timing on
The „From-To” objects define pin-to-pin connections BCBs, refer to the two-part article: „Generalized I/O
or pin-pairs on multipoint nets. Based on these Timing Analysis” in the Printed Circuit Design and
objects, we are able to control trace length related Fabrication Magazine: http://publish-it-online.com/
propagation delay from one specific pin to another publication/?i=49146 page 26, and http://publish-it-
specific pin or on a net, by setting up length or online.com/publication/?i=50463 page 23.
matching design rules where the „scope” of the
rule is a From-To or a From-To Class object. These
objects can only be created in the PCB editor, not in
the schematics level. On the PCB Panel, select the
„From-To Editor” in the top drop-down list. In this
editor we can create the From-To objects, by first
selecting a net in the first list, then selecting two
component pins on the net from the second list,
then pressing the button underneath the second
list. The text on the button is selection-dependent,
showing something similar to this: „Add From-To
NETNAME (component1-pin1 : component2-pin2)”.
We can also auto-generate a set of pin-pairs on
a net by first selecting a net in the first list, then
pressing the „Generate” button, and select one
topology option. Most of the casses the automatic
option doesn’t generate what we need. Unfortunately
with the current version of Altium Designer we have
to create the From-Tos on every net one-by-one
manually. If we have a wide multipoint bus, then it
Figure 5: Jedec specification for DDR3 memory module control signal group
can be very time consuming. On multipoint nets,
routing

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Buses:
If we work with wide parallel buses made of single-
ended signals (like PCI or IDE), we can simplify our
schematics by using „Bus” objects. In this design
guide we don’t discuss „Bus” ojects any further,
since they dont have much importance for trace
length control design rules, and they are most of the
times impractical to use as a scope of a Design Rule.
We use them often for graphical aid in schematics
design. For buses made of differential pairs (like
PCI-Express or Hyper Transport) the Altium Designer
„Bus” object has not much use. For signal groups to
be used in PCB design rules, we use class objects
instead. Figure 7: Net Class specification in schematics
If a series element breaks a high-speed net into
two or more portions, then we have to specify net
Classes: names, Net Classes, Differential Pairs, and Differential
The classes are also design objects, they are Pair Classes for all signals on both of the separate
groups of other design objects (connection objects segments. Altium Designer doesn’t treat these signal
or components or other types). For example Net paths as single objects, like the Cadence Allegro
Classes, Differential Pair Classes, From-To Classes, would by creating „XNETs”. This way the objects
Component Classes. With using classes, we can and the trace length related design rules have to be
define design rules that are valid on a class of created for both segments separately.
objects. For example match the length of all
signals in a net class, or set differential pair phase Design Rules (Constraints)
tolerance on a class of differential pairs. We can
manually create or view/edit classes in the PCB In Altium Designer we normally specify PCB design
Editor’s „Design” Menu „Classes...” item. This rules or constraints in the Design Rules editor, in the
opens the „Object Class Explorer” window. Here „Design > Rules...” menu item. For a PCB design,
we can create new classes and select objects we have to set up various general design rules, but
from a list to add to the new class. Classes can this document only describes the ones immediately
overlap, which means for example that one net related to high speed design considerations. There
can be a member of two net classes, then we can are several Altium Designer tutorials about using the
refer to the two net net classes in two different other rules. Some design rules control interactive
design rules. This creates an opportunity for PCB editing parameters, others are checked (and
complex multi-level matching structures like DDRx objects marked if violated) by on-line DRC, while
memory clock-strobe-data 2-level matching. some other rules are checked by the manually-run
Design Rule Check (DRC). For every rule type, we
have to know how they are used/checked in the
software. The trace width and spacing rules are
based on manufacturing capabilities and impedance
calculations. The length related rules can be based
on a component manufacturer’s (processor, FPGA,
Graphics Processor...) design guide document,
or based on a standard like the Jedec or PICMG
standards, or they can be based on timing analysis
or Signal Integrity simulations/calculations. Please
refere to the article about this subject: „Generalized
I/O Timing Analysis” in the Printed Circuit Design and
Fabrication Magazine.

Figure 6: Object Class Explorer

Net Classes can be created in the schematics level

as well. By simply using „Place > Directives >
Net Class”, then attach the symbol to every net
one-by-one that has to be in the Net Class, then
doubleclick on the symbol and edit the „Name”
and the „Class Name” fields. To make it work, the
Schematics Editor’s „Project > Project Options >
Class Generation > Generate Net Classes” menu
item has to be enabled. Altium Designer 10 does not
support Diffpair Class or From-To or From-To Class
specification in the schematics level.

Figure 8: Design Rules Editor (the discussed rule types are framed with red)

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 dielectric hight is the distance from a signal layer
With Altium Designer 10, we can specify PCB design
to the nearest ground plane layer. The rule has a
rules in the schematics level as well, but a littlebit
parameter selector called „Layer Checking”. With this
differently than in the PCB editor. We ad add one
we can specify where the rule applies: „Same Layer”
PCB_Layout directive (which can contain multiple
only or „Adjacent Layers” for dual stripline structures.
rules) to a net, but the rules are without a „scope”.
Without the Adjacent Layers option the design
Instead of specifying the object to apply in the rule,
engineer would have to check the spacing on adjacent
the object is specified graphically by attaching the
layers manually.
rule symbol to net or to multiple nets (copies of the
same directive). We can place a rule directive from
The first rule is enforced in interactive editing and
the „Place menu > Directives > PCB_Layout”, then
checked by the On-Line (real-time) DRC, while the
doubleclick on the symbol and doubleclick on the rule
second type is only checked by the manually-run
in the list, then click on the „Edit rule Values” button.
DRC. Normally we apply both types of spacing rules
This opens a rule selector where we can create any
on net classes. Sometimes we want to specify spacing
PCB rule by doubleclicking on a category. We can add
(Parallel Segmenth rule) between differential pairs
more rules to a directive symbol, by doubleclicking
within a group, so we specify the rule’s scope like
on the symbol on the schematics drawing, then press
„InDifferentialPairClass(‘HT_DIFFPAIRS’)” for the
ADD, then type „Rule” in the „Name” field, press
„First Object” and „IsDifferentialPair” for the „Second
OK, then doubleclick on the new entry in the list and
Object”.
press the „Edit Rule Values” button. Alternatively we
can also do this by doubleclicking on the symbol on
the schematics drawing, then press Add_As_Rule the Room
click „Edit Rule Values” then choose a rule from the We can specify areas on the board where different
tree-view. In this article we are using rules defined in rules would apply. These areas are called „Rooms”
the PCB Editor. and can be placed from the „Design > Rooms >
Place_Rectangular_Room” menu option. Then the
Rooms can be named and Layer to-be-used-on
Trace Width
specified, then referenced in the design rules (based
Normally we put a group of nets based on
on room name), so the rule will only apply within
characteristic impedance into a Net Class. Then we
the area covered by the Room. This way we can
set up a „Width” rule in the „Routing” category for
for example specify that in the BGA breakout area
every net class separately, and also a default width
all traces will be routed with minimal trace width,
rule for all other or non-impedance controlled traces.
while outside the room the other width rules (for
The most important use of Net Classes on high-
example the ones based on impedance / trace width
speed boards is to group the signals for trace width
calculations) will apply. The Room works with Trace
specification, that will be used in interactive editing,
width, spacing, manufacturing-related and many
autorouting and DRC.
more Design Rules.
Spacing
Differential-Pair rule (spacing and uncoupled length)
Spacing in PCB design has two aspects:
The „Differential Pair Routing” rule in the „Routing”
manufacturability and controlling crosstalk levels. For
category has to be set up for every Differential-Pair
the first aspect, we set up a „Clearance” rule in the
Class separately or in groups (applied to a list of
„Electrical” category, which is normally the minimum
classes). The rule specifies the trace spacing („Gap”)
spacing that our PCB manufacturer recommends.
between the positive and negative track within the
The Differential Pair rules also contain a field
a differential-pair, and it is enforced in interactive
called „Gap”, but this is a related to the differential
editing when we use the Interactive Differential
impedance of the diffpair.
Pair routing option. It also specifies the maximum
uncoupled length, but this one is only checked by
In high-speed digital board designs we have to keep
the manually-run DRC. The result of the impedance
high-speed traces apart each other to minimize the
calculations for a diffpair is a trace width and a
crosstalk between them. Normally in the component/
spacing. The Differential-Pair rule only applies the
BGA breakout or fanout area or in small localized
spacing, so we need to create trace width rules
board areas next to vias or component we can not
as well, applied on the Differential-Pair Class or
keep the desired separation. This way we can not
Net Class. We will also have to set up a „Matched
set up a spacing rule based on the crosstalk-based
Net Lengths” rule to meet the phase tolerance
recommendations, simply because the rule would
requirements.
be violated at too many places on the board with
hundreds of DRC errors. The solution for the problem
is to use the „Parallel Segment” rule in the High- Net Length Rule
Speed category in the Design Rule Editor. This rule is With this rule, we can specify a minimum or
a spacing rule which ignores short parallel segments, maximum trace length for a group of signals (Net
and only checks spacing if the two traces run too Class or Differential-Pair Class) or a group of From-
long in parallel. This is because the crosstalk does Tos. We can find the „Length” rule in the „High Speed”
not manifest measurebly on short parallel segments. category in the Design Rules Editor.
The crosstalk noise voltage level is higher if the
Aggressor and Victim tracks run parallel at a longer Matched Net Length rule
segment. To apply correctly, we should do signal With this rule we can control the trace lengths relative
integrity simulations with different spacing values, to each other in a group of signals, diffpairs or From-
where the spacing to dielectric hight ratio is what Tos. We can find the „Matched Net Lengths” rule in
we are looking for. The actual space value does not the „High Speed” category in the Design Rules Editor.
guarantee crosstalk control, but this ratio does. The An important parameter of the rule is the types of
objects which between the rule will be applied. For
Altium Designer Tutorial Page 4
differential phase tolerance rules we enable only
the „Check Nets Within Differential Pair” option, and
leave the other two options disabled. If we want
to match a group of nets like a lane on a memory
interface, then we enable the other two options
and disable the above mentioned one. If we want
to match differential pairs to each other in a group,
then we create a matching rule and enable only the
„Check Between Differential Pairs” option. Don’t
forget that for buses made of diffpairs, we must set
up two separate matching rules for phase tolerance
and group matching. Examples for differential buses
(multi-lane or multi-pair) are x2-x16 PCI-Ecpress
links, DVI, DMI, Hyper Transport buses and XAUI
interfaces. Note that the „Tolerance” value in the rule
is the maximum difference between the longest and Figure 9: Matched Net Length Rule
shortest track, and not the +/-delta value from the
average length.
Stub Length rule
We can find the „Daisy Chain Stub Length” rule in the
„High Speed” category in the Design Rules Editor.
What we need to setup:

Table 1: Objects and Rules

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 5

Impedance rule can be set up during tuning modes when we hit the
Altium Designer can set trace widths based on TAB-key.
impedance specifications, but this uses built-in
analytical equations, which is unaccurate for most
real high-speed designs. This way we should really
use an external field-solver-based impedance
calculator program to calculate trace widths and
differential pair separation. The Polar Instruments
SI8000 or the freeware TNT-MMTL are suitable for
this. Note that the two program’s results deviate
by 0-5 Ohms in some cases, and the Polar software
is widely accepted in the industry. If we want to
use AD’s impedance calculator, then we just click
„Characteristic Impedance Driven Width” in a „Width”
design rule.

Interactive editing
During interactive editing or routing we have to
measure the trace lengths real time or quasi real
time. The Altium Designer’s on-screen Length Meter
pops up during „Interactive Length tuning” or during
„Interactive Differential Pair Length tuning” which
shows net lengths in real-time. Unfortunatelly this
only works on total net length, not on segment
(From-To) lengths, and it does not pop up during
routing or during sliding/stretching of trace
segments.

The PCB Panel shows lengths in quasi real time,

which means that we tune/slide/route then press
ESC to exit the editing mode, then the measured
length values get updated. If we match a group of
nets or differential pairs, we want to see the length Figure 11: Tuning Parameters
of the other traces in the group as well. The PCB Very often we want to control the trace length by re-
Editor Panels, the PCB-Panel, the PCB-List-Panel and routing or sliding segments. During this the Length
the PCB-Rules&Violations Panel can help in this. The meter doesn’t pop up, so we have to measure the
last one was introduced recently, in earlier versions lengths using the PCB panel. This is not real time,
of Altium Designer this was a tab on the PCB-Panel, so the way of using it is to route/slide/tune then exit
but now we can see both panels in the same time on routing mode (pressing ESC) then the length data
the screen. It makes sense to make the used panels on the PCB panel gets updated. When we are sliding
always visible so we can see them during editing. a segment, the value gets updated after letting the
If we have more than one display then we can put trace go after sliding. If we have to adjust the length
these panels on the second screen as floating panels of a net then select „Nets” on the top of the panel,
and use the main screen for the PCB drawing. if we tune a differential pair then select „Differential
Pairs Editor”, for Net Segment length control we select
Signal Routing and Length tuning (simple Point-to-point net the „From-To Editor”. We can also hand route then
length control) run DRC then modify all tracks that are violating a
We can control trace lengths by choosing routing matching rule.
path, deleting then re-routing segments, sliding
segments or using the „Interactive Length tuning” or In Altium Designer 10 the Rules&Violations panel
„Interactive Differential Pair Length tuning” features lists all the rules and related violations with violation
from the Tools menu. details (eg. deviation from preferred length). If we fix
a violation then it disappears from the list. In earlier
versions like Altium Designer 6.9 the Rules&Violation
was a tab on the PCB Panel and it didn’t display
violation details, so we had to use it together with the
PCB List panel to see the Violation details by setting:
„Non-Masked objects” and „Include Only = Violations”
on the top of the PCB List panel, then the details got
updated as we started the trace editing.

Matching reference: By default, Altium Designer

treats a matching roup as a range from the shortest
Figure 10: On-screen Length-Meter (Gauge) during „Tuning” net to the longest net, and not as a reference-net
During Length Tuning modes the On-screen Length- +/-delta. During Tuning we can set a reference net
Meter pops up on the screen to show net length in (after hitting the TAB key), but otherwise there will
real time. The tuning parameters such as Reference be an automatic referencing based on actual length.
Net selection, Rule selection, Meander parameters
Figure 12-14: Measuring lengths on PCB Pane: Nets tab, Diffpairs Editor tab and From-To Editor tab.

The DRC also uses automatic referencing. This automatic refencing will be mentioned in the Rules&Violations
list and on the PCB List Panel in the violation detalis. The referencing (eg. „...Differential Pair B Actual Length
Difference against diff pair E is: 0.82...” in the violation details) looks similar to this: {A,B,C,D}  E, E  A.

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 6

Figure 15: PCB Rules & Violations Panel.

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 7

Point-to-point Net matching
After we set up the appropriate design objects and
design rules, we can route all our tracks on a bus or
interface. We should route the tracks with reasonable
spacing to allow for space around the tracks for
lengthening them. Finally we should run the DRC to
updte the violation list and fix the violations one by Figure 16: PCB Standard Menu
one. If we have a group of point to point nets to be
matched then the violations will be on the tracks that
are furthest away from the rest of the group. We can
try to first shorten the longest tracks in the group. To
do this, we select the net group (eg. Net Class) on
the PCB Panel’s Nets tab and then sort the member
nets by length, then pick the few longest ones and
try to change them to be shorter. After this we have
to lengthen the shortest traces until all will be within
range.

We can achive this in different ways. The simplest

is to hand calculate the minimum length limit based
on the longest trace, then use the PCB Panel to
select shorter tracks and lengthen them until all will Figure 17: Manually balanced Diffpairs
be longer than the minimum. We can also use the
Rules&Violations panel instead of the PCB Panel to
select Violations and lengthen the tracks related to Diffpair-to-Diffpair matching
the violations until the violations disappear one- There is a need for diffpair to diffpair matching in
by-one, finally the list will be empty. Another way multi-lane high-speed serial interfaces like PCI-
is to just try to lengthen all nets in the group by Express, DVI, DMI, XAUI or Hyper-Transport. Some
using „Interactive Length tuning” and use the on- interfaces have built-in de-skew circuits so they can
screen length meter to see when the meter’s colour allow for a more loose matching (e.g. PCIe needs +/-
becomes green. The Interactive PCB Editor clamps 3” with some controllers), while others without this
the traces at the rule’s maximum length. (if it’s set circuit need tigher matching (eg. Hyper Transport 1.0
to do so after hitting TAB) This way the tuning is needs +/-1mm lane-to-lane matching).
fast and we dont need to verify values or do hand
calculations, only watch for the colour of the Length The design of these interfaces have to be done
Meter bar. Sometimes this doesn’t work when the similarly to the net group matching. First we
Length meter picks up the wrong minimum and set up the objects then the rules (matching rule
maximum lengths (it might be a bug or a setting in with „Check Nets Within Differential Pair”=Off,
a hard to find place), so then we have to use one of others=On.), then we hand route the difffpairs with
the first two methods. Interactive Differential Pair Routing. After this we fix
the unbalance within the pairs then we match the
diffpairs to each other within the group. To measure
Diffpair Phase tolerance matching
the diffpair length we should use the PCB Panel’s
The differential pairs need to be balanced, so the
Differential Pairs Editor. We can adjust the length of a
length of the negative net relative to the positive net
DP by deleting and rerouting a segment, by selecting
of the same pair has to be matched. If the pair is
the same segment on the P/N nets and slide them
unbalanced, then we get signal integrity problems,
together, or by using the „Interactive Differential Pair
like eye-closure, increased common-mode noise due
Length Tuning” in the Tools menu. The best way to
to „mode transformation”, increased crosstalk and
check when they are matched is to select a diffpair
increased EMI. We set up a matching rule where the
class in the DP-Editor on the PCB Panel, sort the
„Check Nets Within Differential Pair”=On, others=Off.
diffpairs in the list by length, then hand calcualte the
We have to route the differential pairs with the
minimum length, then tune the nets that are shorter
Interactive Differential Pair Routing option, although
than the minimum length until they are longer than
it might create a littlebit unbalanced diffpairs. We
the minimum, but still shorter than the maximum.
have to fix the unbalance close to the trace-ends by
re-routing, tuning or sliding segments of the shorter
net and watching the result on one of the panels. The
PCB Panel Diffpairs Editor tab shows the length of
the nets in the DP separately, the Rules & Violations
Panel (PCB List Panel in earlier Altium Designer
versions) shows the violation details if any of the
diffpairs are unbalanced.

We have to select the appropriate matching rule

Figure 18: Tuned diffpairs
on the Rules & Violations Panel to see the related
violations. The phase tolerance requirement is
specified in processor datasheets, design guides Net Segment length control
or standards. For example for PCI-Express 1.1 we If we have to control the propagation delay from a
usually use +/-0.125mm phase tolerance. particular pin to another particular pin on a multi-
point net, then we have to create a design object
describing that specific pin-pair. Sometimes we have

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 8

 on From-Tos also don’t work very well, they don’t
to control the length or delay on a daisy-chain or
work with on-line DRC but only with the normal DRC.
fly-by bus on the segments between the devices as
In some older version of AD the creation of From-To
well. These rules come from timing analysis or signal
Classes may not work. Instead of creating From-
integrity analysis, other times it is standardized
To Classes we can alternatively list all From-Tos in
and described in a standard (like JESD21C) or in a
the Design Rules scope field (InFromto(’name1’) or
processor’s motherboard design guide. In the second
InFromto(’name2’)…).
case the timing and signal integrity analysis was
done by those people who wrote the document, so
the motherboard designer only has to follow the Package Length
pre-created design rules. Typical examples are the There isn’t a really good support for this in Altium
different DIMM memory card designs, memory-down Designer. For large BGAs the signal routing lengths
configurations, multiple-DIMM/channel designs, inside the package are usually not matched, each
DDR1/2 DIMM-based designs, Compact-PCI card signal is routed at a different random length.
designs, multi-device PCI-X systems… The information is usually provided in an Excel
spreadsheet or in a design guide or datasheet. The
The net segments are represented by the From-To point in net length control is to ensure proper timing
objects in Altium Designer. Normally we apply a margins at the chip receiver circuits and NOT at the
design rule on a group („Class”) of objects, so we BGA balls, the signal arrival at the BGA ball has no
have to create the From-To Classes in the Object significance. This way we need to control the die-pad
Class Explorer (Design>Classes) window. First we to die-pad routing length by tuning the motherboard
have to create the From-Tos for every affected net routing length. For this the design software has to
one by one in the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor tab. take into account the in-package routing lengths
When we set up the design rules, we apply them as well. Other programs like the Cadence Allegro
on From-To Classes, and during interactive editing have this feature built-in as „Pin Delay” for library
we use the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor to check the components.
lengths of the pin-pair (From-To) conenctions. First
we hand-route the tracks to follow the specified We can design a board by using matching rules only
topology on all tracks in the group, then we tune the if the package length mismatch is smaller than the
appropriate track segments while we check the From- allowed length range on a particular bus. This way
To lengths on the PCB Panel. If we have absolute we have to tighten the design rules to compensate
rules on the net group then it’s easy to see the for the package length mismatch. If the mismatch is
values on the PCB Panel, but if we have to match the bigger than the allowed range of our original design
segments then we have to run the DRC then use the rules, then we have to control every net length one-
Rules&Violations Panel to see if there are violations. by-one, setting up Length rules for each net on the
bus separately. This can mean a hundred rules for
If we want to use the „Interactive Length Tuning” a bus. There is a way to speed this up a littlebit, by
feature, then we have to set a manual target length, exporting rules into a text file from the Design Rules
like 99999mm which is surely longer then the net Editor, edit it with Notepad or Excel (copying rules
total length, since the Interactive tuning and on- and changing the referenced net in them), and then
screen Length Meter only measures a net’s total importing the file back into the Design Rules Editor.
length, they don’t support From-Tos. We can also In the DRE we can right click on a rule category and
set a calculated target length: „actual_total_length select „Export Rules” or „Import Rules”.
+ (required_segmenth_length – actual_segmenth_
length)” and tune until it it clamps. Another problem
is that the violation doesn’t disappear from the list
until we re-run the DRC, and the violation details
also does not get updated until we re-run the DRC.
Basically it does’t work with On-Line DRC. This
way nothing tells in real-time if the From-To length
meets the rules or not. Basically the best method
is to hand-calculate trace segment lengths and use
the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor to quasi-real-time
measure the From-To lengths while comparing the Figure 19: Package Length
measured lengths with our paper or Excel-based
calculations. This might be very time consuming. It External Trace Length processing (Excel)
might be a good idea to first hand-route the board, We can export trace lengths from the PCB Editor’s
then check all from-to lengths on the PCB Panel, PCB List Panel, or from the PCB Panel into Excel.
then calculate absolute min/max length constraints The way to do it is to select/copy/paste like we do
for all segments, so we can easily compare the PCB between two Excel sheets. This might be useful when
panel’s values with our Excel sheet during editing to we want to check the trace lengths on a bus against
see if the rules were met, without using automatic a processor manufacturer’s trace length calculator.
DRC. We can transform a matching rule into a Intel, AMD and others usually provide a Trace Length
min/max absolute rule by measuring the longest Calculator for their processors and chipsets.
net in the group (that,s the „max”), then set a rule
for all From-Tos in the group. Since the DRC with Unfortunatelly the opposite way, importing design
min/max absoulte length rules ignore From-Tos rules from Excel into the PCB List Panel does not
(bug in Altium Designer), there is not much point in work. Even changing the rules values on the List
setting these rules into the Altium Designer Design panel doesn’t work. This might be a bug in the
Rules Editor, so better to only handle them in an software, or just not supported. We can import rules
external Excel sheet. The matching rules/violations into the Design rules editor from a file, but the text

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in the file has to be in a very specific format. If we DDR3 SODIMM-based motherboard design
create a rule in Altium Designer DRE and export into For a DIMM-based memory interface, we have to
a text file, then edit the file in a text editor (or in create lots of separate matching groups, route both
Excel) then import it back into the DRE, then we can differential and single-ended signals. Normally the
have lots of similar rules quickly created or updated original design rules or constraints are specified in
with values. the processor or chipset’s datasheet or motherboard
design guide. We have to translate those constraints
Exporting From-To details also doesn’t work properly, into Altium Designer design rules. The chip
since from the PCB Panel we can only select/copy the manufacturers usually define a few design rules: DQ/
From-Tos that belong to one net, and on the PCB List DM to DQS matching, ACC to CLK matching and DQS
Panel the From-To routed lengths are not displayed. to CLK matching. These are specified for example as
Also the net report does not contain From-To details. L_dqs = L_clk +/- delta, or maybe assymmetrically
as {L_clk -delta1 … L_clk +delta2}. In this section
Typical Examples there is a step by step method for the memory
channel design, although other methods could also be
Differential Hyper Transport bus design suitable.
Embedded clock interfaces (like PCI-express or
DVI) usually have De-Skew circuits built-in, so they Steps for one 64 or 72-bit memory channel:
only need loose matching, while for example clock
forwarding interfaces (e.g. Hyper Transport 1.0 or ► Set up design objects: Net classes in schematics, one net class
per lane in data bus (8 DQ signals and one DM signal), one
XGMII) need tight matching between diffpairs. net class for ACC bus, one net class for clocks one for strobes
(DQS). Set up diffpair classes in PCB for strobes, andother class
In a DC-coupled x16 Hyper Transport link between for clocks.
an AMD Athlon-II processor and the AMD north ► Fan out the DIMM and the processor to dogbone vias.
bridge, we have four matching groups. Half link in ► Route tracks in parallel until close to the processor. Try to use
one direction is one group, so we have groups named one layer.
TX_upper, TX_lower, RX_upper and RX_lower. Within ► Route tracks from the processor’s fanout dogbone vias to the
each group we need to match the diffpairs within routed tracks. To see clearly, set „View>Connections>Hide_All”,
+/-0.6mm. For this, we have to create four diffpair then „View>Connections>Show_Component_Nets” then click on
the DIMM. Probably we will find that we can not connect all of
classes, and one separate Matched Net Lengths rule them, so try to connect as many as we can, normally around half
for each diffpair class. We need one more Matched of them. The signals that we couldn’t connect have to be moved
Net Lengths rule which is applied on all the four to another layer, then we have to be able to conenct all. If we
still can’t succeed then we have to swap a few signals between
classes, and it sets the phase tolerance matching at the two layers. We should also distribute the traces on the
+/-0.125mm with „Check Nets Within Differential used layers evenly to maximize spacing between them. Now all
Pair”=On, others=Off. signals are routed between the DIMM socket and the processor.
► Set up design rules:
Steps: • One Matched Net Lengths rule for each lane on the
databus (applied on: Lanek_CLASS, DQSk_P, and
► Create diffpair classes, one for each matching group. „Check Nets Within Differential Pair”=Off, others=On),
The matching groups are specified in the processor’s One lane’s DQ and DM signal are in one Net Class,
design guide or in the datasheet. specified in the schematics.
► Create rules (diffpair rules, width rules, matching rules • One Matched Net Lengths rule for the clock diffpairs
for phase tolerance and group matching). phase tolerance („Check Nets Within Differential
Pair”=On, others=Off). All the clocks are in a diffpair
► Route diffpairs with Interactive Differential Pair routing. Class, so the rule is applied on the class.
► Run DRC. • One Matched Net Lengths rule for the strobe
diffpairs phase tolerance („Check Nets Within
► Verify if all the rules are working, if not then re-create the Differential Pair”=On, others=Off). All the strobes are
rules. Normally there will be a few violations on every in a diffpair Class, so the rule is applied on the class.
rule, so if there aren’t any then it’s suspicious that the • One absolute Length rule for the Address/
rule is not working. Command/Control (ACC) bus. These signals are in
one Net Class specified in the schematics. The rule is
► Match P/N nets for phase tolerance using the applied on: ACC_CLASS. The min/max rule values will
Rules&Violations panel.
be calculated later.
► Match diffpairs within groups using the PCB Panel’s • One absolute Length rule for the DQS-CLK
Diffpairs Editor. matching. The rule is applied on: DQS_CLASS. The
min/max rule values will be calculated later.
► Run DRC again, check if the phase tolerance is still
matched, if not then fix them again. ► Display a list of all signals on the channel in the PCB Panel’s
Nets tab, select all related Net Classes, then sort them based
on length. Find the few longest ones and try to re-route them
to be shorter. Some processor datasheets specify a maximum
memory bus length, so check if all our signals are shorter than
than. (Those processors have a „simple” read data capture
circuit.)
► In the list of nets note the length of the longest and the shortest
net (L_max and L_min, and separately for the ACC bus as
well). Choose the length of the clock signals based on three
equations: L_clk >/= 1.02 * L_max - delta_L_clkdqs, and L_clk
>/= 1.02 * L_max_ACC - delta_L_clkacc, and finally L_clk >/=
already_routed_clock_length.
► Tune both clock diffpairs to the chosen length within the given
CLK-to-CLK tolerance (or just +/-0.1mm). Use Interactive
Differential Pair Length Tuning, hit TAB key and set manual
target length. Also make sure that the phase tolerance matching
rule is satisfied. After this, make sure that the clock traces are
not modified anymore.

Figure 20: Hyper Transport Bus (one of the 3 used layers)

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► Set a value for the ACC bus absolute Length design rule: L_min ► Lengthen the shorter tracks in every lane by re-routing segments
= L_clk - delta_L_clkacc, L_max = L_clk + delta_L_clkacc. or using Interactive Length Tuning. During tuning hit the TAB
key to set reference length (the appropriate DQS pair’s positive
► Set a value for the DQS absolute Length design rule: L_min = net). The lengthening stops when we reach the right range, then
L_clk - delta_L_clkdqs, L_max = L_clk + delta_L_clkdqs. proceed to the next signal in the lane. To easily find the related
signals, use the PCB panel’s Nets tab and select the appropriate
► Match DQS signals for phase tolerance. Net Class of the actual lane, and enable „Dim” or „Select” on
► Match DQS signals with CLK by re-routing segments and the header of the PCB Panel. On the PCB Panels Nets tab we
using Interactive Differential Pair Length Tuning and using can manually verify net lengths how far/close they are to the
the absolute Length rule. During tuning hit the TAB key to set calculated ranges.
reference length to be the CLK0_P net. We can have the PCB ► Tune the ACC bus similarly to the data bus lanes, but set the
Panels Diffpair Editor on the screen, CLK and DQS diffpair reference signal to be CLK0_P.
classes enabled to manually oversee and verify net lengths how
far/close they are to the calculated ranges. Tune DQS until they ► Run the DRC to check if the whole bus is tuned, and also
are longer than L_min. verify if the rules were working, for example by deleting a long
segment from a track should create a violation in a matching
► Set DQS length more accurately for every lane, by selecting rule.
the lane’s nets (the net class of DQ/DQS) sort them by length,
and set L_dqs = L_max – delta_L_dqdqs. Lengthen DQS to this
new length. Do this for each lane separately.
► Check if the DQS and CLK phase tolerance rules are violated
or not. Fix if needed.

Figure 21:DDR3 SODIMM socket routed to a processor (one of the 2 used layers, 2/channel)

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 DDR3 Memory single-chip Interface design
This is basically the same as the DIMM-based memory interface design.

Figure 22: Single-chip memory interface (one of the 3 used signal layers)

TL0+TL1+TL2 (card-edge to first DRAM chip),

DDR3 SODIMM memory card design
TL2+TL3+TL2 (first chip to second), TL2+TL4+TL2,
If we have more than one memory chip, then the
TL2+TL5+TL2, TL2+TL3+TL4+TL5+TL2 (first chip to
address bus is not point-to-point anymore and it
last), and TL2+TL6+TL7 (last chip to termination).
requires From-To based design rules. In this example
we are focusing on the Address/Command bus design
A simple way of designing DIMMs or Memory-Down
on a DDR3 SODIMM memory modules, based on
is when we copy the placement and the routing from
the JESD21C 4.20.18 document, using the Raw-
the Jedec reference design. These reference designs
Card-C configuration. The Jedec standard specifies
are normally provided on the Jedec website for free,
track segment lengths with both absolute and
but in Cadence Allegro format. We have to import
matching rules. The data bus (DQ, DM, DQS) routing
the Allgero file into Altium Designer on a temporary
can be done in the same way as a cpu-to-DIMM
board file, then copy/paste the routed tracks onto our
motherboard design, but the absolute length rules
board, but the components have to be there already
also have to be satisfied. The CLK to DQS matching
in the right locactions to allow the tracks to pick up
is indirectly specified in the Jedec specifications,
the correct nets.
and its different than the a cpu-to-DIMM rules: they
specify absolute length rules for all signal groups.
On DDR3 DIMMs the DQS/DQ/DM length is a lot
shorter than the CLK/ACC signal lengths to any of the
DRAM chips. Since DDR3 uses „Fly-By” topology, the
CLK/ACC length to the different DRAM chips (Fro-To)
is different. On DDR1/2 designs they used balanced
tree topology where the CLK/ACC lengths to the
different DRAM chips were matched.

The Jedec standards specify net segmenths that

we have to translate into From-To design rules,
for example in the figure-24 the From-Tos are:

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Figure 23: Jedec DDR3 SODIMM general routing guidelines

Figure 24: Jedec DDR3 SODIMM Address / Command routing guidelines (abs. rules)

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We will use manual absolute rule checking because of processors/chipsets. This might have signal integrity effects,
the bugs in Altium Designer related to From-To-based although the static timing will be correct.
rule support. We can set up matching rules for the ► Also check if the From-To were measured correctly by the
DRC-based verification, since the DRC still works with program or not. There is abug in the program that needs this
workaround. The net total length should be around the same as
From-To-based Matched Net Length rules. the sum of the From-To lengths (stubs are measured twice). If it
isn’t, then we have to re-route segments until this is fixed. See
the section about bugs and workarounds.
To easily see which nets to adjust, we should have
them in one net class, and highlight (dim) them ► For each net one-by-one tune (lengthen) the routed segments
through the PCB Panel’s Nets tab. Although this to be within the Jedec absolute length requirements, while
measuring the length on the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor. Since
doesn’t help us in finding them in the net list on the the PCB Panel’s length display is not really real-time, we have
From-To Editor. We can also highlight the actually to use the On-Screen Length Meter in the following way: Check
how much longer (extra) the From-To has to be (extra = desired
edited net through the From-To Editor, by selecting - actual), then check initial total net length (in the first list on the
the net in the net list, then right click and click on From-To Editor), hand calculate the „initial_total_net_length +
„Zoom Selected”. After this, the editing of the tracks extra = new_total_net_length”, then use the Interactive Length
Tuning (set manual tartget length to the calculated value by
is disabled, so we have to press clear, then find and hitting TAB) to tune the appropriate segment until we get the
highlight the same net on the graphical editor using calculated value for the total net length. After this we verify that
CTRL+click. Because of the no-support for From-Tos weather the From-To length is as it was specified in the Jedec
specs or not. We can select a net on the From-To Editor to be
in the On-Screen Length-Meter, we have to do hand able to find it on the board, but it only selects the pins, not the
calculations to convert the From-To adjustment to routed tracks, so we have to press the „Clear” button in the
total net length adjustment. lower right corner to enable the access to the tracks.
► Set up From-To Classes and Matched Net Length rules based
Steps: on the general routing guidelines.

► Hand-route the bus and follow the specified topology. Check ► Run the DRC to see if all the From-Tos are properly matched.
the Jedec reference board design (Allegro) file for the
topology, placement, fanout, routing and layer usage. A free
Cadence Allegro Viewer can be used for this. Make sure to DDR3 Memory-Down design
break the track segments at every branch to avoid From-To The „Memory-Down” is the design technique
length measuring errors (see the chapter about Bugs and where we design a complete DIMM memory on to
Workarounds).
the motherboard, so we don’t need to use DIMM
► Set up the From-Tos in the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor, for all sockets, all the memory chips will be soldered on
specified pin-pairs on all nets in the group. These are the DIMM
card edge to first DRAM chip’s pin, the segments between the the motherboard. In a Memory-Down configuration,
DRAMs, from the last DRAM to the termination, and from the we basically attach the design rules of a processor-
first DRAM until the last DRAM (clock only). to-DIMM design guide with the DIMM design guide
► Check the routed From-To lengths (one-by-one on the PCB from the Jedec specifications. The rules are given in a
Panel), if they are longer than the Jedec absolute trace length format like offset_from_reference+/-delta (relative)
specifications. If they are longer, then try to re-route them to
be shorter. If we can not shorten all tracks, then we have to or offset+/-delta (absolute) or min/max range
set a new target length for the ACC bus. For a DDR3 memory (absolute) format. The motherboard design guides
address bus we can increase a few segment (card edge to first normally provide relative rules, where the length of a
DRAM, last DRAM to Rtt) lengths by a few millimeters. This
will deviate from the standard, but if we check the different signal group is specified relative to another signal or
Raw Card topologies, then we would see that there are big group (eg. ACC-bus to CLK), while the DIMM design
differences in these segment lengths. The important thing rules are provided as absolute rules in min/max
is to match the different nets on the same segment, so use
a longer target length but for all signals in the group. If we ranges. We have to transform both constraints to
increase the ACC-bus (from card edge to first DRAM From- offset +/-delta description, then sum the offsets and
To) and the data bus by the same amount, then the effect is the deltas separately. This way we get constraints
like if the DIMM socket on the motherboard was further away
from the processor/chipset, which is completely allowed by the from chip/die pin to chip/die pin. Because the Altium

Figure 25: JEDEC standard-based DDR3 SODIMM (Routed on four signal layers, ACC/CLK highlighted. We can see that the ACC-bus enters the card
in the middle of the edge-connector, then routed up, then changes layer and routed to the left, then routed to the first DRAM chip, then to the second, to
the third, to the last DRAM chip, then finally to the termination resistors. This way the Jedec standard net topology and trace segmenth length rules can
be satisfied by length tuning.)

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 14

Designer’s From-To support has some issues, we tab) does not get updated in case of diffpair to diffpair
work with min/max design rules for every From- matching rules, or in case of From-To based matching
To (see above). This way we have to convert the rules. It needs us to run the DRC. It gets updated
summed constraints into min/max range absolute only during net to net matching. Fortunatelly the PCB
rules. If we copy a Jedec DIMM layout into our Panels’s diffpair length and From-To length display
motherboard desingn, then we only have to set up gets updated, so we can use that to check if the
the Fom-Tos on the ACC/CLK from the processor routing already meets the requirement or not. The
pins until the first DRAM chip on the chain, since only downside is that we have to see if the numbers
the other segmenths will not change and they are are within range, we may have to note numbers on
properly designed by the Jedec members. We have to a piece of paper and use a calculator to calculate the
calculate the CLK-to-DQS matching as well. min/max range of the particular net, the program will
not tell in real-time if the matching rule is met or not.
Steps:
► Convert the Jedec ACC-bus trace lengths into Offset +/- Delta 2.) Sometimes the DRC and the On-Line DRC ignore
rules (Figure-24): some matching rules or it ignores few of the objects
• Offset = (lenght_min + lenght_max) /2 in the rule. Because of this bug, we have to make
• Offset_from_reference = Offset – offset_of_ sure that every rule is „alive”, for example by deleting
reference_signal
• Delta = lenght_max – Offset a trace segment and checking if a new violation
• The reference signal for the ACC bus is the CLK0 shows up. If it doesn’t violate the matching rule, then
diffpair’s positive net. we have to delete the rule and create a new one with
► Sum the motherboard design guide’s constraints with the Jedec a new name.
constraints. For the ACC bus (or separately for addr/comm, and
control bus):
• Offset_from_reference = Offset_from_reference_ 3.) Sometimes the Length Meter displays a minimum
Jedec + Offset_from_reference_CPU and maximum limit that are incorrect and unrelated
• Delta = Delta_Jedec + Delta_CPU. to the actual trace lengths or rules. This may because
► Hand route the whole bus based on the specified topology it picks up a wrong target length. The best thing is to
drawing, then measure CPU-to-first_DRAM chip From-To length make sure by hand calculation about the minimum
on all signals on the ACC bus and clocks. Take the longest one and maximum limits for every trace and ignore the
and calculate new_offset = length_max_routed – Delta_ACC
Calculate absolute length rules for the ACC bus (or separately Length Meter’s displayed limits. We might have to set
for addr/comm, and control bus): Length_min = new_offset manual target length using TAB. We can also hand
+ Offset_from_reference - Delta Length_max = new_offset + calculate min/max lengths then set a rule for the
Offset_from_reference + Delta
range, finally set a fixed target length (in the middle
► Manually check the From-To lengths against the calculated of the calculated range) during length tuning. If there
rules on the PCB Panel’s From-To Editor during routing, as it
was described in the above section about designing a DIMM are two matching rules, then sometimes the Length
memory card. Meter picks up only the first rule.
► Set up an absolute length design rule for the databus based on
the processor’s matching rules (+/-delta_L_clkdqs_cpu) and 4.) Lack of „Package Length” support in Altium
the Jedec CLK0_P(to first DRAM)/DQS(to first DRAM) length
difference (offset_L_clkdqs_jedec = L_clk0_P – L_dqs0_P). Designer: We can design a board by using matching
The DQS absolute Length design rule: Length_min = L_clk0_P rules only if the package length mismatch is smaller
- offset_L_clkdqs_jedec - delta_L_clkdqs_cpu Length_max = than the allowed length range on a particular bus.
L_clk0_P - offset_L_clkdqs_jedec + delta_L_clkdqs_cpu
This way we have to tighten the design rules to
► Tune/design the databus in the same way as we did for the compensate for the package length mismatch. If the
DIMM-based motherboard design. The only difference now is
the way of specifying the DQS length range relative to the CLK package mismatch is bigger than the allowed range
length, in the previous step. Remember, we have to set up of our original design rules, then we have to control
matching rules for every lane on the databus, measure lengths every net length one-by-one, setting up Length rules
in groups, tune DQS to longest DQ then tune other DQ/DM to
DQS… for each net on the bus separately. This can mean
a hundred rules for a bus. There is a way to speed
this up a littlebit, by exporting rules into a text file
from the Design Rules Editor, edit it with Notepad or
Excel copying rules and changing the referenced net
in them, and then importing it pack into the Design
Rules Editor. In the DRE we can right click on a rule
category and select „Export Rules” or „Import Rules”.

5.) Displaying From-To Length: It works only on the

PCB Panel, it doesn’t work on the On-Screen Length
Figure 26: Relative and absolute length rules
Meter or on the Heads-up Display. This way we have
If we need to connect two memory chips to a DSP or to use the PCB Panel during editing. If we want to
to a graphics processor, then we can do it similarly to use the „Interactive Length Tuning” feature with
a 64-bit Memory-Down design, but simply cut off the From-To-based rules, then we have to set a manual
not needed part of the DIMM topology. This means target length, like 99999mm which is longer then
for example for a 32bit interface, that we cut off the the net total length, since the Interactive tuning and
second half of the x16 DRAM chips (seen on the Fly- on-screen Length Meter only measures a net’s total
By chain) and the track segments between them. length, they don’t support From-Tos. The Interactive
tuning and on-screen Length Meter only measures
a net’s total length, they don’t support From-
Bugs and workarounds Tos. Another problem is that the violation doesn’t
disappear from the list until we re-run the DRC, and
1.) The Violation list on the Design rules&Violations the violation details also does not get updated until
panel (previously on the PCB Panel’s Rules&Violations we re-run the DRC. This way nothing tells in real-time

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 15

 library components. In Altium Designer we could have
if the From-To length meets the rules or not. Basically
a new parameter for pins in the PCB or Schematics
the best method is to hand-calculate trace segment
library components, defining the package length.
lengths and use the PCB Panel to quasi-real-time
This has to also be spreadsheet editable, since in a
measure the From-To lengths while comparing the
usual case we would have to copy this parameter for
measured lengths with our paper or Excel-based
thousand-pin components.
calculations. This might be very time consuming.
2) Importing design rules from Excel spreadsheet.
6.) The DRC sometimes doesn’t find any violations
For example PC chipsets usually have a trace length
on absolute Length Rules applied on From-Tos. If
calculator that takes the package lengths and other
we need to use absolute length rules, then we have
parameters into account and tells the min/max
to check violations manually using the PCB Panels’s
range for every net on a bus. We could import this
From-To Editor and an Excel sheet or a piece of
spreadsheet into Altium Designer as one rule/net
paper.
rather than manually creating 80 rules for a DIMM
memory interface. Exporting net lengths work fine
7.) The From-To Editor sometimes displays an
from the PCB Panel’s Nets tab by using simple copy/
incorrect length for the From-Tos. For example it
paste Windows function.
displays correctly for most of the nets, but for a few
ones the From-To lengths seem to be longer than
3) Automatically generate From-Tos for all nets in
they should be. Normally for these nets the sum of
a group or Net/DP Class, based on user defined
all From-To lengths is a lot longer than the net total
topology. Now for a wide bus we have to create the
length which is a good way to finding these nets. The
From-Tos for every net one by one. The Cadence
cause of this error is that Altium Designer is not able
Allegro has this capability, where we create pin-
to measure partial track segment lengths. To make
pairs (like From-Tos) on one net, then create a rule
sure that Altium Designer will measure correctly,
that contains the topology relative to component
we should route the tracks in a way that the tracks
designators, then apply the rule for all nets on a
break at every branch. See the drawing below. If this
group of signals.
still doesn’t fix the length problem, then we have
to delete then re-route a segment or the whole net
4) Length Meter improvements needed: Display
manually. Sometimes by simply re-routing a 5mm
From-To lengths well. Display the Length meter during
segment, the measured From-To length changes by
routing and sliding as well, since now it pops up only
50mm. This is another bug related to the From-To
during length tuning. If there are multiple rules on a
length measurements in Altium Designer.
net, then display multiple length meters on the screen
in the same time.

5) Color coding of length parameters on the PCB

panel. If a trace or From-To or diffpair length meets
all associated rules then the text noting its length
should become green, otherwise red. Since the
on-screen length meter does not support all editing
modes and rules, we normally use the PCB panel to
measure length. It would be nice if we didnt have to
compare the numbers from the PCB panel with our
calculations, but the program could tell if lengths
meet the rules or not.
Figure 27: Routing Effect on From-To measuring correctness
6) Exporting From-To details also doesn’t work
properly, since from the PCB Panel we can only
Non-existing features select/copy the From-Tos that belong to one net, and
on the PCB List Panel the From-To routed lengths are
For real high-speed designs, a few important features not displayed. Also the net report does not contain
should be implemented in Altium Designer: From-To details. The improvement needed would be
to add a column into the PCB List Panel that shows
1) Package length support for large BGA devices the routed length of the From-Tos.
like PC chipsets and large FPGAs. This one is the
most important missing feature. For large BGAs the 7) The Rules and Violations Panel should show the
signal routing lengths in the package are usually number of violations for every rule. Now we have to
not matched, each are routed at a different random click on a rule to see how many violations are there
length. The information is usually provided in an for that particular rule. If we have lots of rules then
Excel spreadsheet or in a design guide or datasheet. we have to check them one by one to make sure that
The point in net length control is to ensure proper there are no more violations. We should be able to
timing margins at the chip receiver circuits and NOT see these at once in one list or table.
at the package/BGA balls, the signal arrival at the
BGA ball has no significance. This way we need to 8) PCB List improvements: A filter based on user
control the die-pad to die-pad routing length by defined text with wildchards could help in seeing the
tuning the motherboard routing length. For this the objects that we want to see during editing and hiding
design software has to take the in-package routing the remaining few hundred objects that are unrelated
lengths as well. Other programs like the Cadence to the actual editing. For example when we want to
Allegro have this feature built-in as „Pin Delay” for adjust From-To objects on different nets, the PCB
Panel only shows From-Tos that belong to one net.

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 To speed up the tuning on buses, we should really
see same segment From-Tos on different nets in
the same time. The PCB list should also display the
From-To detail, called „routed”. With Altium Designer
10 there is no user selectable column for this detail.
If the PCB List did display the From-To length and
total net length as well, then we could do quick and
easy Excel calculations for all From-Tos with copy/
paste from/into-Excel, this way speeding up the
design process significantly. We can sort objects on
the PCB List, but as soon as we start some editing
on the PCB, this sorting changes (lines get mixed
up) and it becomes hard to find the lines that we
were checking.

9) When we select a From-To on the From-To Editor,

it should highlight the related track segmenths, and
editing should not be disabled. In Altium Designer
10, it only highlights the associated component pins,
and the track editing/tuning is disabled. We have to
press Clear, then find the same net on the PCB which
is not easy to do.

Altium Designer Tutorial Page 17

Blue Chip Technology

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