Nanodevice Routing

Example — 48 pads (12 per edge) around a 2mm field:

python scripts/place_pads.py --field 2000 --pad-size 80 --pads-per-edge 12

route_multiwindow.py — Multi-window EBL routing

Routes device contacts to bonding pads in two passes with different line widths, placing connection patches at the window boundary.

python scripts/route_multiwindow.py \
    --pin-contacts 100/0 \
    --pin-pads 101/0 \
    --inner-window 800 \
    --outer-window 2000 \
    --inner-width 0.5 \
    --outer-width 1.0 \
    --inner-layer 3/0 \
    --outer-layer 4/0 \
    --patch-layer 5/0 \
    --patch-size 1.0 \
    --obstacle-layers 1/0

• --pin-contacts — Layer with pin markers at device contacts (default: 100/0)
• --pin-pads — Layer with pin markers at bonding pads (default: 101/0)
• --inner-window — Inner EBL window size in um (default: 800)
• --outer-window — Outer EBL window size in um (default: 2000)
• --inner-width — Route line width for inner window in um (default: 0.5)
• --outer-width — Route line width for outer window in um (default: 1.0)
• --inner-layer — Output layer for inner routes (default: 3/0)
• --outer-layer — Output layer for outer routes (default: 4/0)
• --patch-layer — Output layer for boundary patches (default: 5/0)
• --patch-size — Boundary patch size in um (default: 1.0)
• --obstacle-layers — Comma-separated obstacle layers (default: 1/0)

The script:

1. Reads contact and pad pin positions from their layers
2. Computes boundary intersection points at the inner window edge
3. Places boundary pins on temporary layers
4. Runs inner auto_route (contacts → boundary, fine lines)
5. Places connection patches at boundary points
6. Runs outer auto_route (boundary → pads, coarse lines)
7. Cleans up temporary pin layers

clear_routes.py — Remove routes from specified layers

python scripts/clear_routes.py 3/0 4/0 5/0

Clears all shapes from the listed layers. Useful for re-routing without losing device geometry.

Workflow

1. Create device geometry (mesa, contacts) using geometry skill or execute_script
2. Place pin markers at device contact tips on layer 100/0
3. Place bonding pads with place_pads.py (also places pin markers on 101/0)
4. Run route_multiwindow.py to connect everything
5. Check result — if overlapping, adjust parameters and re-run after clear_routes.py

Output Layers Convention

Note: These layers are task-specific examples. Always use the layer assignments from the task instruction, which may differ (benchmarks frequently use 20/0 for mesa, 22/0 for topgate, etc.).

Layer Format

All layer parameters use the "L/D" string format (layer/datatype), not arrays or separate integers. Examples: "1/0", "3/0", "100/0".

This applies to all CLI flags (--layer, --inner-layer, --outer-layer, --patch-layer, --obstacle-layers, --pin-contacts, --pin-pads) and to the auto_route MCP tool parameters (pin_layer_a, pin_layer_b, obstacle_layers, output_layer).

Known Limitations

• Auto-router may produce overlapping routes in dense fan-out scenarios (48+ pins from a small cluster)
• Workaround: increase path_safe_distance, or manually adjust problem routes via execute_script

auto_route Environment

The auto_route MCP tool runs a subprocess on the host machine (KLayout runs on the host, not inside the container). By default it activates conda env instrMCPdev via ~/miniforge3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh. This fails if the host uses a different conda distribution (e.g., anaconda3).

Workaround: Pass the python_path parameter to bypass conda activation entirely. To discover the correct path, use execute_script (which also runs on the host):

import glob, os
candidates = glob.glob(os.path.expanduser("~/anaconda3/envs/instrMCPdev/bin/python3")) + \
             glob.glob(os.path.expanduser("~/miniforge3/envs/instrMCPdev/bin/python3"))
result = candidates[0] if candidates else "instrMCPdev env not found"

Then pass the discovered path as python_path in your auto_route call.

Manual Route Fallback

When auto_route fails for individual pin pairs (reports "No path found"), create manual L-shaped routes via execute_script:

top_cell = _layout.top_cell()
li_route = _layout.layer(3, 0)  # or your route layer

# Create an L-shaped path from contact to pad
x1, y1 = 766.0, 811.4  # contact center (um)
x2, y2 = 928.0, 1825.0  # pad center (um)
mid_x = x2  # route goes horizontal then vertical
width = 1.0  # path width in um

path = pya.DPath([
    pya.DPoint(x1, y1),
    pya.DPoint(mid_x, y1),  # horizontal segment
    pya.DPoint(mid_x, y2),  # vertical segment to pad
], width / _layout.dbu)
top_cell.shapes(li_route).insert(path)

Use this for any pairs that auto_route couldn't connect. Check the auto_route result for failed_pairs to identify which contacts need manual routing.