Sentaurus Workbench
1. Getting Started

1.1 Overview
1.2 Starting Sentaurus Workbench
1.3 Attaching Project Directories

Objectives

• To present an overview of Sentaurus Workbench.

1.1 Overview

Sentaurus Workbench is the primary graphical front end that integrates TCAD Sentaurus simulation tools into one environment. It is used throughout the semiconductor industry to design, organize, and run simulations.

Simulations are organized comprehensively into projects. Sentaurus Workbench automatically manages the information flow, which includes preprocessing user input files, parameterizing projects, setting up and executing tool instances, and visualizing results.

Sentaurus Workbench allows you to define parameters and variables to run comprehensive parametric analyses. The resulting data can be used with statistical and spreadsheet tools.

1.2 Starting Sentaurus Workbench

Before starting Sentaurus Workbench, you must set the STDB environment variable. This variable can be set to any directory path where you have write access. It is recommended to use a location with ample amount of disk space.

In this module, a subdirectory called DB under your home directory is used as the STDB directory. To create such a directory and set the environment variable STDB, use the following UNIX commands:

     
mkdir /home/<your_login>/DB       
setenv STDB /home/<your_login>/DB

or if you are using bash:

mkdir /home/<your_login>/DB      
export STDB=/home/<your_login>/DB 

Then, to start Sentaurus Workbench, type: swb &

Figure 1. Main window of Sentaurus Workbench. (Click image for full-size view.)

When Sentaurus Workbench is launched, it looks at the STDB environment variable and lists its contents in the Projects pane (see Figure 1, blue border). In addition, if the Sentaurus Applications Library package is installed, the Applications_Library also appears (see Figure 1, red border).

The Applications_Library contains various examples that illustrate how to use Sentaurus tools, as well as all the examples used in this tutorial.

The Applications Library package can be downloaded and installed with Sentaurus binaries by the person administering the software installation.

Valid Sentaurus Workbench projects have the icon preceding the name of the folder or project.

1.3 Attaching Project Directories

In addition to displaying the projects within the $STDB directory, projects located elsewhere can be attached (that is, displayed as read-only projects) to the displayed list:

1. Edit > Attach Root.
2. Select the required project directory.

This procedure can be repeated to attach up to five project directories. Projects under any of the attached roots cannot be executed by the user; they must first be copied to a directory under the $STDB directory.

To detach a project directory:

1. Select the required project directory.
2. Edit > Detach Root.

Only attached roots can be detached. The projects in the $STDB environment cannot be detached, but they can be deleted permanently.

Note that when exiting Sentaurus Workbench, all attached roots are detached automatically. If some directories need to remain always attached, use Edit > User Preferences (or press the F12 key) > Miscellaneous > Attached Roots on Start Up to specify such directories.