Conductor Clearance: Conductor Tab

The contents of the Conductor sub-tab in the Conductor Clearance tab of the Rule Editor dialog are described below. This sub-tab allows you to set minimum clearances for each conductor type in a design by defining the individual clearances in each design rule stack.

Item		Description
Clearance Priority		Allows you to select how the effective value for conductor clearance is set. This can be set by searching a hierarchical list of clearance values. Clearance rules that are set in the Conductor Clearance: Voltage Difference Tab, Constraint Browser or the Default Design Rule Stack section in Rule Editor are followed, in the hierarchical order shown below. Alternatively, you can use the largest clearance value that is specified in either Constraint Browser or Rule Editor.
	Use hierarchy	The effective value for conductor clearance is set by checking clearance rules in the following order. The first clearance value that is found is used. Click the relevant row in the following image for a description of where the value is set.   Note Item 1: if a voltage is set against a Net, then clearances are checked using the difference between the voltages of the nets. This is defined in the Voltage difference clearance table, in the Conductor Clearance: Voltage Difference Tab in Rule Editor. If Nets do not have a voltage defined, then the voltage difference is set in the Default Attributes for Signal section. Item 2: clearance values are used that are set in the Rule Area Attributes dialog for the Net. Items 3 to 8: if a voltage is set against a Net and a table stack is also set against a Net in the Design Rule tab in Constraint Browser, then the specified table stack is used as the clearance. Item 9: if no voltage or clearance stack is set for a Net, then the Default design rule stack determines the clearances.
	Use largest value	The largest clearance value is used that is set in either the Design Rule sub-tab, Voltage Difference Clearance section in Constraint Browser, or in the Default design rule stack section in Rule Editor. In the following example, a clearance of 0.1 mm is set in the Default design rule stack, and a clearance formula of 0.00305 * Vdiff + 0.05000 is specified in the Clearance dialog. Below approximately 16V, the clearance is defined by the Default design rule stack. Above this voltage, the clearance is defined by the formula as this produces the largest clearance values.

Default design rule stack

Select a relevant design rule stack to set the clearance values between different nets, same nets and differential pairs that are used by default.

Item	Description
Other net	Defines the clearance that is applied by default between conductors with different nets. This is a mandatory setting.
Same net	Defines the clearance that is applied by default between conductors with the same net. This is a mandatory setting.
Differential pair - Differential pair	Optionally define the clearance that is applied by default between differential pairs.
Differential pair - Power/Ground net	Optionally define the clearance that is applied by default between a differential pair, and a power or ground net.
Differential pair - Single net	Optionally define the clearance that is applied by default between a differential pair and a single net.

Design rule stack

Define design rule stacks, and assign design rule groups to the conductor layers associated with each design rule stack.

Item	Description
Design rule stack box	Allows you to define the name of a design rule stack. At least one design rule stack must be specified.
Add	Define the name of a design rule stack be created and click Add. The design rule stack is added to the Design rule stack list.
Design rule stack list	Shows the design rule stacks that you add using the Design rule stack box. Clicking a value in this list displays the design rule groups associated with each conductor layer in the Design rule stack.
Conductor layer	Shows the conductor layers that you specify in the Board tab. Clicking a conductor layer highlights the associated value in the Design rule group list for a selected design rule stack.
Design rule group	Click in this column to select a design rule group that you specified in the Design rule group box. The design rule group is applied to the associated conductor layer, for the selected design rule stack. Clicking a design rule group highlights the associated value in the Design rule group list for a selected design rule stack. A value must be specified for each conductor layer.

Design rule group

Define the design rule groups which are configured in the Basic settings table. These can then be selected in the Design Rule Stack section.

Item	Description
Design rule group box	Allows you to create a design rule group by typing its name and clicking Add. Multiple design rule groups can be created simultaneously by entering multiple names, separated by a space. At least one design rule group must be specified.
Add	Click Add to move the names that you specify in the design rule group box to the Design rule group list.
Design rule group list	Shows the design rule groups that you define in the Design rule group box. You can configure a highlighted design rule group in the Basic settings table.

Basic settings

Optionally set clearance values for each conductor type in the Basic settings table, set individual clearances for each design rule group and set the Distance to first corner value for surface mount and through hole pins. Specify a clearance value between each element by entering a value in the cell where the row and column of the relevant clearance elements intersect.

 

 

Item		Description
Show (Hide) track and area fill		Toggle the display of the details for tracks and area fills.
Show (Hide) pins		Toggle the display of the details for pins.
Show (Hide) through hole via		Toggle the display of the details for through vias.
Show (Hide) blind/buried via		Toggle the display of the details for buried vias that are not build-up vias.
Show (Hide) build-up via		Toggle the display of the details for build-up vias.
Display basic clearance settings dialog		The clearance settings for the selected clearance elements are displayed in the Basic Settings - [design rule group] dialog.
Distance to first corner		Allows you to avoid acute angles between tracks and surface mount pins, and between tracks and through hole pins. The following video demonstrates this functionality:
	From Surface mount pin	Acute angles between tracks and surface mount pins can be avoided by specifying the distance between the pin and the second routing segment that is entirely outside of the pad. This distance is checked by the DRC command for same net clearance.
	From through hole pin	Acute angles between tracks and through hole pins can be avoided by specifying the distance between the pin and the second routing segment that is entirely outside of the pad. This distance is checked by the DRC command for same net clearance.

 

 

Basic settings table: Track

The clearances associated with tracks are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Track Clearances image.

Track Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Track Clearances image
Track	Track		The clearance between tracks.	A1
	Area fill		The clearance between a track and an area fill.	A2
	Pin	Through hole	The clearance between a track and a through hole pin.	A3
		Surface mount	The clearance between a track and a surface mount pin.	A4
	Via	Through hole	The clearance between a track and a through hole via.	A5
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a track and a blind/buried via.	A6
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between a track and a landless through hole via.	A7
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a track and a landless blind/buried via.	A8
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a track and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a track and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a track and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a track and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a track and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a track and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a track and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings Table: Area fill

The clearances associated with area fills are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Area fill Clearances image.

Area fill Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Area fill Clearances image
Area fill	Area fill		The clearance between area fills.	B1
	Pin	Through hole	The clearance between an area fill and a through hole pin.	B2
		Surface mount	The clearance between an area fill and a surface mount pin.	B3
	Via	Through hole	The clearance between an area fill and a through hole via.	B4
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between an area fill and a blind/buried via.	B5
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between an area fill and a landless through hole via.	B6
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between an area fill and a landless blind/buried via.	B7
	Build-up	Via	The clearance between an area fill and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between an area fill and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between an area fill and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between an area fill and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between an area fill and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between an area fill and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between an area fill and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Through hole pin

The clearances associated with through hole pins are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Through hole pin Clearances image.

Through hole pin Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Through hole pin Clearances image
Through hole pin	Pin	Through hole	The clearance between through hole pins.	C1
		Surface mount	The clearance between a through hole pin and a surface mount pin.	C2
	Via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole pin and a through hole via.	C3
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole pin and a blind/buried via.	C4
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole pin and a landless through hole via.	C5
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole pin and a landless blind/buried via.	C6
	Build-up via	Via	The clearance between a through hole pin and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a through hole pin and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a through hole pin and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole pin and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole pin and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole pin and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole pin and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Surface mount pin

The clearances associated with surface mount pins are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Surface mount Clearances image.

Surface mount Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Surface mount Clearances image
Surface mount pin	Pin	Surface mount	The clearance between surface mount pins.	D1
	Via	Through hole	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a through hole via.	D2
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a blind/buried via.	D3
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between a surface mount pin and landless through hole via.	D4
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a surface mount pin and landless blind/buried via.	D5
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a surface mount pin and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Through hole via

The clearances associated with through hole vias are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Through hole via Clearances image.

Through hole via Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Through hole via Clearances image
Through hole via	Via	Through hole	The clearance between through hole vias.	E1
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via and a blind/buried via.	E2
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole via and a landless through hole via.	E3
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via and a landless blind/buried via.	E4
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a through hole via and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a through hole via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a through hole via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Blind/Buried via

The clearances associated with blind/buried vias are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Blind/Buried via Clearances image.

Blind/Buried via Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Blind/Buried via	Via	Blind/Buried	The clearance between blind/buried vias.	F1
	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a landless through hole via.	F2
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a landless blind/buried via.	F3
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a blind/buried via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Landless through hole via

The clearances associated with landless through hole vias are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Landless through hole via Clearances image.

Landless through hole via Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless through hole via Clearances image
Landless through hole via	Landless via	Through hole	The clearance between landless through hole vias.	G1
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a landless blind/buried via.	G2
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless through hole via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Landless Blind/Buried via

The clearances associated with landless blind/buried vias are described below, with a reference to each item in the following Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image.

Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Landless blind/buried via	Landless via	Blind/Buried	The clearance between landless blind/buried vias.	H1
	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a via that joins two consecutive build-up layers.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless blind/buried via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Build-up Via

The clearances associated with build-up vias are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Build-up via	Build-Up	Via	The clearance between build-up vias.	Not shown
		Skip layer via	The clearance between a build-up via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between a build-up via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a build-up via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a build-up via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a build-up via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a build-up via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Skip layer via

The clearances associated with skip layer vias are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Skip layer via		Skip layer via	The clearance between skip layer vias.	Not shown
		Landless skip layer vias	The clearance between a skip layer via and a via without pads on internal build-up layers, and without lands on the start and finish layers.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a skip layer via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a skip layer via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a skip layer via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a skip layer via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Landless skip layer via

The clearances associated with landless skip layer vias are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Landless skip layer via		Landless skip layer via	The clearance between landless skip layer vias.	Not shown
	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless skip layer via and a through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless skip layer via and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a landless skip layer via and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless skip layer via and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Through hole core layer via

The clearances associated with through hole vias in the core layer are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Through hole core layer via	Core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between through hole vias in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via in the core layer and a blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a through hole via in the core layer and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a through hole via in the core layer and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Core layer blind/buried via

The clearances associated with blind/buried vias in the core layer are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Core layer blind/buried via	Core layer via	Blind/Buried	The clearance between blind/buried vias in the core layer.	Not shown
	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between a blind/buried via in the core layer and a landless through hole via in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a blind/buried via in the core layer and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Landless through hole core layer via

The clearances associated with landless through hole vias in the core layer are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Landless through hole core layer via	Landless core layer via	Through hole	The clearance between landless through hole vias in the core layer.	Not shown
		Blind/Buried	The clearance between a landless through hole via in the core layer and a landless blind/buried via in the core layer.	Not shown

Basic settings table: Landless blind/buried core layer via

The clearances associated with landless blind/buried vias in the core layer are described below.

Element 1	Element 2		Description	Item in Landless Blind/Buried via Clearances image
Landless blind/buried core layer via	Landless core layer via	Blind/Buried	The clearance between landless blind/buried vias in the core layer.	Not shown