The Layout Manager

This document describes the layer manager. As the name suggests, the Layer Manager lets the user manage the layers that make up a layered target.

The Layer Manager

layermanager_panel.layer_list

The layer manager portion of the Manage Layers Panel lets you manipulate the layers in the target.

  • layermanager_panel.clipboard – The Clipboard shows the current Clipboard Layer.
  • layermanager_panel.to_clipboard – Copies the currently selected layer to the Clipboard.
  • layermanager_panel.cut – Removes the currently selected layer from the Layer List and places it onto the Clipboard
  • layermanager_panel.paste – Inserts the Clipboard Layer into the Layer List at the currently selected position.
  • layermanager_panel.paste last – Inserts the Clipboard Layer into the Layer List as the last layer.
  • layermanager_panel.rename – Renames the name of the selected layer. A copy of the layer’s data is performed.

See Also: The Multilayer File Format

The Layer Parameters :

layermanager_panel.layer_parameters

Each layer has four parameters that are associated with it. The layer parameters are associated with the currently selected layer.

  • N Reference Not Important. Should be 1.0.
  • Z-Step Distance (MKS) of the propagation steps that subdivide a layer. The simplest setting is Z-Step = Z-Total if the layer thickness is much less than a wavelength
  • Z-Total Total thickness (MKS) of the layer
  • GrowFac This is a command option that allows a magnification/demagnification of the spatial scale between successive steps. It is only used in special cases. Usually it is set so that GrowFac = 1.

The Layer Tools :

layermanager_panel.tools

The Layer Manager Panel offers three (3) tools:

  • layermanager_panel.import_list – Imports a previously created layer list.
  • layermanager_panel.import_layer – Imports a previously created layer.
  • layermanager_panel.new_layer – Creates a new layer. The layer data is set to [0].

The Extra Data Vector :

layermanager_panel.extra_data_vector

The extra data vector is used to provide data input to programs that process the layers. For example, the mll object uses the first three parameters as Dill’s A, B, C parameters that describe photoresist exposure and inhibitor concentration. See mll setup for more information.