Creating cross section images

Vertical cross-section images of layouts can be created using the XSection plugin for KLayout. To use it, install the XSection plugin from KLayout -> Tools -> Manage packages.

KLayout GUI XSection tool

Once XSection plugin is installed in KLayout, a “XSection” ruler tool is available as a scroll option for the Ruler tool.

  1. Use the Ruler tool in KLayout to choose the cuts along which the vertical cross-sections are created. Select the “XSection” ruler type if you want to use other rulers for measurements.

  2. To create the cross-sections: Tools -> XSection scripts -> Run script -> example.xs

XSection call in KQC code

XSection plugin can be called from python code to automate cross-section geometry generation for simulation files. klayout_package/python/kqcircuits/export/xsection_export.py includes

  • create_xsections_from_simulations, a high level method to take a cross-section for each simulation object using two DPoint values

  • xsection_call, a low level method requiring a path to the input and output OAS files, two DPoint values and, optionally, a path to a process file. If xsection/kqc_process.xs process file is used, make sure to provide a path to the parameters json file as well.

An example of using XSection tool to produce cross-section simulation files is demonstrated in klayout_package/python/scripts/simulations/waveguides_sim_xsection.py

Process files (.xs)

The process by which the actual physical shapes are created from the layout layers is defined in .xs files. The xsection folder in KQC contains two process files:

  1. Lightweight example process file xsection/example.xs, intended for taking cross-sections using a KLayout GUI tool

  2. xsection/kqc_process.xs intended only for use by a create_xsections_from_simulations call in KQC code

Information about writing the .xs files can be found in the following pages: