cadnet
R2026bDescription
Create a cadnet object
A cadnet is a designated grouping of interconnected pcb components in a PCB layout.
Creation
Description
cadobj = cadnet(
creates a cadnet object from a pfile,'CadnetName')pcbFileRead object and given a specified
name.
Input Arguments
The input pcbFileRead object specified as a string.
Example: cadobj = cadnet(filename,'NET_INN1') creates a
cadnet object from the pcbFileRead object
filename.
Data Types: string
This property is read-only.
Name of the cadnet in the pcbFileRead object specified as a string.
Example: cadobj = cadnet(filename,'NET_INN1')
Data Types: string
Properties
This property is read-only.
Number of pins in a cadnet.
Example: 2
Data Types: int8
This property is read-only.
Number of surfaces in a cadnet.
Example: 1
Data Types: int8
This property is read-only.
Number of vias in a cadnet
Example: 2
Data Types: int8
This property is read-only.
Number of traces in a cadnet.
Example: 3
Data Types: int8
This property is read-only.
Length of the cadnet in inches.
Example: 1.2
Data Types: double
This property is read-only.
Entities of a cadnet: Pins, Vias, Traces, Surf (surfaces).
Example: [1x1 struct]
Data Types: struct
Voltage in the cadnet.
Example: 2.20
Data Types: double
Layers included in the cadnet.
Example: [1 3 5]
Data Types: int8
Setting this property to true enables visualization of actual pad
shapes in the pcb database seen using cadnetData and
shapes. object functions. When set to false
uniform pad shapes are used.
Data Types: logical
Object Functions
show | Show |
cadnetData | Cadnet data |
shapes | Shapes |
Examples
This example shows how to read an Allegro file and create a pcbFileRead object. After this the following operations will be executed:
Create layer, cadnet, padstack, part, and component objects form the
pcbFileReadobjectCreate a powerDistributionNetwork object from the cadnet object
Set the properties of the powerDistributionNetwork object for voltage and current density analysis
Analyze and visualize the voltage and current density
Here is the circuit:

Here is the pcb layout:

Read file
Read a native format Allegro file and look at the properties of the pcb.
pfile = pcbFileRead('native_ExampleBoard_Allegro')pfile =
pcbFileRead with properties:
FileName: 'native_ExampleBoard_Allegro'
NumLayers: 5
MetalLayer: [1 3 5]
DielectricLayer: [2 4]
LayerHeight: [0.0184 0.0104 0.0092 0.0012 0]
NumCadnets: 7
NumPadStacks: 6
NumComponents: 8
NumParts: 5
cadnetList(pfile)
ans = 7×4 table
CadnetIdx CadnetName NumPins Length
_________ ___________________ _______ ______
1 {'Unconnected_Net'} 3 0
2 {'NET_OUTV' } 2 0.615
3 {'NET_GND' } 1 0.46
4 {'NET_IN22' } 2 0.645
5 {'NET_IN11' } 4 0.488
6 {'NET_INNEG' } 2 0.515
7 {'NET_INPOS' } 2 0.676
Get insights using Copilot
componentList(pfile)
ans = 8×3 table
ComponentIdx ComponentName NumPins
____________ _____________ _______
1 {'OUT_V'} 1
2 {'U1' } 6
3 {'C3' } 2
4 {'R1' } 2
5 {'TP1' } 1
6 {'R2' } 2
7 {'IN_N' } 1
8 {'IN_P' } 1
Get insights using Copilot
partList(pfile)
ans = 5×2 table
PartIdx PartName
_______ _______________
1 {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
2 {'IC6ANT' }
3 {'CAPGEN080' }
4 {'RESGENH40' }
5 {'RESGEN080' }
Get insights using Copilot
padStackList(pfile)
ans = 6×2 table
PadstackIdx PadstackName
___________ ____________________
1 {'MHYCIRCLE009' }
2 {'MHYC012' }
3 {'MHYRECT46X59' }
4 {'MHYRECT80X60H40' }
5 {'VIA' }
6 {'MHYRECT46X59_TOP'}
Get insights using Copilot
stackUp(pfile)
ans = 5×8 table
LayerNumber LayerName LayerType Material Thickness(inch) EpsilonR LossTangent Conductivity(S/m)
___________ ______________ ______________ __________ _______________ ________ ___________ _________________
1 {'TOP' } {'Signal' } {'COPPER'} 0.0012 1 0 5.96e+07
2 {'Dielectric'} {'Dielectric'} {'FR-4' } 0.008 4.5 0.035 0
3 {'LAYER2' } {'Plane' } {'COPPER'} 0.0012 1 0 5.96e+07
4 {'Dielectric'} {'Dielectric'} {'FR-4' } 0.008 4.5 0.035 0
5 {'BOTTOM' } {'Signal' } {'COPPER'} 0.0012 1 0 5.96e+07
Get insights using Copilot
Create layer object
Create and visualize a layer object.
layerobj = layer(pfile,1,Type= 'All')layerobj =
layer with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
LayerNumber: 1
Type: "All"
LayerHeight: 0.0184
NumSurfaces: 1
NumPins: 14
NumVias: 4
NumTraces: 21
EntityList: [1×1 struct]
show(layerobj)

Create a cadnet object
Create cadnet object and look at its data.
cadobj = cadnet(pfile,'NET_IN11')cadobj =
cadnet with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
CadnetName: 'NET_IN11'
NumPins: 4
NumSurfaces: 2
NumVias: 4
NumTraces: 4
TotalLength: 0.4880
Voltage: 'NoDef'
LayerRange: [1 3 5]
EntityList: [1×1 struct]
figure show(cadobj)

Create a padstack object
Create a padstack object and look at its data.
stackobj = padStack(pfile,'MHYC012')stackobj =
padStack with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
PadStackName: 'MHYC012'
Stack Definition:
StartLayer: 'TOP'
StopLayer: 'TOP'
LayerStack: "TOP"
Pad, Antipad and Drill Geometry:
LayerwiseGeometry: [1×4 table]
Padstack Occurrence
NumPadStack: 6
PadType: 'Pin'
PadCenter: [6×2 double]
PinPadInfo: [6×8 table]
shapes(stackobj)
ans =
dictionary (string ⟼ antenna.Polygon) with 1 entry:
"TOP" ⟼ 1×1 antenna.Polygon
Create a part object
Create a part object and look at its data.
partobj = part(pfile,"IC6ANT")partobj =
part with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
PartName: 'IC6ANT'
NumComponents: 1
ComponentInfo: [1×7 table]
componentData(partobj)
ans =
component with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
ComponentName: 'U1'
PartName: 'IC6ANT'
ComponentType: 'IC'
NumPins: 6
Value: ''
Facement: 'TOP'
ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]
Create component object
Create a component object and look at its pin data.
componentobj = component(pfile,'U1')componentobj =
component with properties:
pcBoard: [1×1 pcbFileRead]
ComponentName: 'U1'
PartName: 'IC6ANT'
ComponentType: 'IC'
NumPins: 6
Value: ''
Facement: 'TOP'
ComponentPinInfo: [6×7 table]
componentPinData(componentobj,1)
ans =
pinsData with properties:
PinShape: 'Circle'
PartNumber: 'IC6ANT'
Component: 'U1'
PinNumber: 'A3'
Value: ''
PadStack: 'MHYC012'
CadnetName: 'NET_OUTV'
StartLayer: 1
StopLayer: 1
Circular pin dimensions:
Center: [0.1010 0.2690]
Diameter: 0.0120
DrillHoleDiameter: 0
Create a power distribution network object
Create a power distribution network object from a cadnet object. After this the following operations can be performed:
Set up the Network Parameters, DC Parameters, and DC Rules properties of the power distribution network for power integrity analysis
Analyze and visualize the voltage and current density of the power distribution network
Here is the cadnet for power integrity analysis.

pdnobj = powerDistributionNetwork(cadobj)
pdnobj =
powerDistributionNetwork with properties:
Network Parameters:
NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
Source: {}
Load: {}
Sense: {}
PlatingThickness: []
DC Parameters:
NominalVoltage: []
LoadCurrent: []
DC Rules
MaxCurrentDensity: []
MinVoltage: []
MaxVoltage: []
MaxViaCurrent: []
To Analyse PDN:
Set Network Parameters: setNetworkParameters
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules
Find the pins connected to the cadnet using the findComponents function.
ConnPins = findComponents(cadobj)
ConnPins = 4×5 table
ComponentIndex Refdes PinList ComponentType Part
______________ ______ _______ ______________ _______________
1 "C3" "1" {'Capacitor' } {'CAPGEN080' }
2 "R2" "2" {'Resistor' } {'RESGEN080' }
3 "TP1" "1" {'Test Point'} {'IOSINGLEPIN'}
4 "U1" "A1" {'IC' } {'IC6ANT' }
Get insights using Copilot
in = ConnPins.Refdes(2); out = [ConnPins.Refdes(1),ConnPins.Refdes(4)]; SensePin = ConnPins.Refdes(3);
Set the network parameters.
setNetworkParameters(pdnobj,Source=in,Load=out,Sense=SensePin,PlatingThickness=0.0003);
powerDistributionNetwork with properties:
Network Parameters:
NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
Source: "R2"
Load: ["C3" "U1"]
Sense: "TP1"
PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04
DC Parameters:
NominalVoltage: []
LoadCurrent: []
DC Rules
MaxCurrentDensity: []
MinVoltage: []
MaxVoltage: []
MaxViaCurrent: []
To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Parameters: setDCParameters
Set DC Rules: setDCRules
Set the DC parameters.
setDCParameters(pdnobj,"LoadCurrent",[10e-3,10e-3],"NominalVoltage",2)
powerDistributionNetwork with properties:
Network Parameters:
NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
Source: "R2"
Load: ["C3" "U1"]
Sense: "TP1"
PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04
DC Parameters:
NominalVoltage: 2
LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]
DC Rules
MaxCurrentDensity: []
MinVoltage: []
MaxVoltage: []
MaxViaCurrent: []
To Analyse PDN:
Set DC Rules: setDCRules
Set the DC rules.
setDCRules(pdnobj,MinVoltage=1,MaxVoltage=2.00002,MaxCurrentDensity=4,MaxViaCurrent=2.0)
powerDistributionNetwork with properties:
Network Parameters:
NetType: [1×1 cadnet]
Source: "R2"
Load: ["C3" "U1"]
Sense: "TP1"
PlatingThickness: 3.0000e-04
DC Parameters:
NominalVoltage: 2
LoadCurrent: [0.0100 0.0100]
DC Rules
MaxCurrentDensity: 4
MinVoltage: 1
MaxVoltage: 2.0000
MaxViaCurrent: 2
Analyze voltage deviation.
voltage(pdnobj);

Analyze current density with direction enabled.
current(pdnobj,Direction="on")
Version History
Introduced in R2025aEnableExactPadPerLayer property enables layer-wise extraction of
exact pad shapes from PCB database.
See Also
findComponents | powerDistributionNetwork | pcbFileRead | cadnetList
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