Title :
Design of integrated circuits: directions and challenges
Author :
Cavin, Ralph K., III ; Hilbert, Jeffrey L.
Author_Institution :
Semicond. Res. Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
fDate :
2/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Several of the dimensions of IC CAE technology are discussed, focusing on two design styles: custom design, used for commodity products such as DRAMs, microprocessors, etc., where large volume production is planned and area reduction and performance maximization can be expected to return large dividends; and the design of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), utilizing either very regular, prepatterned silicon arrays customized at the interconnect level or predesigned, parameterized libraries of cells that are usually arranged in rows and interconnected. The design research that will be required in order to attain the objectives of highly automated design systems and shorter product design cycles for integrated circuits are outlined. Metrics for design system performance are discussed
Keywords :
application specific integrated circuits; circuit layout CAD; digital integrated circuits; ASIC design; DRAMs; IC CAE technology; application-specific integrated circuits; area reduction; cellular arrays; challenges; commodity products; custom design; design research; design styles; design system performance; directions; highly automated design systems; interconnect level customizing; metrics of performance; microprocessors; parameterized libraries of cells; performance maximization; shorter product design cycles; volume production; Application specific integrated circuits; Computer aided engineering; Integrated circuit interconnections; Integrated circuit technology; Libraries; Microprocessors; Product design; Production; Silicon; System performance;
Journal_Title :
Proceedings of the IEEE