From CIF to chips

The Massachusetts Microelectronics Center (M²C) was formed to enhance VLSI education in Massachusetts. Students enrolled in VLSI design courses can design and simulate their projects at their school using hardware and software provided through M²C, then send those designs to M²C for fabrication in the integrated circuit fabrication facility. Students submit the design to M²C, in Caltech intermediate format (CIF), where the subsequent data handling is performed. The authors describe the data handling steps M²C performs to convert the MOSIS-compatible CIF data submitted by the students into MEBES format multiproject wafer data compatible with both the mask vendor and the actual silicon process, and to return each design to the proper student. The automated fabrication interface service is also described