Routes to silicon-an overview of ASIC design systems and software

GEV Avionics have been designing and using ASICs for a number of years and have built up considerable experience in the use of ASIC design systems and software. Based on this experience, this paper contains a discussion of the various design routes available, and an outline of the CAE resources which are required. Although the term ASIC is used to cover a large range of products from full custom chips to programmable logic devices, this paper primarily addresses gate array and standard cell products