Transcript Slide 1

Design and Implementation of VLSI Systems
(EN0160)
Sherief Reda
Division of Engineering, Brown University
Spring 2007
Lecture 01: the big picture
• Introduction
• Brief Tour of VLSI Design and Implementation
• Class logistics
Objectives of the class
• A VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) system integrates
millions of “electronic components” in a small area (few
mm2  few cm2).
• Class objective: Learn how to design “efficient” VLSI
systems that implement required functionalities.
• What are the design metrics?
• Circuit Speed / Performance
• Power consumption
• Design Area
• Yield
What are VLSI systems composed of?
1.Transistors
2. Wires
nMOS
=
+
design
pMOS
Circuits
CMOS logic gates
How big is a VLSI system? (How many
transistors are in there?)
Depends on which year you are in! Follows Moore’s Law.
Moore’s Law. The number of transistors in an integrated circuit
doubles every 2 years.
IBM Cell
234M transistors in
die size of 221 mm2
Why should you learn about VLSI systems?
• They are ubiquitous in our daily lives
(computers/iPods/TVs/Cars/…/etc).
 EN160 can help you understand the devices you use.
• The market for VLSI systems (and semiconductors) is
worth $250 billion dollars.
 EN160 can help you get a decent job after graduation (or you
can even start your own company).
• VLSI design and analysis is fun!
Lecture 01: the big picture
• Introduction
• Brief Tour of VLSI Design and Implementation
• Class logistics
What does it take to design VLSI systems? Same
engineering principles you learned so far
1. idea (need)
3. design
system
4. analyze/
model
system
if satisfactory
2. write
specifications
5. implement
system design
6. test / work
as modeled?
1. Applications / Ideas
2. Specifications
• Instruction set
• Interface (I/O pins)
• Organization of the system
• Functionality of each unit in
the and how it to
communicate to other unit
3. Design Entry
VHDL / Verilog / SystemC
design schematics
compilation/
synthesis
mask layout patterns
find wire routes
device layout
• Design development is facilitated using Computer-Aided Design
(CAD) tools
4. Analyze / Model System
Analyze timing / power / area at each step in the design
process
V


• Using hand calculations
I ds    V gs  V t 

• Using automated tools (e.g. SPICE)
dsat
V
2  dsat
5. Implementation
tapeout
mask layout patterns
mask writer
masks
printing
test and
packaging
dice
chip
die
wafer
6. Evaluate design and compare to model.
• Check signal integrity
• Power consumption
• Input/output behavior
chip
• Does the chip function as it is
supposed to be?
• Does it work at desired clock
frequency? (can we overclock?)
board
What are we going to cover in this class?
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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Overview of VLSI CMOS fabrication
MOS transistor theory
Layout design
Circuit characterization and performance estimation
Circuit simulation
Combinational and sequential circuit design
Memory systems
Design methodologies
Textbooks
Recommended
Additional
Grading
•
•
•
•
20% Homeworks
20% Midterm
20% Design Project
40% Final exam
• Office Hours: MWF 11AM-12PM.
Website
• http://ic.engin.brown.edu/classes/EN160S07