Semicustom design of ASICs: silicon chips-versus-FPGAs for engineering education
16 Aug 1993-pp 1548-1552
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the advantages of implementing semicustom design of ASICs; semicustom silicon chips, and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and compared the feasibility, accessibility and rewards of such educational experiences.
Abstract: Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) implementation is a definite move forward in large-scale electronics. ASICs offer better yield, life time, performance, as well as reliability as compared to traditional hybrid circuits. Effective use of Electronics Design Automation Tools (EDAT) is essential for successful ASICs. Also, the use of EDATs is expected to narrow the gap between the academia and industry. Thus, future graduating engineers would make effective contributions to the vastly developing electronics, national and international market. This paper compares the necessary background and the advantages of two alternatives for implementing semicustom design of ASICs; semicustom silicon chips, and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). An 8/spl times/8 multiplier design example is used as illustration. The feasibility, accessibility and rewards of such educational experiences are also addressed. >
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TL;DR: The authors describe a case study at Purdue University's School of Electrical Engineering in the successful integration of VLSI CAD (computer-aided design) into both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum.
Abstract: The authors describe a case study at Purdue University's School of Electrical Engineering in the successful integration of VLSI CAD (computer-aided design) into both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The courses in VLSI chip design use the Manassas VLSI Interactive System for Automation (MVISA), a CAD program that implements all stages in the VLSI design process including logic entry (schematic capture), logic simulation, timing analysis, design rule checking, placement of cells, and automatic and manual wiring. The successful integration was due to several factors, including university-industry-government cooperation; the development of a comprehensive set of interactive tutorials and notes describing the lab procedures and VLSI issues considered in the class; and a coherent, structured approach to teaching system design as well as the use of CAD tools in this process. Modern educational techniques, including computer-aided instruction and videotaped lectures on VLSI, also played a part in the development of the CAD courses. >
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the restructuring of the circuits and computer hardware courses at the University of Michigan's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to include a uniform set of electronic design automation (EDA) tools beginning early in the undergraduate curriculum is discussed.
Abstract: The restructuring of the circuits and computer hardware courses at the University of Michigan's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to include a uniform set of electronic design automation (EDA) tools beginning early in the undergraduate curriculum is discussed. The ability to teach good engineering in the department has been significantly strengthened by these changes. The program and the details which have made it successful, including using a consistent set of well-supported commercial tools throughout the curriculum, providing adequate computing resources through a tuition surcharge for engineering students, and offering department-wide support through CAD short courses and consulting hours, are described. >
11 citations
TL;DR: A set of software tools currently used for teaching a course on introduction to VLSI design to graduate and undergraduate students at Osaka University (Japan), the University of Toulouse (France), and the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (Spain), is described in this paper.
Abstract: A set of software tools currently used for teaching a course on introduction to VLSI design to graduate and undergraduate students at Osaka University (Japan), the University of Toulouse (France), and the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (Spain), is described. The system includes tools such as schematic capture, mask-level design, and mix-mode simulation. Specific tools such as logic and analog simulation, three-dimensional process simulation, and CMOS logic cell compiler are also included in the software, which represents a valuable educational environment successfully used by a large number of students. The authors present an overview of the complete tool set, essential matters about MOS devices, and the CMOS process. They detail the techniques used for logic design, mask-level design, and mix-mode simulation. They discuss the interest of using such tools in such a course. >
8 citations
01 Jan 1991
TL;DR: A set of software tools currently used for teaching a course on introduction to VLSI design to graduate and undergraduate students at Osaka University, the University of Toulouse (France), and the Polytechnical University of Barcelona (Spain), is described.
Abstract: This paper describes a set of software tools well suitable for teaching graduate and undergraduate students the design of VLSI integrated circuits. The CAD system includes basic tools such as mask-level editor, on-line DRC, electrical parameter extractor and fast analog simulator. Unique tools such as a 3D process simulation and a logic cell compiler are also part of this package. We present in this paper an overview of those tools, essential matters for MOS devices, process simulation and show various examples of logic and analog circuit design. The implementation and performance evaluations are discussed in the last section. This system is successfully used by a large number of students in 15 Universities in Europe as an introduction to Computer-Aided Circuit Design.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the design of a bipolar current mirror in which the exact value of V/sub BE(ON) / is not known is discussed, and the exact design of such a mirror is discussed.
Abstract: The design of a bipolar current mirror in which the exact value of V/sub BE(ON) /is not known is discussed. >
4 citations