Design Flow Flashcards
What is the IC design flow step #1?
Define product
Market research, prediction, feasibility study
Marketing / Sales / Engineers decide on product
What is the IC design flow step #2?
Logic design (logic designers) Use Verilog (verify logic) simulators Design synthesis & compilations, logic simulation & analysis
What is the IC design flow step #3?
Circuit design
Device (transistor)-level design, circuit simulation & analysis
What is the IC design flow step #4?
Physical design (layout) Mask pattern design and physical design verification DRC / LVS
What is the IC design flow step #5?
Post layout simulation
Logic and/or circuit simulations with extracted parasitics from layout.
LPE - Layout Parasitic Extraction
RCX - Resistance Capacitance Extraction
What is the IC design flow step #6?
Tape-out group (tooling)
post-layout data manipulations, interface with mask shops
What is the IC design flow step #7?
mask making
Mask shop, mask vendors
What is the IC design flow step #8?
fabrication
2-3 months
processing engineers
tech development engineers
What is the IC design flow step #9?
first silicon
What is the IC design flow step #10?
testing and evaluation
Wafer sorting and analysis
What is the IC design flow step #11?
packaging and prototype
packaging engineers
What is the IC design flow step #12?
final test and qualification
more stringent tests
What is the IC design flow step #13?
production
revenue starts coming
product engineers
application engineers
What does SPICE stand for?
Simulation Program for I.C. Emphasis
What do CAD engineers do?
App software support, create scripts, PCELLS
