Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Impact of NDA-Free&Open Source
on LSI Design & Fabrication
Junichi Akita
Kanazawa University

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Contents
Introduction & Background
LSI as Tools
Moore’s Law: its two faces
NDA-free & Open Source
LSI Design & Fabrication Project
Design rule
Libraries & Design Flow
Examples

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
What is “Moore’s Law”
More transistors on Single Chip
Continuous Size Reduction
ref: http://www.intel.com/jp/intel/museum/processor/index.htm

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
What Did Moore’s Law Achieved?
DEC VAX(1976)
1MIPS
Cray-1 (1978)
100MIPS
MIPS：Million Instruction Per Second
（World’s 1st Super Computer）
“Faster Super Computer” & “So-fast Computer Everywhere”
20000MIPS
10MIPS
100MIPS
20MIPS
20000MIPS
109MFLOPS

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Paradigm Shift in “LED Blinking”
No reason to employ MCU for “LED Blinking”
Low Cost, High Functionality
Extended practical application area of computer
“Feature Size Reduction” is NOT the only way
MCU
#Component=1
$1
Oscillator(555)
#Component=4
$1.5
while(1){
a = 1;
sleep(1);
a = 0;
sleep(1);
}
Possible, but non-realistic by PC

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
What Did Moore’s Law Caused?
Drastic Increase in LSI Design & Fabrication Cost
Shuttle Fabrication Service 〜$1k
Initial Fabrication Cost (Masks) 〜$1M
Design Tools 〜$1M
NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) : Priceless
Fabrication Facilities 〜$1G

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
What NDA affects?
We can’t share the designed circuits
on GitHub…!
We can’t fork the designed circuits by others…!

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Is “LSI” a Tool for Everyone?: Survey
CMOS 0.18um 5Al
2.5mm x 2.5mm
RingOSC x 1001
T-FF (Div)
（※LSI＝集積回路のこと）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt9i2ABe_mE
Comments: Stupid, Waste of tech, Mottainai, …
= “LSI is NOT a “true” tool for realizing something

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Is “LSI” a Tool for Everyone?
Most people CAN’T imagine
to “design original LSIs”
Too expensive, Too complicated, No Experiences
Most people simply consider to buy LSI
MCU, Sensors, …
Lots Realized
Restrictions in Thinking: Using Exsisting LSI
Everyone use Kinect, few can invent Kinect
Losing Chance of Innovation

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
What Required for “LSI as Tool”?
CAD Tool
Too Expensive Commercial Tools
Too Complicated CAD System
Fabrication Service
Too Expensive, Too Long TAT (several months)
Strict NDA s
User Community
Specialists who know not only “How to design”,
but also “What to use” LSIs.

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - Outline
Know-how Sharing
Freeware CAD
Basic Knowledges
Community
100+ in ML
LSI Specialists & Non-specialists
NDA-Free Design & Fabrication
http://ifdl.jp/make_lsi

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - Design Rule
1um-grid rule
Can “satisfy” some fab’s
design rules
PTS 0.6um (JP)
HHGrace0.35um (CN)
…
Independent on fab’s
“limit” of design rule
= NDA-free
https://github.com/makelsi/OpenRule1um

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - Libraries
Standard Logic Cells
Analog Components (under development)
Distributed development
by contributors

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - Tools
Layout Tool: Glade, K-Layout
Circuit Simulator: LTspice / Spice3
Logic Synthesize & P&R: Alliance, Qflow
*Open Source Softwares
RISC-V processor (subset)

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - Fabrication
Commercial Fab’s shuttle
Phenitec Semiconductors (JP)
HH Grace (CN) : (will try soon)
(Future) minimalfab by AIST, Japan
0.5in wafer, Mask-less exposure, 1week TAT
Order custom LSI like PCB…!

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - 1st Trial in 2015
8 Contributors
Free fee, Open & Share Contents
11 Circuits
Kilburn Adder
Guitar Effector
1bit CPU
4-16 Decoder
Ring VCO, LC-VCO, BGR
Wide Variety, Passionate Activity
Saw Oscillator
OPA
MOSFET TEGs
Timer“555”

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
MakeLSI: - 2nd Trial in 2016
11 Contributors
Free fee, Open & Share Contents
12 Circuits
ALU
Guitar Effector
RingOSC
PSG
Delta-sigma ADC
Wide Variety, Passionate Activity
R-2R DAC
NRZI Codec
GoldCoder
Inverter, FA
Timer“555”

2020/3/13 Interface Device Laboratory, Kanazawa University http://ifdl.jp/
Summary
Effect of Moore’s Law
High Performance & Wide Spread of Applications
Drastic Increase of Cost and Requirement of NDA
Technology MUST become a Tool for Everyone
Wide application, Seed of innovation
NDA-free & Open Source LSI Development
Open framework, NDA-Free
Rapid development & improvement in IP