Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) is the process of creating an integrated circuit (IC) by combining thousands of transistors into a single chip. VLSI began in the 1970s when complex semiconductor and communication technologies were being developed. The microprocessor is a VLSI device. Before the introduction of VLSI technology, most ICs had a limited set of functions they could perform. An electronic circuit might consist of a CPU, ROM, RAM and other glue logic. VLSI lets IC designers add all of these into one chip. The electronics industry has achieved a phenomenal growth over the last few decades, mainly due to the rapid advances in large scale integration technologies and system design applications. With the advent of very large scale integration (VLSI) designs, the number of applications of integrated circuits (ICs) in high-performance computing, controls, telecommunications, image and video processing, and consumer electronics has been rising at a very fast pace. The current cutting-edge technologies such as high resolution and low bit-rate video and cellular communications provide the end-users a marvelous amount of applications, processing power and portability. This trend is expected to grow rapidly, with very important implications on VLSI design and systems design.

1. Introduction to VLSI
Design
Presented by -
Kunal pandhram
ElectrohybridTech

2. Tell of two queries!
 Y R U here?
 Y M I here?
electrohybrideTech

3. Landmarks
 Moore’s axiom
 Some more funda
 Free CAD tool
 Parting notes
electrohybrideTech

4. Moore’s Law
 Gordon Moore: co-founder of Intel
 Predicted that the number of transistors
per chip would grow exponentially (double
every 18 months)
 Exponential improvement in technology is
a natural trend:
e.g. Steam Engines - Dynamo - Automobile
electrohybrideTech

5. Moore’s Law
1
10
100
1K
10K
100K
1M
10M
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995
Transistors
10x/6 years
8086
68000
68020
80386
80486
68040
8080
4004
Pentium Pro
Pentium
PPC601
PPC603
MIPS R4000
Microprocessors
electrohybrideTech

6. IC Products
 Processors
 CPU, DSP, Controllers
 Memory chips
 RAM, ROM, EEPROM
 Analog
 Mobile communication,
audio/video processing
 Programmable
 PLA, FPGA
 Embedded systems
 Used in cars, factories
 Network cards
 System-on-chip (SoC)
Images: amazon.com
electrohybrideTech

7. IC Product Market Shares
Source: Electronic Business
electrohybrideTech

8. Example: Intel Processor Sizes
Source: http://www.intel.com/
Intel386TM DX
Processor
Intel486TM DX
Processor
Pentium® Processor
Pentium® Pro &
Pentium® II Processors
1.5m 1.0m 0.8m 0.6m 0.35m 0.25mSilicon Process
Technology
electrohybrideTech

9. VLSI Design Styles
 Full Custom
 Application-Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC)
 Programmable Logic (PLD, FPGA)
 System-on-a-Chip
electrohybrideTech

10. Full Custom Design
 Each circuit element carefully “handcrafted”
 Huge design effort
 High Design & NRE Costs / Low Unit Cost
 High Performance
 Typically used for high-volume applications
electrohybrideTech

11. Programmable Logic (FPGA)
 Pre-manufactured components with
programmable interconnect
 CAD tools greatly reduce design effort
 Low Design Cost / Low NRE Cost / High Unit
Cost
 Lower Performance
electrohybrideTech

12. System-on-chip (SOC)
 Idea: combine several large blocks
 Predesigned custom cores (e.g., microcontroller) -
“intellectual property” (IP)
 ASIC logic for special-purpose hardware
 Programmable Logic (PLD, FPGA)
 Analog
 Open issues
 Keeping design cost low
 Verifying correctness of design
electrohybrideTech

13. Software tools
 Simulator ( verilog & VHDL)
 Model sim HDL
 Cadence NC
 Iverilog
 Synthesis tools
 Precision RTL
 Leonardo spectrum
 Questa sim
electrohybrideTech

14. Development tools
 Xilinx ISE
 Altera Quartus II
electrohybrideTech

15. Scenario in India???
 HUGE outsourcing
 Loads of startups (WHY?)
 VLSI design is nowhere a single nation job
 Fabrication labs (fabs) in USA getting sold
out
 India getting 4 fabs by next year!
electrohybrideTech

16. Thank You!
Best of Luck for End-Semester
electrohybrideTech