[comp.lsi] Need info for LSI CAD's for a PC

kleine@zeus.unomaha.edu (Stephan G. Kleine) (12/07/90)

I am an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska.  I am interested in VLSI, 
but my program doesn't have any related courses.  Because of this, I am writing
a proposal for an independent study course in VLSI in which I will have to 
design and have made an original IC.

Here's where I need help:  From my readings of the net, it is my understanding
that MAGIC is an LSI CAD program that runs on a PC and will generate the masks
for the IC.  If this is so, could someone please tell me who makes this software
and a rough idea of its cost.  Also, I would like to know if there are any other
such programs available (name of program, manufacturer, approx. cost).

Finally, I will also need to find a text for this course.  I do have all the 
info on the VLSI texts that has been posted to this group in the past couple of 
months.  If anyone could make any other recommendations it would be greatly 
appreciated.  Even if it is an old text, I could use it for a comparison.
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Stephan G. Kleine		|	I have nothing more to say.
[KLEINE]@zeus.unomaha.edu	|
University of Nebraska-Omaha	|
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Mike.McManus@FtCollins.NCR.com (Mike McManus) (12/12/90)

In article <5302.275f4be0@zeus.unomaha.edu> kleine@zeus.unomaha.edu (Stephan G. Kleine) writes:
>   I am an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska.  I am interested in
>   VLSI, but my program doesn't have any related courses.  Because of this, I
>   am writing a proposal for an independent study course in VLSI in which I
>   will have to design and have made an original IC.

>   Here's where I need help:  From my readings of the net, it is my 
>   understanding
>   that MAGIC is an LSI CAD program that runs on a PC and will generate the
>   masks for the IC.  If this is so, could someone please tell me who makes
>   this software and a rough idea of its cost.  Also, I would like to know if
>   there are any other such programs available (name of program, manufacturer,
>   approx. cost).

I not an expert on MAGIC (UC-Berkley), so I'll let someone else help you with
that, but a few words of caution.  I used MAGIC as an undergrad in 88 in a VLSI
design class.  We started with a clean slate: no standard cell library, no
memory blocks or generators, no existing layouts.  We were supposed to design a
16-instruction microprocessor with 4-channel I/O.  We had MAGIC for layout,
Crystal for simulations (or was it for static timing?), that was about it.  Far
too much work for 5 people to accomplish in 6 months!

So do it right: First, select a manageable project.  We spent 3 months getting
the architecture and RTL simulator working!  Second, get a switch-level
simulator to do gate-level designs (I'm assuming you choose a digital
application).  Get a library of standard cells (pre-built primitives that you
can throw down and simply wire up).  If you use memory blocks, don't try to
design them yourself, that's a project in itself (as we learned :-).  Try to
get a simulator with a decent front end.  Crystal was horrible to use because
of this, tho I suspect it's been improved since then.  Try to find a routing
tool (MAGIC probably has one) to help you with this.  We didn't and found it
EXTREMEMLY time consuming.  Finally, save youself a lot of headaches and make
sure you have adequate documentation for the tools that you use!

>   Finally, I will also need to find a text for this course.  I do have all 
>   the info on 
>   the VLSI texts that has been posted to this group in the past couple
>   of months.  If anyone could make any other recommendations it would be
>   greatly appreciated.  Even if it is an old text, I could use it for a
>   comparison.

3 recommendations:

"VLSI Engineering", Thomas Dillinger, Prentice Hall, 1988.

We used this.  Sort of a 900-page "survey" of the topic.  Covers basic IC
design approaches, logic entry and verification, graphics requirements (CAD
side), physcial design tools and processes (place and route, error checking),
solid state device basics, device modeling and simulation, MOS circuit design,
design libararies, memories/PLAs, test issues, back-end tools.  Phew!  Like I
said, a little of everything and good exposure to the overal process.

"Design and Analysis of VLSI Circuits", Glasser & Dobberpuhl, Addison-Wesley,
1985. 

Sort of the bible of VLSI, everyone I work with has one.  More detail on
circuit related issues, little emphasis on CAD tools.  I would highly recommend
it for VLSI design.

"Introduction to MOS LSI Design", Mavor, Jack & Denyer, Addison-Wesley, 1983

Don't know what your background is, but makes a nice, short introduction to
CMOS processes and design, with detail on layout issues and some coverage of
CAD tools.  Terse and very practical.

Hope this gives you some help!
--
Disclaimer: All spelling and/or grammar in this document are guaranteed to be
            correct; any exseptions is the is wurk uv intter-net deemuns,.

Mike McManus                        Mike.McManus@FtCollins.NCR.COM, or
NCR Microelectronics                ncr-mpd!mikemc@ncr-sd.sandiego.ncr.com, or
2001 Danfield Ct.                   uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-mpd!garage!mikemc
Ft. Collins,  Colorado              
(303) 223-5100   Ext. 378
                                    

kleine@zeus.unomaha.edu (Stephan G. Kleine) (12/26/90)

	I want to thank everyone that responded to my request for info on
LSI CAD programs available for PC's.  I got a lot of good help and advice.
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Stephan G. Kleine		|	"Time is a luxury that I do not
[KLEINE]@zeus.unomaha.edu	| 		possess."      SGK
University of Nebraska-Omaha	|
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