Welcome to our

lecture course
VLSI I ... III
• Dr. Hubert Kaeslin of the Microelectronics Design Center
(DZ), lecturer with a focus on IC design

• Dr. Norbert Felber of the Integrated Systems Laboratory

(IIS), lecturer with a focus on IC testing

• dipl. Ing. ETH Christian Senning (IIS), coordinator

• further assistants and employees of IIS and DZ acting
on and behind the stage
hk, last update 17.2.09
 Agenda

• Eight reasons why you should care about

microelectronics.
• What do you expect from this course?
• Syllabus from the 6th through to the 8th term.
• What you must know as a VLSI student.
 A first question to all those attending our VLSI lectures

German or English ?
Regular offer:
• All written documentation in English
• Oral presentations in German
• Student questions and examinations accepted
in English and German
• Questions also accepted in French and Italian
Balanced compromise to the benefit of all.
Willing to lecture in English if a majority of students
wants me to do so.
 Why you should care about microelectronics

1. Because microelectronics is the base technology.

• Computers • Automation

• Telecommunication • Metrology and sensors

• Consumer and multimedia • Medical devices

• Watches • Ciphering

• Automotive • Electronic payment

• Drives • Security

• Aerospace • Nano technology

Microelectronics is the driving force behind innovations

in many “downstream” applications and industries.
 Why you should care about microelectronics

2. Because the significance, pervasiveness, and impact

of microelectronics are bound to grow.
standard components such as 74... dead no potential

essentially
microcomputers incl. peripherals important
software design

field-programmable components
important configuration of prefabricated circuits block
(FPGA, CPLD)

versatile from system architecture over

circuit design down to device physics
Mask-programmed components
important much room for innovations
(VLSI, ASIC)
investments and risks ask for competence
and long-sighted decision making

Microelectronics is a fascinating challenge for every

engineering student with an interest in hardware.
 Why you should care about microelectronics
3. Because there exist career opportunities, even in Switzerland.
Our directory www.dz.ee.ethz.ch/background/swissfirms.en.html
includes roughly 60 companies, the two largest of which are
watch circuits, low power
Electronique Marin, Neuchâtel operates a fab
microprocessors, RFID, LCD drivers,
ST-Ericsson (ex NXP, ex Philips fabless
chipsets für GSM, UMTS, etc.
Semiconductors), Zurich and Geneva operation

Examples of fabless semiconductor vendors from all over the world

Actel, Altera, Lattice, Xilinx (re)configurable logic
Nvidia graphics coprocessors
Broadcom, Qualcomm telecommunication chips
Sun Microsystems microprocessors (UltraSparc, Niagara)
analog and mixed-signal ICs,
Cirrus Logic with Crystal
e.g. for audio applications

Job opportunities are by no means confined to a few

manufacturers of semiconductor devices.
 Why you should care about microelectronics

4. Because the semicon industry operates and recruits globally.

A couple of companies abroad where former students of IIS are or have

been working:

• Infineon Technologies (formerly • Apple, Cupertino, 1

Siemens Halbleiter), Munich, 4 • Maxim Integrated Products,
Sunnyvale, 1
• IBM, Burlington and Yorktown
Heights, 3 • Broadcom, Santa Clara, 1

• Toshiba, Kawasaki, 2 • Synopsys, Portland, 1

• Intel, Santa Clara, 2 • Micronas, Munich, 1

• Connexant Systems (formerly • AMD, Dresden, 1

Rockwell Semiconductors),
Newport Beach, 2
• Transmeta, Santa Clara, 1
• Qimonda, Munich, 1
• Dallas Semiconductor, Dallas,1
• Giesecke & Devrient, Munich, 1

Microelectronics experts formed at ETH

have a wide range of professional perspectives.
 Why you should care about microelectronics

5. Because long-term perspectives remain intact

in a growing industry.
• The semicon industry grows at a faster rates than all other
industries.

• Integration densities augment faster than design productivity,

in spite of all achievements in electronic design automation.

• There is a substantial demand for professional engineers

competent in VLSI system- and circuit design (digital and analog)
and in semiconductor technology.

• The shrinking to nanometer dimensions is bound to raise the

need for advanced technology and for professional competence
further as more effects come into play.

A cyclic economy notwithstanding, the outlook is good.

 The economic importance of microelectronics
for other industries

EDA software &

virtual components
2006: 248 GUSD/y
Semiconductor components
Electronic components

Electronic goods World-wide gross domestic product 2006: 48.2 TUSD/y

(computers, mobile phones,
home entertainment equipment, etc.)

Applications:
• Goods with embedded electronics
(machines, cars, cameras, watches, etc.)
• Information technology services
(corporate IT, Internet, music download, etc.)
 Why you should care about microelectronics

6. Because designing a microchip imparts valuable experience.

• Mastering complex circuits and systems
• Insights into the current state of microelectronics
• Hard- versus software design, analogies and differences
• Commitment to first-time-right design
• High productivity with automatic circuit synthesis tools
• Capabilities and limitations of electronic design automation
• Models of cooperation in the electronics industry
• Understanding economic and markt-related preconditions
• Current state and prospects of semiconductor technology
• Making theoretical knowledge work in practice

Learn how to manage and carry out ambitious and

multidisciplinary projects in a high-tech environment. .
 Why you should care about microelectronics

7. Because ETH is committed to a first class education

in microelectronics engineering.
• You are given the opportunity to design a chip according to your
ideas and to hold it in your hands before completing your studies
• Chip design takes place as a term project during the 7th term
• Chips are manufactured externally, but you will carry out the testing
• You are entitled to keep circuit samples

ETH makes available:

• Workstations
• Industrial CAE/CAD software ($)
• Financial means for having chips manufactured ($)
• Test- and measurement equipment ($)
• Training and supervision ($)

Only few universities can make such a generous offer.

 Why you should care about microelectronics

8. Because chip design means constructing, not just analyzing.

Quote of a 6th grade D-ITET student:

“Lecturers of other courses have told us many times

‘Yes, this function can be implemented with a microchip.’
Now I want to learn how that is actually done.”

• Hands-on experience in real-world circuit design.

• More art than science as it is often impossible to

capture problems with mathematical models alone.

• Sometimes tough because many details tend to hide the

larger picture and because “physics cannot be fooled”.

• The result is very small, actually it is almost invisible.

 The bottom line
• VLSI is an implementation technology.
• Telecommunication, image processing,
medical devices, cryptology, digital audio,
multimedia, control, robotics, etc. are
application technologies.
• To turn abstract concepts into successful
products, it takes the combination of
application and implementation know-how.
 Poll

What do you expect from the course

in Digital VLSI Design and Test?
 Syllabus
Preview on our courses in
Digital VLSI Design and Test
from the 6th to the 8th term.
Syllabus of ETH Zurich in Integrated Systems Laboratory Microelectronics Design Center
Dr. Norbert Felber Dr. Hubert Kaeslin
Digital VLSI Design and Test

Degree Bachelor Master

Calendar Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

6th term 7th term 8th term

Lectures VLSI I: VLSI II: VLSI III: Fabrication and

Architectures of VLSI Circuits Design of VLSI Circuits Testing of VLSI Circuits

Key topics top ✦ Clocking & synchronization ✦ VLSI testing

✦ Back-end design ✦ CMOS fabrication
✦ Architecture design
✦ Technology outlook
✦ VHDL ✦ Parasitic effects
✦ Functional verification ✦ VLSI economics down

Exercises From VHDL to FPGA IC design through to final layout Testing of fabricated ICs

Testing
Student project Proposal
(optional) Specification Design

Fabrication on MPWs

Milestones
accepted software overall synthesis verified verified test vectors test report
proposal model architecture model netlist layout,
hk 15.6.2007
project report
 Courses in Digital VLSI Design and Test Integrated Systems Laboratory Microelectronics Design Center
Dr. Norbert Felber Dr. Hubert Kaeslin

path path
metric metric survivor
memory memory memory
6th term I II

Lecture VLSI I:
Architectures of VLSI Circuits branch
metric
add-
compare-
trellis
trace
comput. select back
unit units unit
Topics ✦ economic significance, motivation
✦ overview, terms and concepts
✦ field-programmable ICs
local local local
✦ design views and design flows controller controller controller
✦ processors versus dedicated architectures
✦ architecture design by transform
✦ why hardware description languages? super-
✦ VHDL for simulation and synthesis visory
controller
✦ functional verification
✦ the case for synchronous design

Exercises From VHDL to FPGA

architecture procedural of shiftreg is
✦ VHDL behavioral simulation signal PREST : Std_Logic_Vector(0 to width);
✦ VHDL synthesis begin
allbits : for i in 1 to width generate
✦ VHDL gate-level simulation process (CLK,CLR) is
✦ architecture design for an FIR filter begin
if CLR=’1’ then
✦ implementation with FPGAs PREST(i) <= ’0’;
elsif CLK’event and CLK=’1’ then
PREST(i) <= PREST(i-1);
EDA tools Model Technology end if;
Synopsys end process;
end generate;
Xilinx Alliance PREST(0) <= INP;
OUP <= PREST(width);
end architecture procedural;
hk 3.10.00
 Courses in Digital VLSI Design and Test Integrated Systems Laboratory Microelectronics Design Center
Dr. Norbert Felber Dr. Hubert Kaeslin

active
edge
7th term
tsu ff tho ff
tcd ff
Lecture VLSI II:
Design of VLSI Circuits
tpd ff tcd c

Topics ✦ design for test

✦ clocking disciplines, clock distribution
✦ acquisition of asynchronous signals
✦ timing verification, ERC
✦ switching noise and crosstalk tpd c
✦ gate- and transistor-level design
✦ low power design
✦ physical design
✦ yield and cost models, economics
✦ project and technology management

Exercises IC design through to final layout

✦ test insertion
✦ floorplanning
✦ clock tree generation
✦ timing verification
✦ place and route
✦ physical design verification

EDA tools Cadence Silicon Ensemble

Cadence Pearl
Cadence Diva
hk 3.10.00
Courses in Digital VLSI Design and Test Integrated Systems Laboratory Microelectronics Design Center
Dr. Norbert Felber Dr. Hubert Kaeslin

8th term

Lecture VLSI III: Fabrication and test vector set

Verification of VLSI Circuits stimuli responses
0000 -----
Topics ✦ testing and metrology
✦ fault models and fault coverage 1000 00000
✦ automatic test pattern generation 0000 00011
✦ built-in self test 0100 11 - 01
✦ hardware test equipment
✦ physical analysis techniques 0101 - - 001
✦ CMOS fabrication process 0011 0 - - 10
✦ where is microelectronics heading to? 1000 00000
✦ what are the limits?

Exercises Testing of fabricated ICs

✦ prober handling
✦ fault simulation
✦ automatic test pattern generation
✦ physical analysis techniques
✦ automatic test equipment operation
✦ IC testing p+ n+ n+ p+ p+ n+

EDA tools Synopsys Tetramax p- n-

IC test equipment by IMS and HP

hk 3.10.00
Exercise Organization
presented by Christian Senning
What you must know
as a student of VLSI I to III
 What you must know as a student of VLSI I to III

Who is in charge of what?

IC Testing and Design for Test: N. Felber, all the rest: H. Kaeslin
• VLSI I Architecture Design: H. Kaeslin
• VLSI II Circuit Design: H. Kaeslin and N. Felber (3 lessons)
• VLSI III Fabrication and Test: N. Felber and H. Kaeslin (2 lessons)
Exercises in VLSI I: C. Senning

Comments, corrections and suggestions for improvements

• Lectures and course handouts: to be addressed to lecturer
kaeslin@ee.ethz.ch or felber@iis.ee.ethz.ch respectively
• Exercises: address to coordinator csenning@iis.ee.ethz.ch

Please report all errors that relate to content in the

! documentation (texts, equations, graphics) and methodology.
 What you must know as a student of VLSI I to III

Textbook
“Digital Integrated Circuit Design:
from VLSI Architectures to CMOS Fabrication”
by H. Kaeslin, Cambridge University Press,
ISBN: 978-0-521-88267-5, 868 pages, hardback.

list price 45 GBP

Polybuchhandlung 75 CHF
or in the auditorium Friday 20.2.09
Updates free
Corrigenda http://dz.ee.ethz.ch/
background/textbook/corrigenda.txt

weight 2.2 kp
 What you must know as a student of VLSI I to III

Open to students of D-ITET, D-INFK, D-PHYS, and D-MAVT

Prerequisites
• Combinat. and sequent. logic including +
stat. and dyn. behavior (in appendix A) !

• Finite State Machines (in appendix B)

• Basic electrical engineering (Ohm’s law,
capacitance, inductivity, Kirchhoff’s laws,
equivalent circuits, basics of metrology,
orders of magnitude of phys. quantities)
• Read and nicely draw circuit diagrams,
electrical und logic icons, Icon library for
Tgif available from http://dz.ee.ethz.ch/
support/schemadraw.en.html +/! "

To be studied on your own in case of a backlog,

! examination may extend into these matters.
 What you must know as a student of VLSI I to III
Usage of industrial CAE/CAD tools and fabrication
technologies at a university
• VHDL simulation: Mentor Graphics
• VHDL synthesis: Synopsys
Tools dominate markets,
• Back-end (place & route) : Cadence
but also complex with
• Layout verification: Mentor Graphics
many Interfaces
• Cell library:Virtual Silicon or Faraday
• Fabrication process: UMC

Software, libraries, and technology data are subject to

contractual limitations relating to legal use and disclosure.
These rules are binding for students too. More particularly,
usage is strictly confined to teaching and academic
research at ETH! All data are considered confidential!
Detailed Rules: http://dz.ee.ethz.ch/regulations/index.en.html

Legal litigations are absolutely to be avoided!

§ User will be held personally responsible in case of misuse!
 Background information for family and friends

Popular Introduction to Microelectronics

Interactive presentation intended for a wide audience

(college level) http://dz.ee.ethz.ch/background/how.en.html

Presentation is in need of a major facelift. Any volunteers?

Thank you for your attention!