Viewpoint: Solving the nanoscale IC design paradox

By Phil Bishop, CEO, Pyxis Technology, Inc.
edadesignline.com (October 14, 2009)

There is a paradox brewing in the layout of integrated circuit designs at nanometer nodes. IC design teams are choosing between layout automation vs. full custom design techniques.

While the automated layout tools seem fast, engineers may grow old fixing timing, power and yield problems on the back end of the flow. Meanwhile, full custom tools give designers more control over custom digital and mixed-signal circuit layouts, but the lack of automation can make project completion seem light-years away.

The nanoscale IC design paradox is that designers need both hands-on custom control and high-speed automation performance.

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