‘Very
Large Scale Integrated Circuit’ (VLSIC) is a microelectronics technology,
in which large numbers of transistors in the range of 10000 to 100000 are
integrated on a single silicon wafer using advanced fabrication processes.
VLSIC technology improves existing electronics circuits in many ways like
low parasitic, smaller area, and higher speed combined with lower costs.
This technology has led to development of ‘Application Specific Integrated
Circuit’ (ASIC), which is designed and tailored for certain application.
For example, a single ASIC can control all the operations of an automatic
washing machine or autopilot in an aeroplane. ASIC and microprocessors
are now being used in all the fields of technology, right from computers,
communications to commonly used electronic appliances like dish washers,
washing machines, televisions etc. Due to the widespread use of ASIC, there
is as ever-increasing demand for electronic engineers who are trained and
specialized in ASIC design methodologies. The design of an ASIC involves
many steps, which are carried out in a sequence. This logical sequence
of steps used to implement the design of ASIC from specifications to tape-out,
which is the final step in which ASIC design is delivered for fabrication,
is called design flow. Design specification is the first step that involves
defining the functionality of ASIC. Coding describes the function of chip
in a special language called ‘Hardware Description Language’
(HDL). HDL describes how chip hardware works in software like BASIC, C,
etc. It is, however, significantly different from the conventional programming
languages. Verification describes verifying the function of chip before
it is fabricated. Synthesis describes translating the language description
of the integrated circuit into a physical circuit.