Design of VLSI systems: a practical introduction

Abstract

This book aims to provide an introduction to all the stages involved in committing a design on to silicon, ranging from system considerations and logic circuits to the design of these circuits on each layer of silicon and their fabrication.The material is largely based on lectures given to second and third year undergraduates and aims to provide not only an understanding of the principles of the design procedure but also to maintain a practical approach. It is intended that the text should provide the first-time chip designer with the confidence and competence to attempt to produce a working integrated circuit.Consistent with these aims, the text concentrates on safe design techniques. Also, in the interests of clarity and an improved appreciation of the principles involved, design features are usually discussed with reference to a particular example. The use of rigorous mathematics is avoided since the accurate analysis of circuits is long and complex, and often tends to obscure the essential principles.