Career In VLSI design

In this blog we will understand the various IC design components and open source tools available to perform IC design. First lets take a look at  IC design components.  Fig: Logic Synthesis First step in IC design is to do Logic Synthesis . Logic synthesis is a process by which an abstract specification of desired circuit behavior which is the netlist, at register transfer level (RTL), is converted or transformed into a design implementation in terms of logic gates. And the open source tool which helps us do logic synthesis is Yosys Open Synthesis Tool . Fig: Floor-planning Second step is Floorplanning . In floorplanning blocks/macros in the chip/core area, are placed . Floor-plan determines the size of die and creates wire tracks for placement of standard cells. It. creates power ground(PG) connections.           Fig : Placement and Clock Tree Synthesis Third Step is Placement of logical cells that we got from first step and third step is CTS Clock...

  This post contains a list of some of the largest VLSI companies currently operating in India. This list will help you while searching for a job or work opportunities in India. It will also give some knowledge to all students who are seeking to come to semiconductor industry.  1. Intel Intel is an integrated dev ice manufacturer that is specialized in designing and manufacturing motherboard chipsets, network interface controllers, and integrated circuits. Some of the initial products from the company were memory chips, including the world's first metal oxide semiconductor. Today, Intel makes processors for a variety of computer and technology companies. 2. Qualcomm Qualcomm is a global semiconductor and telecommunications company that designs wireless communications products and service s. Most of the telecommunications companies worldwide use Qualcomm's patented CDMA (code division multiple access) technology. Its Snapdragon chipsets are found in many android mo...

What is EDA (VLSI CAD)? Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. CAD programs specific to the electronics industry are known as electronic CAD (ECAD) or electronic design automation (EDA).   EDA tools help to create and program multiple types of electronic circuits like an integrated circuit (IC), printed circuit board (PCB) and system on chip (SoC).It uses multiple features like logical design, circuit schematic design, layout generation, design simulation and many more features for VSLI design. To enter a design into an EDA tool, a suitable design entry method is required. Typically, tools will allow the following design entry methods: 1.Circuit schematics present a graphical view of the design using logic gate symbols and interconnect wiring. 2.Boolean Expressions can be entered as a text-based description in combinational logic designs. 3.HDL design entry allows a description of the digital ...

There are plenty of job opportunities in the semiconductor industries. To properly align your career goals and your training, you need to have a proper understanding of the job titles and job profiles that a career in VLSI has to offer. More importantly, you should know about your strengths and personal attributes and choose the right job accordingly. Here are some job opportunities and designations in the VLSI industry. 1. Design engineer In this designation, you are mainly responsible for design implementation. You need to be very good in technically knowledge. This job does not demand high interpersonal skills, but still, you need to be effective in communicating your ideas.   2. Verification engineer A Verification engineer’s job captures the verification stage of the overall chip manufacturing process . The engineer’s task is to verify the design and makes sure that the design works properly. There is always a massive demand for this position because verification does no...

You are living under a rock if you aren’t aware of social platform ‘ LinkedIn ’ used by corporate world. So, LinkedIn profile is not similar to a Facebook profile. Facebook and other social media platforms helps you connect to the outside/social world. On the other hand LinkedIn helps to connect with the corporate world which includes recruiters of big companies, various developers and other skilled professionals from almost every industry that exists. Moreover, a good LinkedIn profile may get you a highly paid job! How? Its because your LinkedIn profile is very close to how your resume would look like. These days, a recruiter on an average takes about 6-15 secs to judge and shortlist you based on your resume. So now you know what impact can a great LinkedIn profile make in your professional career. Here we’ll discuss few hacks which might help you create a great LinkedIn profile to get yourself a job in the VLSI domain: 1.     Create a LinkedIn profile with an att...

  Skillset required for career in VLSI What Is Hardware Description Language(HDL)?        With the advent of VLSI Technology, designers could design single chips with more than 100,000 transistors. Thus it is not possible to verify such circuits physically Computer aided  techniques became critical for verification and design of VLSI circuits. As the design got more complex, logic simulation assumed an important role in the design process. Thus came in the Hardware Description Languages . Designers  could remove the bugs in the architecture before the chip was designed further with HDLs. Designs can be described at a very abstract level by the use of HDLs .Designers can write their are RTL description without a specific fabrication technology. Logic synthesis tools automatically convert the design into any fabrication technology. Also functional verification of the design can be done early in the design cycle. Introduction to Verilog HDL...