Research On Custom IC Design Flow

Custom IC design includes analog IC design, custom digital IC design, RF IC design and mixed signal IC design. This article makes a research on Custom IC design flow in the aspect of design methodology.In Chapter 1, Conspectus, the article talks about the development trends of Custom IC Design Flow and the design difficulty following consequently, and it points out the operation significance to improve the design efficiency and reduce the design cycle by focusing on the design flow. In Chapter 2, the article talks about the traditional design process, including design entry, functional simulation, physical layout, physical verification and post-layout simulation as well, which represent the most popular design flow segments. Started with how to meet the needs of strengthening the design flow, Chapter 3 focuses on how to improve the design and tapeout productivity via multi-mode simulation, automatic layout, characterization and modeling, IR Drop and EM analysis. In Chapter 4, the article talks about the the design methodology of IP reuse flow which is widely used currently, and the article makes key research in IP schematic migration and IP layout migration. In Chapter 5, the article specifically talks about the characteristic of RF IC flow which is newly used domestically. Finally in Chapter 6, a real case of 5-bit ADC with the flow of this article is provided for reference for all the designers.Considering the current characteristics of custom IC design, the article gives a solution project in process flow, and talks about the more effective substitute process. Designers can improve design productivity, reduce design circle and lower the risk of first tapeout failure with the solution discussed in the article. Apart from Chapter 1 whose flow is widely used in the industry field, the research in Chapter 3 4 5 6 is still uncommon, so it has great reference significance to the domestic design application.