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VLSI

VLSI Technology

Very large-scale integration is a process of embedding or integrating hundreds of thousands of  transistors  onto a singular silicon semiconductor microchip. VLSI technology’s conception dates back to the late 1970s when advanced level processor (computer) microchips were also in their development stages. Two of the most common VLSI devices are  the microprocessor and the microcontroller . VLSI refers to an  integrated circuit technology  with numerous devices on a single chip. The term originates, of course, in the 1970s, along with various other scale integration classifications based on the number of gates or transistors per IC.

The remarkable growth of the electronics industry is primarily due to the advances in large-scale integration technologies. With the arrival of  VLSI designs , the number of possibilities for ICs in control applications, telecommunications, high-performance computing, and consumer electronics as a whole continues to rise. Presently, technologies like smartphones and cellular communications afford unprecedented portability, processing capabilities, and application access due to VLSI technology. The forecast for this trend indicates a rapid increase as demands continue to increase.

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Advantages of VLSI Technology

The following are the primary advantages of VLSI technology:

  • Reduced size for circuits
  • Increased cost-effectiveness for devices
  • Improved performance in terms of the operating speed of circuits
  • Requires less power than discrete components
  • Higher device reliability
  • Requires less space and promotes miniaturization

Design Process Of Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)

VLSI IC design generally consists of two main stages or components:

1. Front-End Design:

Digital design utilizing a hardware description language, such as Verilog, System Verilog, and VHDL, is referred to as front-end design. Additionally, this step includes design verification through simulation and other types of verification. Designing, which begins with the gates and continues through design for testability, is also a part of the complete process.

2. Back-End Design:

Characterization and CMOS library design make up the back-end design. Physical design and fault simulation are also included.