Design of Analog Integrated Circuits: Freeware PC-Based CAD for Student Practices

Abstract

The aim of this work is to supply a freeware PC-based CAD environment (named WinVLSI) for the design of full-custom VLSI microelectronic circuits, from schematic capture to foundry database, for educational purposes. There are two problems related with CAD laboratories for microelectronic design education: (i) the high cost of the required hardware and the high cost of annual license maintenance for the available microelectronic CAD and (ii) the time consuming training of both the CAD software and the UNIX system. Usually students are more familiar using a PC-environment than a UNIX-environment and this is directly related with the efficiency on time used for doing the practical work. In order to overrule this problem a freeware PC-based CAD environment is being used for the design of analog integrated circuits during two courses for the electronic engineering studies. Additionally with WinVLSI, students are able to do the laboratory design work from their home, this is especially interesting for students who can not assist to established timetable. Finally the PC-based CAD environment will help to spread the microelectronic design skills for recycling engineers who will be able to use that environment from their home.