ASIC Design Flow – Complete Guide to Front-End and Back-End Processes for Chip Development
Description Explore the ASIC design flow, from specification to fabrication, covering front-end RTL coding, verification, and back-end processes like synthesis, place and route, signoff, and tapeout. Introduction Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are custom-designed chips used in various applications, from consumer electronics to high-performance computing. Unlike Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or general-purpose processors, ASICs are tailored for specific tasks, ensuring higher efficiency in terms of speed, power consumption, and area utilization . The ASIC design flow is a highly structured and multi-stage process, divided into two key phases: Front-End Design: Converts customer specifications into RTL (Register Transfer Level) code using Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) like Verilog or VHDL, followed by simulation and verification. Back-End Design: Transforms RTL into a physical layout, ensuring that timing, p...