MICROELECTRONIC SYSTEMS NEWS



FILENUMBER: 8019
BEGIN_KEYWORDS
MagiCAD Electromagnetic Modeling GaAs Semicustom Design MOSIS fabrication multi-chip
END_KEYWORDS
DATE: november 1994
TITLE: GaAs Semicustom Design Using MOSIS

GaAs Semicustom Design Using MOSIS

(Contributed by of Tom Smith of the Mayo Foundation)

*********************************************************************
*                                                                   *
*                             MagiCAD:                              *
*               GaAs Semi-Custom Design Through MOSIS,              *
*                      Electromagnetic Modeling                     *
*                                                                   *
*                          Now on Unix !!!                          *
*                                                                   *
*********************************************************************

MagiCAD is a system for GaAs semi-custom design through MOSIS and
electromagnetic modeling of digital interconnect.

MagiCAD is now available on the following platforms:
    * DEC Alpha workstation running OSF/1 2.0
    * HP 9000/700-series workstation running HP-UX 9.05
    * Sun SparcStation running Solaris 2.3 (SunOS 5.3)

**********************************************************************

The Mayo Graphical Integrated Computer Aided Design (MagiCAD) system
package provides a comprehensive design environment for the
development of digital systems, from initial concept to post-layout
verification of integrated circuits (ICs).  MagiCAD focuses on the
development of high-speed Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) gate array designs.
Specialized electromagnetic simulation tools are provided to address
high clock rate issues such as crosstalk and reflections, which become
more important as clock rates exceed several hundred MHz or signal
edge rates become less than 500 pico-seconds. MagiCAD provides all the
necessary tools for high clock rate GaAs IC design, and is also
integrated with non-Mayo circuit, logic, and fault simulators.

MagiCAD provides a lower risk approach than full-custom design for
universities wishing to perform digital GaAs design through MOSIS.
This is done by providing a gate array design environment where
low-level transistor design and layout issues have already been solved
and abstracted into a technology library of pre-defined cells. This
frees the student or researcher to solve the still challenging tasks
of system and gate-level design and layout to get high clock rate
chips fabricated through MOSIS that meet all specifications.

MagiCAD has been used in the design of many GaAs chips that have been
successfully fabricated. The MagiCAD electromagnetic modeling tools
have been used in the analysis of many actual packages, multi-chip
modules (MCMs), and printed circuit boards (PCBs), uncovering and
avoiding problems that are commonly associated with high-frequency,
fast edge-rate designs. The Vitesse Fury (TM) GaAs VSC2K gate array is
provided as a MagiCAD technology library, and has been used for both
graduate and undergraduate student chip designs. The Vitesse FX20K
(HGaAs-III) has been entered as a MagiCAD technology library, as a
replacement for the VSC2K (HGaAs-II).  This design is in fabrication
now and will be released (after test) for student design through MOSIS
by 2Q 1995.

Functionality that has been integrated into MagiCAD includes:
  o  Vitesse Fury VSC2K GaAs gate array technology library (HGaAs-II)
  o  Database which integrates all tools
  o  Schematic entry through a general purpose graphics editor
  o  Circuit simulator
  o  Logic and timing simulators
  o  Fault grading
  o  Place and route tools
  o  Layout verification tools
  o  Output to standard GDSII format for mask creation
  o  Electromagnetic analysis
     -  Cross section entry with graphics editor
     -  Multilayer multiconductor transmission line (MMTL) modeling
     -  Network tool for solving cases with many transmission line 
components
     -  Lossy and non-lossy cases
     -  Frequency and time domain result displays
     -  Used for analyzing complex design paths, through chip, MCM, and PCB

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) has funded Mayo to supply
MagiCAD to universities in the USA for research and educational
purposes. The direct cost to the universities for the MagiCAD software
itself is zero (although there may be costs for any non-Mayo software
that universities may want).  Mayo-supplied MagiCAD training and
support costs to these institutions is funded by ARPA, and is
therefore free to the universities in the USA.  MagiCAD is not being
distributed or supported outside the USA.

The general steps for a university to begin using MagiCAD
for digital GaAs gate array design include:
  1) Contact Mayo Foundation to acquire MagiCAD software
     and GaAs technology libraries.
  2) Contact MOSIS to acquire general MOSIS information
     and Vitesse-specific GaAs technology information.

Point Of Contact For Acquiring MagiCAD And MagiCAD Support:

Tom Smith
Mayo Foundation
Special Purpose Processor Development Group
200 First St. S. W., Guggenheim 1016A
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
Telephone:  (507) 284-0840
Telefax:    (507) 284-9171
EMail:      Smith.Thomas@Mayo.Edu


Point Of Contact For Acquiring General MOSIS Information
And Vitesse-specific GaAs Technology Information:

MOSIS Customer Liaison
The MOSIS Service
USC/ISI
4676 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA  90292-6695
Telephone:  (310) 822-1511 x172
Telefax:    (310) 823-5624
EMail:      mosis-help@mosis.edu

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