From ASICs to SOCs: A Practical Approach

1.5. Design Methodology

A good design methodology for ASICs and SOCs consists of a set of defined design flows for both front and back ends as well as tool integration and task automation. Let's start with the design flow. Figure 1.4 showed a typical top-down ASIC design flow. The flow can be divided into the following major parts: design entry, design implementation, design verification, physical design, and IC production. A more detailed front-end flow diagram is shown in Figure 1.7. Let's look at the steps involved in this flow.

Figure 1.7. A Front-End ASIC Design Flow (Printed with permission of Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.)

The ...