You are currently viewing SemiWiki as a guest which gives you limited access to the site. To view blog comments and experience other SemiWiki features you must be a registered member. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
C'mon guys. How many of you actually have taped out on time... and you aren't fighting physics.
Ever hear of the Pi factor? I use this multiplier on my software developers. It is accurate to 1.7%.
Gina, you are correct. 14nm is an advanced process. A double patterned process that uses FinFETs (low leakage) with 13 copper routing layers, routable contacts, and diffusion cuts would certainly satisfy most of US needs, even for the DoD.
Based on the LV stdcells, but I can start saying 12nm if it reduces controversy
It takes a lot of work (as you know) to create the correct pitch to use for our layout automation, standard cells, and our policy to have as close to automatic process migration as possible. For example, our 180nm...
poly length... sorry. typo.
In my opinion (and other mixed signal circuit designers who I collaborate with), NRE, timelines, and access to a TRUSTED foundry is everything. Saving pennies on area doesn't matter. The goal is to get as much as you can onto silicon (not on the PC board)
Sqeezing...
Absolutely. They better send their GDS2's (OASIS, whatever) layers to different mask shops. Are they allowed to put their own security guards at the foundry's back door.
Sorry for the confusion. I call it 14nm because that is the drawn poly size. We should probably call it by the gate pitch and M2 pitch, but just use the old standard (poly pitch). I also call tsmc 12ffc "16nm"
GF doesn't have to. The ecosystem around it will.
Advanced packaging (Amkor, etc)...
As far as 28nm... correct, a 28nm ASIC will blow away an FPGA.
Note: Automation makes 28nm obsolete compared to 16-12nm. IanD made a good case for GF22, so we continue to support that.
Mr. Blue: Of course FPGAs are popular and needed, but so are ASICs.
Mr. Ng: Who is knocking 6nm? But why does every foundry need to be leading edge? If you aren't number 1, then you pack up and close? There are lots of customers that don't have $50M NRE budgets. Why is NXP, etc making chips on...
