Jon is correct about the analog portion of Monolithic IC's compared to digital when it comes to EDA and layout. We were doing Hybrid IC EDA and layout (analog and digital) in the 1980's, but it always required much human intervention. The circuits were very simple as compared to today's Monolithic IC's. Now Analog IC EDA/Layout faces a new opportunity. The analog computer is back and has great potential. This article explains it better: https://spectrum.ieee.org/not-your-fathers-analog-computer So, think about what happens when we combine many analog cores on the IC with the need to design them efficiently ? This has implications for power-hungry DSP, especially in medical. Also note the Author's position at Columbia U. Edwin H. Armstrong rides again!
Jon is correct about the analog portion of Monolithic IC's compared to digital when it comes to EDA and layout. We were doing Hybrid IC EDA and layout (analog and digital) in the 1980's, but it always required much human intervention. The circuits were very simple as compared to today's Monolithic IC's.
ReplyDeleteNow Analog IC EDA/Layout faces a new opportunity. The analog computer is back and has great potential. This article explains it better:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/not-your-fathers-analog-computer
So, think about what happens when we combine many analog cores on the IC with the need to design them efficiently ? This has implications for power-hungry DSP, especially in medical.
Also note the Author's position at Columbia U. Edwin H. Armstrong rides again!