VILT ASIC Prototyping with FPGA
Start Date: Please contact us
Course Overview
NRE may be millions of $$. Time to market is always critical and cycle needed to be shorter.
Although good verification environment is essential for ASIC success, it may not be enough.
Due to very long simulation cycle times , lack of manpower , timing issues , uncovered system scenarios , lack of software drivers etc.
ASIC prototyping in FPGA increases significantly the probability of ASIC 1st time pass.
However, there are technology differences between ASIC and FPGA that should be taken into consideration. This course will emphasize the differences and how they should be handled.
Who should attend?
VLSI/ASIC team leader/project manager,VLSI/ASIC RTL designer,VLSI/ASIC architect,Verification EngineerPrerequisite:
Experience in RTL design
- Knowledge in Xilinx FPGA tools
Software Tools:
ISE (for the 2nd day)
Skills Gained: After completing this training, you will be able to:
Techniques for RTL design that fits code to FPGA and ASIC
Understand the limitations of the prototyping process
Understand the cost of prototyping process
Tips to fasten synthesis and place/route cycles
Lab Description:
Lab 1: Clocking – In this lab we will understand the ASIC clock tree vs. FPGA clock tree. What may be identical and where are the differences.
Lab 2: Memory instantiation – In this lab we will show how to instantiate memories. ROM, RAM and special ASIC memories.
Lab 3: I/O pad – We will focus on the differences between ASIC and FPGA I/O pads. Coding Style to improve I/O performance.
Lab 4: Production test modes in ASIC – Usually in ASIC there are special functions for testing. We will show how these functions can be handles in FPGA.
Lab 5: Power and analog IP’S in ASIC – If our ASIC contains analog IP’S or power units, we have to handle them in FPGA.
Lab 6: Fastening compilation duration – Synthesis and place / route may be very long cycles. We will learn how to shorten these cycles.
HDL Language
Verilog with references to VHDL
Course Outline:
- Understand the motivation, cost and restrictions of prototyping. What can be tested and what cannot be tested.
- Coding style to fit both targets.
- Practical examples
- Examples in Lab
- Typical ASIC development process with and without FPGA
- Benefits from adding FPGA to the verification process.
- Handling 3rd parties IP’S
- Clocking
- System aspects FPGA vs. ASIC
- Design partitioning
- Timing issues
- Reports
