Comments on: TSMC iPDK Debate: Lets Play Monopoly!

By: TSMC OIP Explained « Daniel Nenni

TSMC OIP Explained « Daniel Nenni — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:05:31 +0000

[...] of semiconductor design enablement in order to promote growth for the industry as a whole. The TSMC iPDK Debate: Lets Play Monopoly! blog I did provides more technical [...]

By: Semiconductor Design and Manufacture Predictability « Daniel Nenni

Semiconductor Design and Manufacture Predictability « Daniel Nenni — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:02:00 +0000

[...] is the driver for the TSMC reference flows and iPDKs, where different tools are tested and certified for predictability. The only predictable [...]

By: dothead

dothead — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:23:29 +0000

Why don’t PCells come built in? Built into WHAT? They are an integral part of a PDK, and I think you severely underestimate the effort and skill (no pun intended) needed to create high-performance PCells. They are based in part on the specific design rules of a given process, but it may not be clear which specific rule governs a given structure.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:38:45 +0000

… and SKILL is not an unlicensed standard – Cadence still owns it. However, there are equivalent representations available to plug into OA, and Ciranova has a strategic PyCell partnership with TSMC.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:56:46 +0000

In reply to new reader, OpenAccess is a Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) standard, not Accellera

By: new reader

new reader — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:56:59 +0000

if this is all about pcells why not pcells come built in.., the tools should be able to generate any pcells given certain set of rules…

By: new reader

new reader — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:29:11 +0000

I agree tsmc releaseing an open pdk is a great push towards having standard pdks across the industry (good news for all).
But unless i’m missing somethign this is based on the open access database which is an accellera standard isn’t it? So it seems to me Cadence took a big chance by opening this db as a industry standard and it’s hard to imagine how they get anything out of this other than a reduction in their market share. (our best guess is that it will make it easier for them to aquire and intergrate new innovative companies)

Sure it took a long time, but without this donation from cadence to a standards body the ipdk wouldnt’ be possibible. Like most everythign in semiconductors it takes collaboration.

By: Faizul Alam

Faizul Alam — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:17:54 +0000

Dan,

Nice article.

iPDK was a buzz word in the latest DAC.
Is iPDK talking about iCDK (OA Pcell) only,
also regarding entire PDK (Model, DRC, LVS,
DFM. Parasitic extraction deck)?

In one DAC “pavilion session”- the panel was talking about
iDRC, iLVS.

Any good link/ doc on iPDK, iDRC, iModel…?

Thanks,
Faizul