![]() Modern chips are too complex to bedesigned this way, not because the schematic-capture programs can't handleit, but because the engineers can't. Schematic-capture software is a bit like word-processingsoftware in that it won't provide inspiration or talent or create designsfrom nothing, but it will catch common mistakes and keep your workspace freefrom embarrassing erasure marks.Ī number of companies supply schematic-capture software, but most vendors aresmall firms and their ranks are dwindling. The schematic-capture software takes care of the simplerannotation chores like labeling each function and making sure no wires are leftdangling in midair. Withthis, you can drag and drop symbols for various electrical components (adders,resistors, etc.) across your screen and then connect them by drawing wiresbetween them. Instead,schematics are drawn on a computer screen using schematic-capture software. Except for the ICs, the figures on a schematic don't look like theactual components in the circuit.ĭrawing a schematic on paper doesn't do an engineer any good if the goalis to ultimately transfer that design into film to have a chip made. Resistors,capacitors, diodes, LEDs, and other components are all represented by standardsymbols. ![]() The diagrammight be stylized a bit for easier understanding, like the classic route map forthe London Underground, but for the most part, schematics are accurate, maps ofcircuit connections, as shown in Figure 3.1.įigure3.1 This typical schematic diagram shows how two ICs (rectangles near thecenter) connect by wires (straight lines) to other components. They draw, more or less realistically,the actual arrangement of wires and components (lines and stations). Schematics,or wiring diagrams, are like subway maps. At least that's true for simple electrical circuits. Schematic diagrams are the time-honored way of representing electricalcircuits. The assortment is important, and using a mixture of EDAtools is part of an engineer's craft. No single EDAtool can take a chip design from start to finish, just as no carpenter'stool can do every job. Just as an experienced carpenter willaccumulate a toolbox full of favored tools, chip designers develop a repertoireof computer programs that aid in various aspects of chip design. They must work together as a team, and theymust rely on and trust each other as well as their tools. One person might manage the project and command theoverall architecture of the chip, but individual engineers will be responsiblefor portions of the detailed design. Even teams ofengineers have no single member who truly understands all the details andnuances of the design. No single engineer canpersonally understand everything that goes on inside a new chip. Modern chips are far too complex to design manually. Modernmultimillion-transistor chips supply more than enough new challenges to make upthe difference. Modern chip-design tools have done away with the error-prone manualwork of taping up individual layers, but they only shift the workload. Today the process is radically different, although no less painstaking orcomplex.
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