VLSI

Very Large Scale Integration

•ƒ Integration of (mathematical expression) dx
•ƒ Integration of (Transistors and complex logic
gates)
1940 Transistors invented in Bell Laboratory

1950 First IC (JK-FF by Jack Kilby at TI)

1960 Early 60s Small Scale Integration (SSI) 10 transistors on a chip

Medium Scale Integration (MSI) 100s of transistors on a chip

1970 Early 70s Large Scale Integration (LSI)1000s of transistor on a chip

1980 Early 80s VLSI 10,000s of transistors on a chip (later 100,000s &
now 1,000,000s)

1989 Ultra LSI is sometimes used for 1,000,000s

 Generations Of VLSI
Era Date Complexity
(Number of logic blocks/chip)
Single transistor 1959 Less than 1

Unit Logic (one gate) 1960 1

Multi-function 1962 2-4

Complex Function 1964 5-20

Medium Scale Integration 1967 20-200

Large Scale Integration 1972 200-2000

Very Large Scale Integration 1978 2000-20000

Ultra Large Scale Integration 1989 20000-?

Design Flow System Specification

Functional Design

Behavioral representation Functional Verification

Logic Design

Logical representation
Logic Verification

Circuit Design

Circuit representation Circuit Verification

Physical Design

Layout representation Layout Verification

Fabrication and Testing

 Task

Sub-task Sub-task

Sub-tasks Sub-tasks Sub-tasks Sub-tasks

Design Hierarchy
The 4-bit adder

Simplified form to a single BIT

Concepts Of VLSI Design
VLSI Design Styles

• Field programmable gate array (FPGA)

• Gate Array Design
• Standard-cells based design
• Full custom design
The Intel 486 Microprocessor
is an example of Full-custom
design.
VLSI in Today's world
 VLSI in Communication

• VLSI has enabled us to use portable media tools like

radio, mobile phones & PDA

• Recently INDIA launched its PSLV –polar satellite launch

vehicle .This was only possible due to VLSI.
VLSI in Computers

•VLSI Design system was used in the Intel 80286

processor from 1978.

•All modern computers use either VLSI or its

advanced versions like the ULSI (Ultra Large Scale
Integration).

•This has reduced the size of computers & these

days we have palmtops
Future of VLSI

•Emergence of GSI (Giga-Scale Integration)

and TSI (Tera-Scale Intgration)

•Use of Carbon Nano-Tubes

•ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) & Wafer Scale

Integration and more developed versions of SoC
(System on Chip).
 Moore’s Law

• After every 24 months the number of

transistors on a IC doubles for
minimum component cost.

Gordon Moore
 CONCLUSION

The vast development in the VLSI design system

and its successor the ULSI will lead to a rapid
growth in the electronics field.