Semiconductor : Custom IC Design

This course introduces learners to the full custom IC design flow including specification, schematic capture, layout, simulation, verification, and physical design. Participants will gain exposure to both analog and digital IC design techniques with a focus on CMOS technologies. The course emphasizes practical design using EDA tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or open-source platforms such as OpenROAD and Magic VLSI. Students will undertake a mini-project involving the design, layout, and verification of a simple IC block.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies, tools, and techniques involved in the design and fabrication of custom Integrated Circuits (ICs). It bridges theoretical microelectronics knowledge with hands-on design skills using industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

The course develops specialized skills in:

Analog and digital circuit design.
Semiconductor device modeling (MOSFETs, diodes, current mirrors).
EDA tools and simulation environments (Cadence, Virtuoso, Spectre).
Layout design and verification (DRC, LVS, PEX).
Problem-solving in high-performance circuit design.
Innovation in application-specific IC development.

Learning Outcome

Explain core principles of analog CMOS VLSI circuit design.
Design, simulate, and verify analog CMOS circuits using modern techniques.
Apply circuit optimization strategies to meet performance and area constraints.
Demonstrate proficiency in using EDA tools such as Virtuoso, Spectre, and Diva.
Translate design concepts into working prototypes with verified performance.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for diploma and degree holders in Electronics, Electrical, or Electronics & Communication Engineering who are looking to build expertise in semiconductor technologies. It is also well-suited for professionals aiming to specialize in VLSI, ASIC, SoC, or FPGA domains, as well as research scholars pursuing advanced studies in microelectronics or semiconductor engineering.

Pre-requisite

To ensure participants can fully benefit from the course, the following background is recommended:

Academic: A minimum qualification of a diploma in Electronics, Electrical, or a closely related engineering discipline.
Technical Knowledge: A basic understanding of semiconductor physics, circuit theory, and digital logic design is essential.
Tool Familiarity: Prior exposure to circuit simulation tools such as SPICE is beneficial, though not mandatory for enrollment.