Summary: <p>The future will be built using ASICs! <a href="http://twitter.com/Keysight_Daniel">Daniel Bogdanoff</a> and Mike Hoffman sit down with chip sage and planner Mike Beyers to discuss the challenges of building custom application specific integrated circuits. This podcast was inspired by the blog post “<a href="https://community.keysight.com/community/keysight-blogs/oscilloscopes/blog/2017/05/15/creating-an-asic-our-quest-to-make-the-best-cheap-oscilloscope">Creating an ASIC – Our Quest to Make the Best Cheap Oscilloscope</a>”</p> <p><a href="https://youtu.be/jGKY29t-uQs">Video</a> version (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/KeysightOscilloscope">YouTube</a>):</p> <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"></div> <p> </p> <p>Audio version:</p> <audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-361-25" style="width: 100%;"><a href="https://eestalktech.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/all-about-asics.mp3">https://eestalktech.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/all-about-asics.mp3</a></audio> <h2>Discussion Overview:</h2> <p>We’re finally a real podcast now!</p> <p>What is an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application-specific_integrated_circuit">ASIC</a>? An ASIC is an application specific integrated circuit, an IC designed for a specific task.</p> <p>Why do we use ASICs?</p> <p>ASIC architecture 101 2:46<br> The main specification people talk about is the size smallest thing you can find on a chip – like the <a href="https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/digital/chpt-3/cmos-gate-circuitry/">gate of a CMOS transistor</a></p> <p><a href="https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/transistor-gate-length.685625/">Effective gate length</a> is shorter than the gate length drawn because of the manufacturing process.</p> <p>Another key spec is how many transistors you can fit in a square mm<br> Metal layers for interconnects are also more important, but can cause the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomask">mask sets</a> to be more expensive<br> Do we care more about a gate’s footprint or its depth? 4:11</p> <p>Will <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law">Moore’s Law</a> hit a ceiling? 4:29<br> What about using three dimensional structures? 5:37<br> Is <a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/02/moores-law-really-is-dead-this-time/">Moore’s Law</a> just a marketing number? 5:51</p> <p>Does technology ever slow down? 6:29</p> <p>Power is often the largest limiter 6:58<br> <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/04/ebd/">Google builds data centers next to hydroelectric dams</a> 7:34<br> Battery power 7:43<br> Power drives cost 7:53</p> <p>How does the power problem affect ASICs? 8:25<br> There are power integrity and thermal management concerns<br> Dedicated routes on an ASIC vs switching on an FPGA 8:14</p> <p>Who actually uses ASICs? 10:14<br> IOT technology – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_nanometer">7 nm</a> and 14nm chips</p> <p>A lot of people are using older technology because it’s much more affordable (like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45_nanometer">45 nm</a>)</p> <p>ASICs on your bike could be a thing? 11:16<br> <a href="https://www.sram.com/">SRAM</a> <a href="http://www.gravelcyclist.com/bicycle-tech/2016-interbike-electronic-shifting-is-here-to-stay-new-offerings-by-sram-shimano-and-fsa/">wireless electronic bike shifters</a> 11:57<br> Is bike hacking a real thing? Yes! Encrypted wireless communication helps prevent it.</p> <p>Is an opamp (<a href="http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/opamp/opamp_1.html">operational amplifier</a>) an ASIC?</p> <p>What to consider when investing in an ASIC 13:23<br> What’s the next best alternative to building this ASIC?<br> With an ASIC, you can often drive lower cost, but you also increase performance and reliability<br> Is there a</p>
