5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right ASIC Design Technology

The semiconductor industry has become much more complex and critical with the rapidly changing nature of the industry, and selecting the right ASIC design technology is no exception. An ASIC is a type of chip that you have designed specifically for certain applications, which are custom with unique specifications. Be it performance, power efficiency, or area constraints, the right choice in design technology will make all the difference between the success and failure of your project. In this article, we explore five key points in choosing the right ASIC design technology, looking into the growth of semiconductor manufacturing in India in greater detail.

This will also make them aware of the latest trending methods in the Indian semiconductor industry, including how major players are performing in both native and foreign markets. By the end of the article, you will be well-equipped to make informed decisions and links to great resources from Nano Genius Technologies that can be read afterwards.

1. Defining Core Application Requirements

Any ASIC design should be based on a clear understanding of its target application and its associated PPA requirements: performance, power, and area. Let’s take the following examples:

• Performance: For applications demanding high speed and processing power, from cloud data centres over AI models to high-speed networking, low latency and high throughput are the focus of the ASIC design.
• Power Consumption: With the advent of IoT, low power consumption must be a thing for devices like wearables and remote sensors that are battery-based. ASIC-based designs for power-sensitive applications can really extend the lifespan of the device and not necessarily recharge or replace its battery often.
• Area Constraints: There is frequently a severe area limitation. For very small devices, for example, mobile phones or embedded systems, space is rather tight and hence your ASIC design should make as cost-effective usage as possible of the area while maximizing functionality as well as providing an efficient layout that maximizes both form and function.

To get a more customized balancing of performance versus power needs, approach the masters of Nano Genius Technologies where the team crafts tailor-made solutions to various ASIC applications.

2. Choosing the Best Technology Node

The technology node, expressed in nanometers (nm), accounts for the most significant influence on the performance, power, and cost of an ASIC. Advanced nodes such as 5nm or 7nm represent better performance but add to design complexity and increase cost. Here is how the most common node options fall into this classification.

Advanced Nodes for High Performance

• 5nm and 7nm nodes are often seen in high-performance applications, including AI processor packages, graphics-intensive games, and data centres. With the density of more transistors on a single chip, they support faster processing and greater functionality, but there is also a need for heavy investment in design, manufacturing, and testing.
• Advanced nodes have attracted Indian companies, and most of the top semiconductor manufacturers in India are now looking for new partnerships to gain access to those nodes. Companies like Tata Electronics are leading the charge in investments into domestic chip production capabilities.

Cost-Effective Mature Nodes

• 28nm, 40nm, and 65nm nodes are widely utilized in less computationally intensive applications such as car electronics and the Internet of Things. Nodes, at this maturity, are cost-effective and available in large volumes. Due to their lower complexity, nodes also offer quicker design and production timelines that drive them to high-volume manufacture.

• For example, if your design does not require the highest potential processing, you would find it useful to use when searching for a chipset manufacturing firm in India specialized in mature nodes. In fact, with the upsurge of IoT and automotive technology, companies like Nano Genius Technologies have adapted mature-node technologies to meet such rising demand for cost-effective ASIC solutions.

3. Evaluating Design Complexity as well as Compatibility with Ecosystem

This is a very complex process that requires a lot of design tools, in the form of intellectual property (IP) cores as well as a reliable ecosystem. Here’s why design complexity and compatibility should guide your decision:

• Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Tool Compatibility: ASIC design heavily depends on the EDA tools of these industry leaders, namely Synopsys, Cadence, and Mentor Graphics. In practice, however, every node has its own toolkit, and hence, the choice of the proper node with proper EDA compatibility is very crucial to avoid costly redesigns and time overruns.
• IP Core Availability: IP cores are pre-designed blocks (such as memory, CPU, or standard communication protocols) that can be reused in various designs with substantial time-saving and development cost reduction. The availability of verified IP cores is even more significant for complex designs, which accelerates the time-to-market.
• Silicon Validation and Testing: Before mass production, each ASIC design should undergo extreme testing. Your technology should be qualified to be compatible with the silicon validation process if your device requires support for industry standards.

Companies like Nano Genius Technologies in India provide PCB design and manufacturing services with solutions from ASIC design to testing, so design compatibility and ecosystem reliability are fully taken care of in advance so that faulty issues are not apprehended during mass production.

4. Taking Care of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Dynamics

The ASIC project needs stability in the manufacturing and supply chain. It’s even more crucial for companies looking to produce quantities. The final project costs and time are determined by how one determines a local or global foundry, how materials are sourced, and how logistics are approached.

Local vs. Global Foundries

• Partnering with a chipset manufacturer in India can, therefore, reduce lead times and logistics costs, especially for high-volume production. This will surely help mitigate possible supply chain disruptions like global disruptions, which have overwhelmed the semiconductor industry in recent years.
• However, some of the advanced manufacturing technologies are available only through global foundries. Here again, a trade-off needs to be made between the pluses of local partnerships and access to advanced technologies. Where SCL focuses its mature nodes in the local scenario, TSMC will lead in the advanced nodes.

Ensuring Supply Chain Reliability

• The reliable supply chain is a very important factor for on-time production as well as controlling costs. Companies like Vedanta and Tata are taking the lead in semiconductor self-reliance in India, which does look encouraging both for the future and for reduced dependence on imports.
• Another step that would certainly make things easier is partnering with an established PCB design and manufacturing provider in India, as companies such as Nano Genius Technologies provide clients with integrated networks for design, manufacturing, and logistics. Such a support system can make your project more resilient against global supply chain challenges.

To learn more about supply chain management, and how to partner with chipset manufacturers, check out Nano Genius Technologies

5. Agile Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing and quality assurance are part of ASIC production to assure reliable ASICs: as in the example of very highly regulated sectors, such as automotive, health care, and aerospace. Without good testing, even one defect may cause adverse issues, like considerable costs or even product recalls.

• Design Verification: ASIC design must undergo functional verification especially when you are at the stage of making a prototype prior to starting mass production. Verifying whether the technology node supports functional verification for your application reduces failures post-manufacture.
• Reliability Testing: ASICs meant for automobile and industrial applications have to be reliable in extreme temperatures, humidity, and vibration. Reliability testing would make sure that the ASIC performs to perfection during its lifetime period.
• Compliance and Regulatory Standards: In controlled business environments, compliance testing is required. In this context, most PCB design and manufacturing firms in India, including Nano Genius Technologies, ensure that their ASIC designs comply with such standards through proper documentation and testing services for the sake of security and dependability.

From the design verification at the beginning of the development stage to the stricter tests at the final stage, the high-quality assurance process saves much time and cost in the long term.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How will you choose the best node for your ASIC?

 It depends upon the performance, power, and cost requirements of your application. The 7nm node is suitable well for high-performance applications. As nodes mature toward 28nm, they are often a popular choice for cost-sensitive, high-volume production.

2. What are the advantages offered by local chipset manufacturing companies in India?

Local players offer advantages such as lower logistics costs, lesser lead times, and possible reduced exposure to global supply chain risk. Increasing investments in semiconductor manufacturing make India one of the competitive options for mature and advanced node requirements.

3. Why is testing important in the ASIC design cycle?

Testing discovers errors and also, and the ASIC should function as per its purpose, the ASICs should fulfil reliability and regulatory expectations. It is also necessary to test seriously in order to avoid cost incidences after production, especially for those industries that are strictly regulated.

For more information on ASIC technology, design tips, and insights into the supply chain, please check out the blog at Nano Genius Technologies.