VSD Intern - Mixed Signal Physical Design Flow with Sky130

TDM Course Title: Mastering Mixed Signal Physical Design Flow with Sky130 using OpenLANE

Headline: Unleash Your Potential in Analog IP Physical Design with OpenLANS & Sky130!

🎉 Welcome to the Course! 🎓

Course Description: Dive into the intricacies of mixed signal physical design with our comprehensive course, designed to guide you through the process of Physical Design Number (PDN) optimization for an analog IP - a 2:1 Analog Multiplexer - using open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, OpenLANE. This course is tailored for those aiming to master the mixed signal System on Chip (SoC) design, particularly at the 130nm technology node with Sky130 process.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Understand the steps required for a successful PDN using OpenLANE and Sky130.
• Learn how to modify existing IP layouts to ensure compatibility with EDA tools.
• Grasp the importance of hierarchical design abstraction in integrating analog and digital blocks effectively.
• Explore the integration process between analog and digital components within a mixed signal SoC.
• Discover how to implement a RTL-to-GDSII flow using OpenROAD for complex mixed signal designs.
• Gain insights into future enhancements, including custom library inclusion and handling of more complex macro cells.

🛠 What You'll Learn:

• Mixed Signal SoC Fundamentals: Understand the role and importance of mixed signal SoCs in modern digital design.
• Analog & Digital Integration: Master the communication strategies between analog and digital blocks within a mixed signal SoC.
• Design Abstraction: Learn how to structure your design at different levels of abstraction, optimizing for both analog and digital domains.
• OpenLANE & Sky130 Flow: Step through the process of designing, simulating, and laying out an analog IP using OpenLANE and the Sky130 PDK.

🔍 Hands-On Labs: Engage with practical labs that will have you applying your knowledge in real-world scenarios. These labs are designed to reinforce the concepts taught during the course, giving you hands-on experience with open-source EDA tools and methodologies.

📚 Course Materials: The course includes detailed lecture notes, lab assignments, and resources for further study. You'll also have access to a supportive community of peers and experts who can help you navigate through the learning process.

🚀 Future Work:

• Customize your design with specialized libraries.
• Analyze and optimize more complex macro cells, such as those with triple-height or larger dimensions.

🤝 Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Kunal Ghosh, Co-founder, VSD Corp. Pvt. Ltd for his valuable contributions. Also, gratitude to the OpenLANE team and Efabless corporation, particularly Tim Edwards, Senior Vice President of Analog and Design. A shout-out to Nickson Jose, VLSI Engineer, and Prithivi Raj K, from National Institute of Technology Tiruchirapalli for their support and insights.

Join us on this exciting journey into the world of mixed signal physical design. Let's innovate, learn, and grow together! 🌟

We hope you find this course enlightening and a stepping stone to your success in the field of VLSI design. Your engagement and constructive feedback are essential to us, as they help us improve and tailor our offerings to better suit your learning needs. Happy designing!