Semiconductor Design

Semiconductor design is the process of creating integrated circuits (ICs) or chips by specifying their architecture, logic, and physical layout using electronic design automation (EDA) tools. It involves multiple stages including system-level design, logic design, circuit design, and physical design to transform functional specifications into manufacturable silicon. This field is critical for developing processors, memory chips, sensors, and other electronic components that power modern computing and devices.

Also known as: IC Design, Chip Design, VLSI Design, ASIC Design, Hardware Design

Why learn Semiconductor Design?

Developers should learn semiconductor design when working on hardware-software co-design, embedded systems, or performance-critical applications where understanding chip architecture can optimize software. It's essential for roles in semiconductor companies, hardware engineering, or industries like automotive and IoT that rely on custom chips. Knowledge in this area enables developers to contribute to low-level system optimization, power management, and innovation in emerging technologies like AI accelerators.

Learning Resources

• course: Introduction to VLSI Systems
• course: Digital Integrated Circuits - A Design Perspective
• tutorial: Verilog Tutorial
• docs: Semiconductor Engineering - Design Articles
• docs: EDA Tools Overview by Cadence