1. Core Based SOC Design
Prof. Anish Goel

2. SoC : System on Chip
 System
 A collection of all kinds of components and/or subsystems
that are appropriately interconnected to performance the
specified functions for end users
 A SoC design is a “product creation process” Which
 Starts at identifying the end-user needs
 Ends at delivering a product with enough functional satisfaction to
overcome the payment from the end-user
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3. IP-Based Design
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4. SOC
 Also named System-on-a Chip. System LSI, System-on-
Silicon, System-on-…
 It used to be System-on-aboard, or System-in-a cabinet,
or System-in-package (SIP)
 System
Hardware
Analog : ADC/DAC, PLL, TxRx, RF
Digital : Processor, Interface, Accelerator
Storage : SRAM, DRAM, FLASH, ROM
Software : RTOS, IP Device Driver, Application
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5. What is an SoC?
 An SoC must contain:
 Portable / reusable IP
 Embedded CPU
 Embedded Memory
 Real World Interfaces
 (USB, PCI, Ethernet)
 Software (both on- chip
and off)
 An SoC may contain:
 Programmable HW
 (FPGAs, Flash)
 Mixed-signal Blocks
 Sensors
 Not just an ASIC !
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6. Benefits of Using SoC
 Reduce overall system cost
 Increase performance
 Lower power consumption
 Reduce size
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7. Evolution of Semiconductor Device
Technology
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8. Evolution of Silicon Design
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9. Challenges in SoC Era
 Time-to-market
 Process roadmap acceleration
 Consumerization of electronic devices
 Complex systems
 µCs, DSPs, HW/SW, SW protocol stacks, RTOS’s, digital/analog
IPs, On-chips buses
 Deep submicron effects
 Crosstalk electron migration, wire delays, mask costs
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10. Heterogeneous SoC Technology
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11. SOC Design Requirement
 System Support & Portability
 Open Industry Standard
 Testability
 Process Dependency
 Design Methodology
 Price/Performance/Power
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12. How to Conquer the Complexity
 Use a known real entity
 A pre-designed component (IP reuse)
 A Platform (architecture reuse)
 Partition
 Based on functionality
 Hardware and software
 Modeling
 At different Level
 Consistent and accurate
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13. SOC Current Challenge
 IP Availability
 Good and qualified IP from qualified vendors
 One stop IP search engine & service
 System Complexity
 Analog IP process dependency
 Advanced process maturity
 System software development - IP coverage
 Verification & Failure Analysis
 Lack of system simulation models
 IP testability - built-in self testing
 Testing equipment limitation
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14. A Representative 2G/2.5G Cell Phone
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15. Example of Complex System-on-Chip
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16. SoC Architecture
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17. SoC Applications
 Communication
 Digital cellular phone
 Networking
 Computer
 PC/Workstation
 Chipsets
 Consumer
 Set top box
 Game box
 Digital camera
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18. Internet Age - Very Demanding
Applications
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19. Innovations that Enable SOC Integration
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20. Traditional waterfall ASIC design flow
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21. Differences in Design Between IC and IP
 Limitation of IC design
 Number of I/O pin
 Design and Implement all the functionality in the silicon
 Soft IP
 No limitation on number of I/O pin
 Parameterized IP Design : design all the functionality in HDL code
but implement desired parts in the silicon
 IP compiler/Generator : select what you want !!
 More high level auxiliary tools to verify design
 More difficult in chip-level verification
 Hard IP
 No limitation on number of I/O pin
 Provide multiple level abstract model
 Design and Implement all the functionality in the layout
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22. SoC Design Flow
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23. Summary
 SoC technology and IP design have become a dominant
focus in today's global ICs industry.
 SoC integration has potential to continue IC cost
reduction and to perpetuate growth of personal internet
products
 Complex SOC or IP Core designs has created new
challenges
 IP- based or Platform-Based Design Methodology will be
studied
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