VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
VLSI 2: From Netlist to Complete System on Chip
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:07:20
Abstract
This second course in our VLSI series is concerned with how to turn digital circuit netlists into safe, testable and manufacturable mask layout, taking into account various parasitic effects. Low-power circuit design is another important topic. Economic aspects and management issues of VLSI projects round off the course.
Objective
Know how to design digital VLSI circuits that are safe, testable, durable, and make economic sense.
Content
The second course begins with a thorough discussion of various technical aspects at the circuit and layout level before moving on to economic issues of VLSI. Topics include: - The difficulties of finding fabrication defects in large VLSI chips. - How to make integrated circuit testable (design for test). - Synchronous clocking disciplines compared, clock skew, clock distribution, input/output timing. - Synchronization and metastability. - CMOS transistor-level circuits of gates, flip-flops and random access memories. - Sinks of energy in CMOS circuits. - Power estimation and low-power design. - Current research in low-energy computing. - Layout parasitics, interconnect delay, static timing analysis. - Switching currents, ground bounce, IR-drop, power distribution. - Floorplanning, chip assembly, packaging. - Layout design at the mask level, physical design verification. - Electromigration, electrostatic discharge, and latch-up. - Models of industrial cooperation in microelectronics. - The caveats of virtual components. - The cost structures of ASIC development and manufacturing. - Market requirements, decision criteria, and case studies. - Yield models. - Avenues to low-volume fabrication. - Marketing considerations and case studies. - Management of VLSI projects. Exercises are concerned with back-end design (floorplanning, placement, routing, clock and power distribution, layout verification). Industrial CAD tools are being used.
Resources
Lecture Notes
H. Kaeslin: "Top-Down Digital VLSI Design, from Gate-Level Circuits to CMOS Fabrication", Lecture Notes Vol.2 , 2015.All written documents in English.
Literature
H. Kaeslin: "Top-Down Digital VLSI Design, from Architectures to Gate-Level Circuits and FPGAs", Elsevier, 2014, ISBN 9780128007303.
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Information
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 180 minutes
- Aids
- Student's own hand-written summary, 6 single-sided A4 papers. No electronic help, no photocopies or printouts of any form, for summary preparation. No calculators or communication devices.
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
VLSI 2: From Netlist to Complete System on Chip
Lecture: Tue 14-16 h
Exercises: Wen 9-12 h
|
|
5 h weekly |
Offered In
-
-
Electives (This is only a short selection. Other courses from the ETH course catalogue may be chosen. Please consult the "Richtlinien zu Projekten, Praktika, Seminare" (German only), published on our website ( ).)
-
-
-
-
Communication (The core courses and specialization courses below are a selection for students who wish to specialize in the area of "Communication", see . The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
-
Core Courses (These core courses are particularly recommended for the field of "Communication". You may choose core courses form other fields in agreement with your tutor. A minimum of 24 credits must be obtained from core courses during the MSc EEIT.)
-
-
Electronics and Photonics (The core courses and specialization courses below are a selection for students who wish to specialize in the area of "Electronics and Photonics", see . The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
-
Core Courses (These core courses are particularly recommended for the field of "Electronics and Photonics". You may choose core courses form other fields in agreement with your tutor. A minimum of 24 credits must be obtained from core courses during the MSc EEIT.)
-
-
Signal Processing and Machine Learning (The core courses and specialization courses below are a selection for students who wish to specialize in the area of "Signal Processing and Machine Learning ", see . The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
-
Specialization Courses (These specialization courses are particularly recommended for the area of "Signal Processing and Machine Learning", but you are free to choose courses from any other field in agreement with your tutor. A minimum of 40 credits must be obtained from specialization courses during the MSc EEIT.)
-
-
-
-
Major Courses (A total of 42 CP must be achieved form courses during the Master Program. The individual study plan is subject to the tutor's approval.)
-
-
Core Subjects (These core subjects are particularly recommended for the field of "Communication".)
-
-
-
Core Subjects (These core subjects are particularly recommended for the field of "Electronics and Photonics".)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
General Electives (Students may choose General Electives from the entire course programme of ETH Zurich - with the following restrictions: courses that belong to the first or second year of a Bachelor curriculum at ETH Zurich as well as courses from GESS "Science in Perspective" are not eligible here. The following courses are explicitly recommended to physics students by their lecturers. (Courses in this list may be assigned to the category "General Electives" directly in myStudies. For the category assignment of other eligible courses keep the choice "no category" and take contact with the Study Administration ( ) after having received the credits.))
-
-
-
-
-
Electives (This is a selection of courses particularly suitable for the MSc QE. In agreement with the tutor, students may choose other courses from the ETH course catalogue.)
-