What is this "Structured ASIC" they speak of?

By Vince Hopkin

Lately, the trade publications have given a lot of press to "structured ASICs" and their ensuing benefits. So much attention, the analysts have all but declared "structured ASICs" a new product category, to further differentiate these ASICs from standard-cell and traditional gate-array ASICs.

From the editorial community
According to Ron Wilson of EE Times, "Structured ASICs are based on a predefined logic fabric -- in essence, an array of prebuilt logic cells and an arrangement of configurable memory blocks. This array can be fabricated up through the first few metal layers, as if it were a standard product, almost as a cross between an FPGA and a gate array. Then the base wafers can be warehoused, waiting for an order."

The benefits of traditional gate arrays
The benefits of these structured-ASIC products are actually quite straightforward. In fact, the advantages are very similar to what traditional gate arrays historically have delivered -- low NREs, quick-turn prototyping and production, plus a much simpler way to use certain types of IP, since it's embedded into the array itself.

The difference a hybrid approach can make
XPressArray products from AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) were announced more than a year ago and are currently being shipped in production. XPressArray is actually quite unique to other structured-ASIC solutions, due to the fact that XPressArray is processed using a "hybrid" approach that combines technology from both AMIS and TSMC. After TSMC processes wafers to a certain point, AMIS performs the final metalization on the XPressArray products in its own U.S.-based fabs. This, of course, gives AMIS the power to control all prototyping and production cycle times. And it's exactly this type of flexibility that is so critical in today's market. In addition to being able to ship prototypes in less than 14 days, AMIS also touts the lowest mask costs in the industry for a 0.18m solution. Again, you can thank that proprietary AMIS "hybrid" process technology. In the end, AMIS can offer its customers very low NREs for complex ASICs, whether based on converting high-priced FPGAs or simply starting with an ASIC from the beginning.

Watch this space
The first ASIC company to release a 0.18m structured ASIC, AMIS will soon announce new products in this ASIC space. No doubt, these products will continue to re-define when or if customers use FPGAs or standard cell ASICs. Let's face it. It's hard to ignore a structured ASIC, when you can avoid NREs above $500,000, yet still get a high-performance product in a shorter period of time, to say nothing of risk mitigation. OEMs have to be sure a product will go to production in order to validate and spend high dollars on an ASIC design. Again, a structured ASIC approach helps reduce risk and can save hundreds of dollars per part over an FPGA solution.

The AMIS advantage
In helping to define the structured ASIC market with its XPressArray products, AMIS remains committed to delivering the best ASIC solution for FPGA conversions as well as medium-density ASICs. More information on XPressArray.

- Source URL: http://www.amis.com/news/views/view52.html