Understanding Fabless IC Technology (eBook)

Jeorge S. Hurtarte, Lisa M. Tafoya, Evert A. Wolsheimer (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2011 | 1. Auflage
296 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-0-08-055119-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Fabless (no fabrication) IC (integrated circuit) techniques are growing rapidly and promise to become the standard method of IC manufacturing in the near future, this book will provide readers with what will soon be required knowledge of the subject. Other books on IC fabrication deal with the strictly physical process aspects of the topic and assume all factors in IC fabrication are under the control of the IC designing company. By contrast, this title recognizing that fabless IC design is often as much about managing business relationships as it is about physical processes. Fabless ICs are those designed and marketed by one company but actually manufactured by another.

*Written by board members of the Fabless Semiconductor Association, an industry consortium that include Xilinx, Intersil, Micro Linear, and many other members
*Approriate for a wide range of integrated circuit (IC) designers and users who need to understand the fabless process and its advantages/limitations
*Discusses important topics such as negotiating with outside fabrication companies, choosing the right electronic design tools, protection of intellectual property and business plans, and maintaining quality control

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Fabless (no fabrication) IC (integrated circuit) techniques are growing rapidly and promise to become the standard method of IC manufacturing in the near future, this book will provide readers with what will soon be required knowledge of the subject. Other books on IC fabrication deal with the strictly physical process aspects of the topic and assume all factors in IC fabrication are under the control of the IC designing company. By contrast, this title recognizing that fabless IC design is often as much about managing business relationships as it is about physical processes. "e;Fabless ICs are those designed and marketed by one company but actually manufactured by another.*Written by board members of the Fabless Semiconductor Association, an industry consortium that include Xilinx, Intersil, Micro Linear, and many other members*Approriate for a wide range of integrated circuit (IC) designers and users who need to understand the fabless process and its advantages/limitations*Discusses important topics such as negotiating with outside fabrication companies, choosing the right electronic design tools, protection of intellectual property and business plans, and maintaining quality control

Inhalt

Front Cover 1
Understanding Fabless IC Technology 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
Acknowledgements 16
Preface 18
PART 1 – Manufacturing Strategies: Understanding Fabless IC Technology 22
Chapter 1: More than a Decade of Transition in the Semiconductor Industry 24
1.1 FSA is Established 24
1.2 Early Success 24
1.3 Early Success Trend Continues 27
1.4 Semiconductor Business Models 28
1.5 Outsourcing Will Accelerate 32
1.6 IDMs are Going Fabless 35
1.7 A Case Study: Cypress Semiconductor 39
1.8 More IDMs are Outsourcing 41
1.9 Geographic Manufacturing Centers 43
Chapter 2: Fabless Semiconductor Manufacturing 46
2.1 Foundry Revenue Growth 46
2.2 Semiconductor Back-End Services 48
2.3 Semiconductor Equipment 50
Chapter 3: Qualities of Successful Fabless Companies 54
3.1 Defining Events for the Fabless Market 54
3.2 Thriving in the Fabless Model 54
3.3 Key Qualities for Success 56
3.4 The Future of Fabless 58
PART 2 – An In-Depth Understanding of the Fabless Semiconductor Business Model 60
Chapter 4: Semiconductor Manufacturing Basics 62
4.1 Semiconductor Processes 62
4.2 Semiconductor Manufacturing Steps 63
4.3 Wafer Size 64
4.4 Manufacturing Costs 65
4.5 Conclusion 66
Chapter 5: Fabless ASICs 68
5.1 Introduction 68
5.2 Origins of the ASIC Industry 68
5.3 Emergence of the Fabless ASIC Business Model 69
5.4 The Fabless ASIC Model: How It Works 69
5.5 The Services and Capabilities of a Fabless ASIC Supplier 70
5.6 Conclusion 75
Chapter 6: Electronic Design Automation 76
6.1 Fabless EDA Overview 76
6.2 Fabless EDA Selection Process 77
6.3 Physical Design EDA 83
Chapter 7: Intellectual Property 86
7.1 SIP Industry Overview 86
7.2 SIP Business Environment 88
7.3 Sourcing SIP Products 92
7.4 Baseline Terminology 93
7.5 Finding SIP and Related Products 95
7.6 Evaluating SIP Business Models 95
7.7 SIP Product Enablers 101
7.8 Examples by SIP Product Type 104
7.9 Licensing SIP Products 111
7.10 Provider and Buyer Perspectives 121
7.11 The Evolution of the IP Industry 124
7.12 Intellectual Property Considerations 127
7.13 IP Outsourcing 132
7.14 Making IP Work in the Fabless Semiconductor Community 136
7.15 IP Acquisition Considerations for Fabless IC Companies 139
Chapter 8: e-Commerce 144
8.1 The Virtual Fab Challenge 144
8.2 Semiconductor & Fabless Manufacturing: What is Different?
8.3 "Build to Forecast" for Outsourced Manufacturing 148
8.4 ERP System Solutions 149
8.5 The Information Ecosystem: Where Communication is Key 151
Chapter 9: Quality and Reliability 160
9.1 General 160
9.2 Front-End 164
9.3 Back-End 168
9.4 Environment, Health and Safety 172
Chapter 10: Test Development 174
10.1 Simplifying Outsourced Test Development 174
10.2 Preparation 176
10.3 Evaluation 179
10.4 Conclusion 180
PART 3 – Becoming a Best-in-Class Fabless Company 182
Chapter 11: Best Practices for Fabless Companies 184
11.1 Achieving Best-in-Class Operations Practices 184
11.2 A Foundry Manager's Role in a Fabless Company 192
11.3 Closing the Loop: Understanding the Manufacturing Flow 197
11.4 Managing a Virtual Manufacturing Chain 201
Chapter 12: Building the Right Partnerships 206
12.1 Suppliers are (Almost) Just as Important as Customers 206
12.2 Operations in a Fabless Start-Up 206
12.3 Legal Issues for Fabless Semiconductor Companies 211
12.4 Semiconductor Back-End Subcontracting: No Longer a Zero-Sum Game 213
Chapter 13: Building the Right Relationships with the Board and VCs 218
13.1 Creating Successful Corporate Boards in Fabless Companies 218
13.2 Finding the Right VC 222
PART 4 – The Fabless Business Model: A Look into the Future 228
Chapter 14: Perspectives into the Future of Fabless 230
14.1 Keeping Up with the Pace of Change in a Fabless World 230
14.2 Foundry Roadmaps: Partnering, Leading and Innovating 233
14.3 Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 21st Century 238
14.4 The Emerging Dominance of China in the Technology and End Markets 249
Appendix: Overall Semiconductor Revenues in 2006 (Public Companies) 256
Bibliography 264
Glossary of Terms and Acronyms 268
A 268
B 268
C 269
D 270
E 271
F 272
G 273
H 273
I 273
J 274
L 274
M 274
N 275
O 276
P 276
R 277
S 278
T 280
V 280
W 281
Y 281
About the Authors 282
About FSA 284
Index 286
A 286
B 286
C 286
D 287
E 287
F 287
G 289
H 289
I 289
K 290
L 290
M 290
N 290
O 290
P 291
Q 291
R 291
S 291
T 293
U 294
V 294
W 294
X 294
Y 294

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.4.2011
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Elektrotechnik / Energietechnik
• ISBN-10: 0-08-055119-X / 008055119X
• ISBN-13: 978-0-08-055119-7 / 9780080551197