Predictive Process Design Kits

Abstract

For nearly half a century, semiconductor technology has continued to deliver exponential growth in the number of transistors on a chip. Even in the 22 nm processes of today, with exponentially increasing costs of research and development, masks, and design, transistors are still cheaper and denser than in previous process nodes. However, the cracks are showing in the industry's armor. Prior to 2005, each technology generation brought not only lower cost, but also more speed and less power consumption. Today, designers must be much more creative to balance the competing customer needs of cost, speed, and power. One size no longer fits all.