The art of analog layout
"The Art of Analog Layout takes a practical and authoritative perspective, providing the reader with broad coverage of the issues involved in successfully laying out analog integrated circuits. Topics range from the mechanics of layout to essential information about many related areas, such as device physics, processing failure modes and effects, device operation parasitics, and matching. The emphasis throughout is on practical knowledge.". "Written for layout designers, the mathematics is kept to a minimum, requiring only a familiarity with basic algebra and elementary electronics. Provides a carrier-based model for understanding device operation. Focuses on three processes: standard bipolar, polysilicon-gate CMOS, and analog BICMOS, enabling the reader to comprehend most new processes. Discusses the ways in which variations in layout geometries affect the performance of devices fabricated in silicon. Many exercises can be completed using pencil and paper for those who do not have access to layout editing software."--BOOK JACKET.
Stats for nerds
2recommend
6mentions
3people
2019–2022years
33% recommend67% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- I stick to ICs from the 1970s and 1980s; after that, things get too hard to understand. Books from that era provide a reasonable description.
For digital circuits, Mead and Conway's Introduction to VLSI Systems is a good source of information. It's available online: https://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/VLSI/VLSIText/VLSITe... (the link seems to be down right now, though.)
For analog circuits, the book "The Art of Analog Layout" is good if you can find a cheap used copy. The designer of the 555 timer wrote an interesting book "Designing Analog Chips" which I found very interesting. It is available online: http://www.designinganalogchips.com/
There's also an online tutorial on IC reverse engineering: http://siliconzoo.org/tutorial.html
- Edit: Apparently this has replaced Weste and Eshraghian: "CMOS VLSI Design: A Circuits and Systems Perspective (4th Edition)" by Weste and Harris https://www.amazon.com/CMOS-VLSI-Design-Circuits-Perspective...
Weste and Eshraghian was (and may still be) the Bible for a very long time: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-CMOS-VLSI-Design-Perspecti...
It's a lot newer (and nicer) than most other references.
I would avoid Mead and Conway because it's really dated. It's not wrong, but a beginner won't know which parts to skip.
If you're looking for something about VLSI layout design, "The Art of Analog Layout (2nd Edition)" by Hastings would be the choice: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Analog-Layout-2nd/dp/0131464108/r...
- Theoretically you could make a PNP transistor by reversing the doping of an NPN transistor. The main problem is that boron diffuses rapidly, making it hard to fabricate a buried P-layer. Boron also has less solubility than phosphorus, making it hard to dope the emitter. Also, holes have only 1/3 the mobility of electrons, so PNP and NPN aren't symmetrical. To deal with these issues, PNP transistors are usually built with lateral construction (i.e. horizontally). The ring structure ensures that almost all of the carriers injected by the emitter are intercepted by the collector.
(This is based on The Art of Analog Layout, p280. I don't know all this doping stuff myself.)
- I got an old, cheap copy of "The Art of Analog Layout" (Hastings), which describes these structures in detail. For the most part, the structures are fairly easy to recognize after you've seen them once or twice. But then there are the bizarre mystery circuits that require some puzzle-solving. For instance, where they combine a couple of transistors to save a bit of space.
- Seeing that the latest edition of The Art of Analog Layout came out of 2005, is there any other book you'd recommend on analog layouts specifically?
- Theoretically you could make a PNP transistor by reversing the doping of an NPN transistor. The main problem is that boron diffuses rapidly, making it hard to fabricate a buried P-layer. Boron also has less solubility than phosphorus, making it hard to dope the emitter. Also, holes have only 1/3 the mobility of electrons, so PNP and NPN aren't symmetrical. To deal with these issues, PNP transistors are usually built with lateral construction (i.e. horizontally). The ring structure ensures that almost all of the carriers injected by the emitter are intercepted by the collector.
(This is based on The Art of Analog Layout, p280. I don't know all this doping stuff myself.)
Related
Designing Analog Chips
12 recommend · 21
The art of electronics
153 recommend · 328
Digital Design and Computer Architecture
26 recommend · 43
Learning the art of electronics
14 recommend · 19
Computer architecture
59 recommend · 110
Analog Circuit Design
5 recommend · 8
