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The economics of programmable system components

Published:30 November 1980Publication History
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Abstract

Integrated circuits having complexity levels approaching one million devices per chip (VLSI) present significant problems in the cost of design and use. There are advocates for very capable design automation techniques coupled with rapid turnaround front ends as the path to VLSI. Others advocate the use of programmable devices such as microcomputers and gate arrays. This paper presents cost models for these two approaches which demonstrate that the Programmable System Component (PSC) approach is the only viable path in VLSI. This paper will also describe a set of generic PSCs which will meet the needs of 70%-80% of the sockets, and perhaps 95% of the production volume for VLSI components. The remaining 20%-30% of the sockets and 5% of the volume will be served by specific, nonprogrammable designs.

References

  1. 1 Larry W. Sumney, "VLSI With A Vengeance," Spectrum, Vol. 17, No. 4, April 1980, p. 24.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarCross RefCross Ref
  2. 2 C. A. Mead and L. Conway, Introduction to VLSI Systems, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1980. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  3. 3 James L. Fischer, "Programmable Components: The Shape of VLSI To Come," Electronics, Vol. 53, No. 13, June 5, 1980, p. 138.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  4. 4 M. V. Wilkes, "The Best Way to Design An Automatic Calculating Machine," Report of the Manchester University Computer Inaugural Conference, Electrical Engineering Department of Manchester University, Manchester, England, July 1951, pp. 16-18.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

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  1. The economics of programmable system components

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          • Published in

            cover image ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter
            ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter  Volume 11, Issue 3-4
            Dec. 1980
            177 pages
            ISSN:1050-916X
            DOI:10.1145/1014190
            Issue’s Table of Contents

            Copyright © 1980 Author

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            Association for Computing Machinery

            New York, NY, United States

            Publication History

            • Published: 30 November 1980

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