6/9/25, 5:22 AM Application Specific Integrated Circuit: Types, and Applications

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Introduction to Application Specific Integ

Circuit (ASIC)
In our day to day life, we come across various types of electronic gadgets. One of the
brought forth a revolution in the production of electronics is “Integrated Circuit“. This te
the size of electronic products by increasing the density of logic gates per chip. Today
types and configurations of IC’s. As we observe around we find that some ICs can be
specific application while some ICs can be reprogrammed and used for various applicat
of ICs are named as ASICs. But how do they differ? How is it possible to reprogram them
can’t be reprogrammed? Hop on to find answers to these questions.

What is An ASIC(Application Specific Integrated Circuit)?

ASIC full form is Application Specific Integrated Circuit. These circuits are applic
tailored made ICs for a particular application. These are usually designed from root le
requirement of the particular application. Some of the basic application-specific i
examples are chips used in toys, the chip used for interfacing of memory and microproc
chips can be used only for that one application for which these are designed. Presumab
ICs are preferred only for those products which have a large production run. As ASICs
the root level they have high cost and are recommended only for high volume production

The main advantage of ASIC is reduced chip size as a large number of functional un
constructed over a single chip. Modern ASIC generally includes a 32-bit microprocesso
network circuits etc…Such type of ASICs is known as System on Chip. With the

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manufacturing technology and increased research in design methods, ASICs with

customization are developed.

Types of ASIC
ASICs are categorized based on the amount of customization a programmer is allowed to

Types of ASICs

Full Custom

In this type of design all the logic cells are tailored made for specific application .i.e
specially make the logic cells for the circuits. All the mask layers for interconnection a
programmer can’t change interconnections of the chip and while programming he has t
circuit layout.

One of the best examples of Full custom ASIC is a microprocessor. This type of cus
designers to built various analog circuits, optimized memory cells, or mechanical structu
This ASIC is costly and very time consuming to manufacture and design. The time is take
ICs is around eight weeks.

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These are usually intended for high-level applications. Maximum performance, minimized
degree of flexibility are major features of Full custom design. Eventually, the risk is hig
logic cells, resistor etc… circuit elements used are not pretested.

Semi-Custom

In this type of design logic cells are taken from standard libraries .i.e. they are not han
custom design. Some masks are customized while some are taken from the predesigned
the type of logic cells taken from the library and amount of customization allowed for in
ASICs are divided into two types- Standard cell-based ASIC and Gate Array-based ASIC

1). Standard cell-based ASIC

To know these IC first let us understand what a standard cell library stands for. Some
such as AND gates, OR gates, multiplexers, flip-flops are predesigned by designe
configurations, standardized and stored in the form of a library. This collection is know
library.

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Standard Cell-based ASIC

In standard cell-based, ASIC logic cells from these standard libraries are used. On the A
cell area or flexible block are made up of standard cells arranged in the form of rows
flexible blocks mega cells like microcontrollers or even microprocessors are used on-c
cells are also known as Mega functions, system level macros, fixed blocks, Functional sta

Above figure represents a standard cell ASIC with a single standard cell area and four f
layers are customized. Here designer can place standard cells anywhere on the die. The
as C-BIC.

2). Gate Array Based ASIC

This type of semi-custom ASIC have predefined transistors on the silicon wafer .i.e. th
change the placement of the transistors present on the die. Base array is the predefi
gate array and the base cell is the smallest repetitive cell of the base array.

The designer only has liability to change interconnection between transistors using t
layers of the die. The designer chooses from the gate array library. These are often calle
Array. Gate Array Based ASIC are of three types. They are Channeled Gate Array, Chan
and a structured gate array.

a).Channeled Gate Array

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In this type of gate array, wiring space is left between rows of transistors. These are s
space is left for interconnection between blocks but in channeled gate array cell rows
whereas in CBIC this space can be adjusted.

Channelled Gate Array

Some of the main features of this gate array are- this gate array uses predefined spaces
interconnection. Manufacturing time is two days to two weeks.

b). Channel Less Gate Array

There is no free space left for routing between rows of cells as seen in the channeled
routing is done from above the gate array cells as we can customize the connection be
and transistors. For routing, we leave the transistors lying in the path of routing unused. T
lead time is about two weeks.

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Channel Less Gate Array

c). Structured Gate Array

This type of gate array has an embedded block along with gate array rows as seen abov
array has a higher area efficiency of CBIC. Like Masked gate array these have lowe
turnaround. Here the fixed size of the embedded function poses a limitation on the stru
For example, is this gate array contains an area reserved for 32k bit controller but if in
only require an area for 16k bit controller the remaining area gets wasted.All the g
turnaround time of two days to two weeks and all have customized interconnect.

Structured Gate Array

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Programmable ASIC
There are two types of programmable ASICs. They are PLD and FPGA

PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices)

These are the standard cells readily available. We can program a PLD to customiz
application, so they are considered as ASIC. We can use different methods and softw
PLD. These contain a regular matrix of logic cells usually programmable array logic alon
latches. Here interconnects are present as a single large block.
PROM is a common example of this IC. EPROM uses MOS transistors as interconnect s
voltage we can program it. PLDs have no customized logic cells or interconnect. These
turnaround.

Programmable Logic Devices

FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array)

Where PLDs have programmable array logic as logic cells FPGA has gate array-like a
are smaller and less complex than FPGAs. Due to its flexibility and characteristics, FPG
in microelectronic systems. Design turnaround is only a few hours.

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Field Programmable Gate Array

The core consists of programmable basic logic cells which can perform both co
sequential logic. We can program logic cells and interconnect using some methods. Ba
surrounded by the matrix of programmable interconnects and the core is surrounded by
cells.

FPGA usually comprises of configurable logic blocks, configurable I/O block

interconnects, clock circuitry, ALU, memory, decoders.

We have seen the different types of ASIC available. Now let’s understand when all the
and interconnects are done during manufacturing.

Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Design Flow

Designing an ASIC is carried out in step by step manner. This order of steps is known
Flow. Steps of design flow are given in below flow chart.

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ASIC Design Flow

Design Entry: At this step, the microarchitecture of the design is implemented using ha
languages such as VHDL, Verilog and System Verilog.
Logic Synthesis: At this step a netlist of logic cells to be used, types of interconnect
parts required for the application is prepared using HDL.
System Partitioning: At this step, we divide the largely sized die into ASIC sized pieces.
Pre-Layout Simulation: At this step, a simulation test is done to check whether the de
errors.
Floor Planning: At this step blocks of netlist are arranged on the chip.
Placement: At this step location of cells inside the block is decided.
Routing: At this step, connections are drawn between blocks and cells. Extraction:
determine the electrical properties like resistance value and the capacitance value of inte
Post-Layout Simulation: Before the submission of the model for manufacturing this sim
check whether the system functions properly along with a load of interconnect.

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Examples of ASIC

Having known the different characteristics of ASIC now let us see some examples of ASI
Standard cell-based ASIC: LCB 300k, 500k from LSI Logic Company, SIG1, 2, 3 famili
Inc., GCS90K of GCS Plessey.
Gate Array Products: AUA20K from Harris Semiconductor, SCX6Bxx from Nationa
TGC/TEC families from Texas Instruments.
PLD Products: PAL family of Advanced Micro Devices, GAL family from Philips Semico
and EPLD from XILINX.
FPGA Products: XC2000, XC3000, XC4000, XC5000 series from XILINX, pASIC
MAX5000 from Altera.

Applications of ASIC

The uniqueness of ASIC has revolutionized the way electronics are manufactured. Thes
sizes while increasing the density of logic gates per chip. ASICs are usually prefe
applications. ASIC chip is used as IP cores for satellites, ROM manufacturing, Mic
various types of applications in the medical and research sectors. One of the trending ap
is BITCOIN MINER.

Bitcoin Miner

Mining of cryptocurrency requires larger power and high-speed hardware. A general pur
provide such a higher computing capacity at high speed. ASIC bitcoin miners are chips
designed motherboards and power supplies, constructed into a single unit. It is a pu
hardware right down to the chip level for bitcoin mining. These units can execute the
single cryptocurrency. For a different type of cryptocurrency presumably, we require anot

Advantages & Disadvantages of ASIC

The advantages of ASIC include the following.

The small size of ASIC makes it a high choice for sophisticated larger systems.

As a large number of circuits built over a single chip, this causes high-speed applica

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ASIC has low power consumption.

As they are the system on the chip, circuits are present side by side. So, very
needed to connect various circuits.
ASIC has no timing issues and post-production configuration.

The disadvantages of ASIC include the following.

As these are customized chips they provide low flexibility for programming.

As these chips have to be designed from the root level they are of high cost per unit
ASIC have larger time to market margin.

ASIC vs FPGA

The difference between ASIC and FPGA includes the following.

ASIC FPGA

Not reprogrammable Reprogrammable

Preferred for High volume productions Preferred for low volume production

These are Application Specific Used as prototypes of a system

Energy Efficient requires less power Less energy efficient requires more

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These are permanent circuitry that can’t be upgraded Highly suitable for applications whe
from time to time. to be upgraded time to time such a
chips, Base stations etc

Thus, this is all about an overview of Application Specific Integrated Circuit. The inve
caused a tremendous change in the way electronics are used. We use ASIC in our daily
various applications. Which applications of ASIC have you came across? What type
worked with?
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