0406BR-EDA_ICs.doc
@head: In-Depth Book Set on EDA
Reviewed by Clive “Max” Maxfield
@text: Until recently, there really was very little out there for the engineers in the trenches who need in-depth information about the latest-and-greatest offerings in EDA. But that's just changed. I've spent the last few days perusing and pondering two new books called EDA for IC System Design, Verification, and Testing (ISBN: 0849379237) and EDA for IC Implementation, Circuit Design, and Process Technology (ISBN: 0849379245), both of which are edited by Louis Scheffer, Luciano Lavagno, and Grant Martin. (FYI, These books are also available as a Boxed Set which will save you around $50.)
Now these are meaty books targeted towards logical design and physical implementation engineers for state-of-the-art silicon chips. The first book (544 pages, 23 chapters) ranges from tools and methodologies for system level design, through performance evaluation methods for multiprocessor system-on-chip design, to analog and mixed signal test. Along the way we roam through such topics as system-level power management, embedded software modeling and design, micro-architecture design, design and verification languages, hardware acceleration and emulation, and … the list goes on.
Meanwhile, the second volume (26 chapters) leaps into the fray with chapters on design flows; synthesis, place, and route; and power analysis and optimization. Again, there are too many topics to mention in detail here, including the simulation of analog and RF circuits and systems, resolution enhancement techniques and mask data preparation, layout extraction, device modeling, and high-accuracy parasitic extraction.
Wow! Each chapter is written by one or more experts in the field. Of particular interest is that each chapter is accompanied by an in-depth list of references. Opening the second book at random as I pen these words, for example, I see that Chapter 13 has 117 references (which should keep most of us busy for quite some time).
Truth to tell, it will take more than a few days to evaluate these books, because there's so much in them. One thing that did surprise me when glancing through the indexes was the lack of mention of the EDIF netlist format (I needed to check something and I had these books on my desk), but that's a small omission compared to what is there. For my part, these books are going to form a valuable addition to my personal reference library (otherwise known as the floor of my office, which is covered by piles of books I need to be able to access quickly and often ... it is rumored that I have a carpet under there somewhere, but no one has actually seen it for years). Until next time, have a good one!
Electronic Design Automation for Integrated Circuits Handbook - Two Volume Set, by Lavagno, Martin & Scheffer is avaiable from CRC Press ( The ISBN is 0849330963