create mask from core
I use debian. New major version will be available soon.
I would like to start with: RISC-V IP processor soft core cpu or System-on-Chip (SoC); and finish with: a mask set in the format of printable graphic files. Later this might be written in silicon. I hope the output will fit on my system and can be croped and printed. I am not interested in field-programmable gate array (FPGA). github.com search RISC-V gives 7,505 repository results. From there I downloaded some random cores: Code:
mkdir -p /home/debian/Downloads/github.com/stnolting/neorv32 Code:
https://www.inseto.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ATP-Photo-Mask-Requirements.pdf Code:
semiengineering.com, universitywafer.com, inseto.co.uk, nanofab.ualberta.ca, htaphotomask.com, wikipedia.org/wiki/GDSII Code:
A common size is 6- x 6-inch. sudo apt install electronics-asic-dev That did not seem to help, I do not know what to do with it. It did not install the following, I had to install manually: sudo apt install klayout That did not seem to help, I do not know what to do with it. What should I do now? |
It sounds like you're naive.
You're looking to build the input to a wafer fab project by the sound of it. You probably can already buy RiscV chips. You say 'core or SoC' like they're the same thing. The SoC has many cores, network, GPU, sound,USB, buses etc, usually in proprietrary IP cores that you buy and drop in. And then there's the firmware/microcode you haven't even thought about yet. You'd need a 6 or 7 figure sum behind you. You'd need to contract several guys working most of a year. Then you'd need to order an MOQ from a fab factory and have a fully designed pcb waiting for with all other parts waiting for it when it was delivered, etc. But by the sound of it, you want to get done on your debian box on a Saturday afternoon and be finished in time for tea. Please confirm you're a serious capitalised business implementing a business proposition, or mark this solved. If you're having fun, enjoy the ride and put the horse before the cart - master VHDL first. |
Thank you for replying. Yes, on this topic I am naive.
I suppose one way to re-word my question is I am looking to build the input to a wafer fab project, but I would probably never use the input as such. For now I am trying to graduate from naive status. From what I understand so far, a mask can be created from a core. Yes? I agree that I probably can already buy RiscV chips. From my research it seems core may refer to CPU, SoC, or any other pre-built circuit. And a complex core can be made of more simple cores. Yes? Thank you for your explaination of this and now if this techinical definition is resolved I would like to move on. If I still have the wrong definition of soc then scratch that and just use CPU. At this stage I am considering hardware only. Not software, firmware, microcode. I thought about those and decided I will consider them later. I want (and found) something that is already designed. Yes, I agree that If I wanted to design and or fabricate then I'd need a 6 or 7 figure sum behind me. But now I just want to know how to get mask from design. My initial post has extra refrences and statements, it looks like they are confusing the issue. Sorry. Yes, I want to get done on my debian box on a Saturday afternoon and be finished in time for tea. But I fear the computer processing time might take longer, and my system might not be sufficient. I will try because nothing ventured, nothing gained. No, I am not a serious capitalised business implementing a business proposition. If a mask can be created from (core or something downloaded from gethub) Please tell me how. Or if a mask can not be created please tell me why not. Then I will mark this solved. Yes this is a fun project for me, I'm having fun, and enjoying the ride. I previously studied VHDL. That is a language that defines the core. If VHDL has a command to output mask, please tell me. If VHDL does not have this command, then I think it is off topic here. I do have some questions about it and may post them in another topic. |
I'm not up to date in this, but
My brother was CEO of a small Electronics outfit getting it's own LEDs made, and had a friend involved in Intel's Fab 14 factory. I think Fab 14 started life as 64nm fab but had huge seismic issues - in Ireland!! |
Thank you. That is all nice to know, but it does not answer my question. Or maybe it does and I am too naive to reconise that. I now ask my question another way. As I quoted in my initial post: ATP can generate Photomasks from the following formats. So it sounds like the fabrication plant needs to be given a CAD file. I download (something) from gethub. How to convert that (something) to CAD file?
To help clarify the word core, From each of the random cores I listed in my initial post, here is part of README.md. The first one is confusing so let us omit it. As these are random, you may find anything else to use as example. Code:
github.com/stnolting/neorv32.git Code:
github.com/YosysHQ/picorv32 Code:
github.com/ultraembedded/riscv |
Quote:
As for your CAD file: The software involved is probably installation-specific for the various Fab lines around the world, and simply covers one machine. It's not in the Debian repo! |
Well, the designs from github.com are already finalised. I am not trying to make a design. And I am not trying to fabricate the design either.
Here is how I interpet what you said: Mask probably can not be made by a naive, using debian repo software, from designs downloaded from github.com. But a fabrication plant might be able to create mask, using installation-specific software. And we now have an answer, which warrants this topic to be marked solved. |
I've outlined 100% of my knowledge on that subject. So I have nothing to add, anyhow.
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