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VLSI

Very Large Scale Integration; the process of creating an integrated circuit by combining millions or billions of transistors onto a single chip.

AbbreviationVLSI
Categoryhardware

Overview

VLSI is the technology that enables modern microprocessors, memory chips, and complex SoCs. It refers to the era of integration where the number of components on a chip became too large to design manually.

Key Aspects

  • Design Automation: Relies heavily on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for layout and verification.
  • Complexity Management: Uses hierarchical design and standard cell libraries to manage billions of components.
  • Scaling: Driven by Moore's Law, VLSI has progressed from millions of transistors in the 1980s to over 100 billion today.

Impact

VLSI made high-performance computing, smartphones, and the internet possible by drastically reducing the cost and size of electronic systems.

Related Terms

Integrated Circuit