Design automation for managing the complexity of mixed-domain microsystems

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Electronic design automation (EDA) and computer aided design (CAD) tools were the key enablers that allowed the microelectronics industry to flourish into a multi-billion dollar industry world wide, with Canada at the forefront of this revolution. CAD tools have allowed designers to manage the complexity of very large scale designs containing millions of transistors, and to significantly reduce the design cost and time to market. As a result, microelectronic components are currently an increasingly significant part of most consumer products ranging from computers to cars to toaster-ovens, with significant growth expected particularly in personal wireless communications products and digital entertainment products in addition to the traditional desktop/notebook computers. This is due to important technological advances which have resulted in unprecedented opportunities as well as significant challenges. Advances in lithography have lead to smaller device sizes well into the nanometer range with commercial 45nm devices on the horizon. Packaging technology is advancing at a very fast pace in order to address integration, signal integrity and power distribution issues. Finally novel technologies and devices based on nanotechnology, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), opto-electronics technologies and bio/chemical sensors are being integrated with microelectronics in order to form Microsystems with wide ranging potential applications most notably in the biomedical technology area. While these technological advances represent an important opportunity for economic growth, and for improving the lives of Canadians, they also result in a significant increase in the complexity of design. This research program consists of coordinated research activities leading to design automation tools and methodologies for addressing this increasing design complexity with the aim of enabling the Canadian industry to take full advantage of the potential of advanced Microsystems.