IC Layout Basics : A Practical Guide [Hardcover]

Christopher Saint (Author), Judy Saint (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071386254 | ISBN-13: 978-0071386258 | Publication Date: November 5, 2001 | Edition: 1

MASTER IC LAYOUT WITHOUT AN ENGINEERING BACKGROUND!

Tto new chip applications such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and consumer electronics, electronic semiconductor usage has exploded, creating an unprecedented demand for technicians skilled in CMOS and bipolar design and layout. In IC LAYOUT BASICS, you get the same top-notch material utilized in IBM’s successful training courses. This essential primerbrings you up to speed on:

* Integrated circuit processes
* Layout techniques
* Fundamental device concepts
* Wafer processes

Writing for technicians without an engineering degree , the authors present concepts from the ground up, building on the simple until the complex becomes crystal clear. Examples, self-tests, and sidebars reinforce the material and make it all quick and painless. For maximum retention, each chapter includes preview points, "motivation" boxes, and executive summaries.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

MASTER IC LAYOUT WITHOUT AN ENGINEERING BACKGROUND!

A "plain-English" guide to learning the basics of the integrated circuit design process--co-authored by one of IBM's top instructors!

Electronic semiconductor usage has exploded thanks to new chip applications such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and consumer electronics--and created an unprecedented demand for technicians skilled in CMOS and bipolar design and layout. In IC LAYOUT BASICS, coauthor Chris Saint incorporates the same top-notch material utilized in his highly successful IBM training courses and offers you an essential primer covering:

* Integrated circuit processes
* Layout techniques
* Fundamental device concepts
* Wafer processes

Writing for technicians without an engineering degree and with the surety and clarity of an experienced teacher, Chris and Judy Saint offer a logical layered approach to learning. They present concepts from the ground up, building on the simple until the complex becomes crystal clear. Examples, self-tests, and sidebars reinforce the material and make it all quick and painless. For maximum retention, each chapter includes preview points, "motivation" boxes, and executive summaries.

PROVEN TEACHING METHODS AND MATERIALS,A JARGON-FREE STYLE, AND IN-DEPTH, NO-FLUFF COVERAGE MAKE THIS THE BEST GUIDE TO LEARNING IC DESIGN AND LAYOUT BASICS

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER SAINT is currently Manager of the IBM West Coast Physical Design Group. He served as lead layout engineer for the Commquest GSM, AMPS, and CDMA chipsets, as well as spending many years with the Analog Devices, LSI Logic, and GEC/Plessey semiconductor layout design groups.

JUDY SAINT is a professional writer and illustrator, with 11 years of successful teaching experience. She provided and directed the motivational aspects of this book, keeping the information easy to read and understand.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (November 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071386254
• ISBN-13: 978-0071386258
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book I have been waiting for years, January 16, 2002

By 

Dan Clein - See all my reviews

This review is from: IC Layout Basics : A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

I bought this book to see what "competition" thinks about IC Layout subject. Here are my personal comments on IC Layout Basics book:

1. The book represents a very simple but detailed explanation of all the basic structures required by an IC Layout Designer to understand if s/he wants to know "why" and "how" devices are built and used in the industry. From the basic transistor and up to inductors all the details are very clear explained. I will recommend this book to any IC Layout Designer who wants to now more than just pushing polygons to achieve a circuit representation in mask layers.

2. The book advertise herself as a book to be put near the bed and used as an easy reading. Sorry to disappoint you but once I started reading I could not sleep. From page to page, from concept to concept I've got more and more captivated by the style and vocabulary of the text. I finished the book in one week but my sleeping had to suffer. It is written in a very easy to read vocabulary, with some light jokes and with a fine touch to make you more curious from chapter to chapter. After more than 15 years in this profession I really enjoyed reading your book.
Writing a book of my own, I know the size of the effort required and I would like to personally thank you for such a nice presentation.

3. When I wrote my book "CMOS IC Layout Concepts, Methodologies and Tools" I thought that I covered all the basic information that an IC Layout Designer needs to become effective and efficient in doing his/her job. I thought that I cover all the basic training required from grade 1 to grade 12. Reading this book I found that Christopher and Judy Saint are covering much deeper than me, with a lot more process information, the knowledge needed from grade 1 through 4. Thank you for help in clarifying all the basics.

Only one complain about the book: I have found in many chapter references about contacting the author for comments but I could not find any contact information. If you want readers' feedback please post an Email or any other meanings of communication. I personally received many feedback Emails from readers and I am sure you can benefit from such idea. Please feel free to contact me for comments.

Yours really devoted reader
Dan Clein...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for non-EE degree layout designers, March 16, 2004

By 

Scott Perry (Orange County, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IC Layout Basics : A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

I've been a layout designer for about 15 years, and really wish I had these books when I first began. Not only would it have saved me time in not hunting down the answers from numerous books, and people, but I would've have had a much more solid grasp more quickly, and would've been a better layout designer.
Though these books are introductory, if you are not a circuit engineer, and are new, don't expect to understand everything contained therein. This is not a "dummies" book -- the writer does expect some exposure to the ideas/terminology contained in the book though he covers them in good detail. Basic knowledge in electronics will be greatly helpful.

This is one of the best books I've seen out there for someone who is not an EE, or technical genius but wants to understand layout design on a deeper level. This book, will give you the many "whys", and will deepen your value as a designer. This book and it's companion "IC Mask Design", along with Dan Clein's
book are investments that you only wish you made sooner.
If you've been designing for some time and do not have a EE degree, I still believe you will glean some additional insights/depth from this book as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad book, September 16, 2005

By 

Saranyan Vigraham (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IC Layout Basics : A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

Yes, one of the reviewer is right in saying that everything offered in this book can be learned in a meeting with an experienced IC designer. However, I think this book certainly has great value in terms of teaching an inexperienced person the basics of layout. This book may not be the great in terms of teaching one the concepts and nuances of analog layout and I would refer an aspiring analog layout person to "Art of analog layout" by Hastings or "CMOS layout" by Jacob Baker. These two books are really good for that need. This book in question however does fill the basic needs that it intends to. It gives a start to VLSI layout in general. I think that this book is a very good shelf companion for a person who is just into designing layouts.