Essential Electronic Design Automation (EDA)

Major Classes of EDA Tools

Nora:

There are so many EDA tools. Is there a grouping or order to them?

Andrea:

Yes. There are three major groups or classes of EDA tools. They follow a general design sequence. Let me show you this overall sequence. (See Figure 4.1.) Note the three main groups: electronic system level (ESL) design, IC front-end (FE), and IC back-end (BE) design. Each consists of design tasks, followed by verification or checking steps. If the checking steps find errors, the design is revised. The designers repeat (iterate) this design-verify loop as needed. The iteration may even go back to the front-end or system design requirements if back-end errors are found.

Figure 4.1. Overall Sequence of EDA Tool Use

Electronic System-Level Design ...