[sdiy] Rare chips on ebay

[Barry Klein]

You guys may find this discussion interesting:
Hi Barry...
         


My First IC was a re-layout of a GFI built built up in Interdesign 
for SCI Systems Inc. I still have the schematic and it looked like
I was working with one of Hans Camenzind's engineers. Yes the approaches
described are pretty much as it is done. What I like is they offer you
"kitPart" transistors so you can build up your own breadboard. 
That is highly recommended. I know Hans likes to use ICED from 
www.iceditors.com for IC layout. I bought this program before it was
free and have convinced myself it can do everything cadence can
do. But not as easy. I can produce a finished gdsii file using 
cadence in about half the time it takes me to wire up and fully
debug a breadboard. I'm still not up to speed on ICED.
Another web site you may want to look at is as follows. 


http://www.silicondevices.com/Resources/Links.htm


There is a fair number of alternative spice and layout 
programs out which are free. The spice and verilog program
tend to be alike. But a lot of time seem to be needed to 
learn the "style" of a layout program. The methods of drc
and lvs are just not the same. But making an Interdesign type 
IC is just involved with hooking up metal. I don't think all
the complexity may be needed here. 


My term "webinar" may not be correct. What I am really looking
for is a way I could capture a two way technical question and
answer dialog and publish it on a web site. I think all the 
"webinar" mainly end up as PowerPoint documents with audio anyway. 
But for some reason the webinars like to hook the whole web up 
all at the same time which is 11AM my time and 2PM on the
east coast. I don't see why this can't all be done offline.


                                         ..Don Sauer


On May 23, 2008, at 12:44 PM, Barry Klein wrote:


Hi Don,
>From what I understand these custom IC's I write about were designed using
an analog array technology from Interdesign.
I spent some time looking for similar approaches now and came up with:
http://www.deiaz.com/asics/700_series.htm
Hans Camenzind was the head of Interdesign and now has this website:
http://www.arraydesign.com/
A nice book he available there for downloading too.  You two know each other
well?
Are the approaches described for analog chip design on these sites pretty
much what you recommend?
 
The webinars I usually am advised of are right in the middle of my work day
so I cannot participate.
Unfortunately my job doesn't match my interests that well right now.
 
Barry