Theoretically, IC designer should have unlimited freedom in exploring IC design space. We know, however, that the reality is different. IC design space is severely restricted.
Market place dictates what kind of design can be sold and with what profit.
Mother Nature, i.e. laws of physics, decides what performance is achievable and what kind of IC device can be fabricated with the acceptable cost. The overall objective of this class is to derive the IC design space restrictions from the basic rules governing both electronic market place and physics of IC manufacturing process. These examples will be used then to explain all major reasons limiting efficiency of manufacturing processes. Next concept of manufacturing yield and yield learning process will be explained. Relation between yield, spectrum of design attributes and limitations of key processing steps will be discussed.