Portable-system designers gain from structure: Structured ASICs can lower costs, speed time-to-market, and simplify the design of derivative products

摘要

Designing an ASIC into portable applications has many challenges above and beyond the usual gauntlet of ASIC design issues. Power dissipation; the ability to withstand environmental conditions like moisture, shock, and vibration; meeting short time-to-market windows; and developing derivative products on short timelines are just some of the unique aspects. Not surprisingly, these factors have pushed designers away from cell-based ASICs and toward solutions like using off-the-shelf (ASSP) devices and doing more extensive system integration. Nonetheless, most design engineers still want the advantages of an ASIC, but only if the ASIC fits into their timeline, budget, and design resources.