Bringing giant FPGAs to a new node

摘要

Altera Corp's design team for its 40-nm Stratix IV FPGA provides an example of the huge amount of work it takes to be the first to use a new process. Engaging with TSMC's (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's) 40-nm process-development effort toward the end of 2006, Altera had to simultaneously work with TSMC on process development, develop the FPGAs that the company would build using the process, create the IP (intellectual property), and design tools for the new chips.