Jim Kemerling, Chief Technology Officer, Triad Semiconductor, Inc.

A new alternative to full-custom analog/mixed signal ASICs will be introduced. This new approach applies many of the concepts of deep-submicron digital structured arrays to larger geometry analog processes. Consequently a place-and-route tool (normally only for the digital domain) can be used to configure an analog ASIC while maintaining performance comparable to classical full-custom analog design. Specifically, this concept uses a single via layer to configure an entire device. These new devices are called via-configurable analog arrays (VCAAs.)