feature article
Subscribe Now

TSMC New Standard Cell Slim Library Reduces Logic Area 15%

HSINCHU, Taiwan, R.O.C., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today introduced the first Slim Library that reduces system-on-chip (SoC) routed logic block area by 15 percent compared to blocks routed through current standard cell libraries.  

The library targets TSMC’s 65nm LP process technology and fits existing implementation flows for easy adoption. Designers can use the new Slim Library in existing or new designs without change to design tools and implementation methodologies.

Slim Library is the result of the AreaTrim™ design and process co-optimization program between the TSMC and Tela Innovations. The library is based on Tela’s patented layout style and TSMC’s process optimization. The two companies demonstrated the 15% area improvement through synthesis and timing-driven place and route implementations on multiple versions of widely used microprocessor cores.

The new library’s layout style draws a lithography-optimized pattern with uniform density through unidirectional poly on a fixed pitch and improved manufacturing process control to reduce area. As a result, Slim Library achieves gate densities of up to 1 million gates per square millimeter.

Slim Library is re-designed into 8 tracks from the traditional 9-track configuration, yet provides equivalent performance and power.  The library includes Multiple Vt options and power management cells along with full set of characterization corners.

“The Slim Library is an excellent example of TSMC’s commitment to collaborate with it ecosystem partners to create differentiated value,” said ST Juang, senior director of Design Infrastructure Marketing at TSMC.  “The AreaTrim program is an outgrowth of TSMC’s Open Innovation Platform™ and proof that we will continue to provide expanding family of innovative products.”

Availability

The new 65LP Slim Library is available now in limited release through the TSMC Online customer design portal (http://online.tsmc.com/online) or by contacting local TSMC account management or support representatives.  General release is targeted for the first quarter of 2011.

About TSMC  

TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing the industry’s leading process technology and the foundry’s largest portfolio of process-proven libraries, IPs, design tools and reference flows. The Company’s managed capacity in 2009 totaled 9.96 million (8-inch equivalent) wafers, including capacity from two advanced 12-inch GIGAFABs™, four eight-inch fabs, one six-inch fab, as well as TSMC’s wholly owned subsidiaries, WaferTech and TSMC China, and its joint venture fab, SSMC. TSMC is the first foundry to provide 40nm production capabilities. Its corporate headquarters are in Hsinchu, Taiwan. For more information about TSMC please visit http://www.tsmc.com.

Leave a Reply

5A DC/DC Converter Generates Either a Positive or a Negative Regulated Voltage

MILPITAS, CA – June 15, 2010 – Linear Technology Corporation announces the LT3957, a highly versatile DC/DC converter for boost, flyback, SEPIC and inverting power supply applications. This device operates over an input voltage range of 3V to 40V, has an onboard 5A/40V power switch and achieves efficiencies up to 96%, making it well suited for industrial, automotive, medical and telecom applications.

The LT3957 can generate either a positive or negative regulated output voltage with its two internal voltage feedback error amplifiers and reference voltages. One set is for positive output voltages and the other is for negative output voltages, both off a single feedback pin. With a programmable fixed or synchronizable operating frequency from 100kHz to 1MHz, designers can choose a wide range of inductors and capacitors to optimize size, performance and cost. Its current-mode control results in stable operation over a wide range of supply and output voltages. The device supports designs using only ceramic capacitors, enabling a smaller solution size. Additional features include programmable soft-start, adjustable input undervoltage lockout, as well as output overvoltage and overcurrent protection.

The LT3957 operates from a -40°C to 125°C temperature range and is offered in a 5mm x 6mm QFN-36 package with additional pin spacing to support high voltage operation. The 1000-piece price starts at $2.95 each. For more information, visit http://www.linear.com/pr/3957.

Summary Features LT3957

  • For Boost, Flyback, SEPIC & Inverting Applications
  • Wide Input Operating Voltage: 3V to 40V
  • Onboard 5A/40V Power Switch
  • Positive or Negative Output Voltage Setting with a Single Feedback Pin
  • Selectable Fixed 100kHz to 1MHz Operating Frequency
  • Synchronizable to an External Clock
  • Programmable Soft Start
  • True Current-Mode Control
  • Additional Pin to Pin IC Spacing
  • Output Overvoltage & Overcurrent Protection
  • Programmable Input Undervoltage Lockout with Hysteresis

About Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, µModule® products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology’s high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems.

 

Leave a Reply

5A DC/DC Converter Generates Either a Positive or a Negative Regulated Voltage

MILPITAS, CA – June 15, 2010 – Linear Technology Corporation announces the LT3957, a highly versatile DC/DC converter for boost, flyback, SEPIC and inverting power supply applications. This device operates over an input voltage range of 3V to 40V, has an onboard 5A/40V power switch and achieves efficiencies up to 96%, making it well suited for industrial, automotive, medical and telecom applications.

The LT3957 can generate either a positive or negative regulated output voltage with its two internal voltage feedback error amplifiers and reference voltages. One set is for positive output voltages and the other is for negative output voltages, both off a single feedback pin. With a programmable fixed or synchronizable operating frequency from 100kHz to 1MHz, designers can choose a wide range of inductors and capacitors to optimize size, performance and cost. Its current-mode control results in stable operation over a wide range of supply and output voltages. The device supports designs using only ceramic capacitors, enabling a smaller solution size. Additional features include programmable soft-start, adjustable input undervoltage lockout, as well as output overvoltage and overcurrent protection.

The LT3957 operates from a -40°C to 125°C temperature range and is offered in a 5mm x 6mm QFN-36 package with additional pin spacing to support high voltage operation. The 1000-piece price starts at $2.95 each. For more information, visit http://www.linear.com/pr/3957.

Summary Features LT3957

  • For Boost, Flyback, SEPIC & Inverting Applications
  • Wide Input Operating Voltage: 3V to 40V
  • Onboard 5A/40V Power Switch
  • Positive or Negative Output Voltage Setting with a Single Feedback Pin
  • Selectable Fixed 100kHz to 1MHz Operating Frequency
  • Synchronizable to an External Clock
  • Programmable Soft Start
  • True Current-Mode Control
  • Additional Pin to Pin IC Spacing
  • Output Overvoltage & Overcurrent Protection
  • Programmable Input Undervoltage Lockout with Hysteresis

About Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, µModule® products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology’s high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems.

 

Leave a Reply

featured blogs
May 6, 2026
Hollywood has struck gold with The Lord of the Rings and Dune'”so which sci-fi and fantasy books should filmmakers tackle next?...

featured paper

Quickly and accurately identify inter-domain leakage issues in IC designs

Sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries Software

Power domain leakage is a major IC reliability issue, often missed by traditional tools. This white paper describes challenges of identifying leakage, types of false results, and presents Siemens EDA’s Insight Analyzer. The tool proactively finds true leakage paths, filters out false positives, and helps circuit designers quickly fix risks—enabling more robust, reliable chip designs. With detailed, context-aware analysis, designers save time and improve silicon quality.

Click to read more

featured chalk talk

Designing Scalable IoT Mesh Networks with Digi XBee® for Wi-SUN
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Digi and Silicon Labs
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Quinn Jones from Digi, Chad Steider from Silicon Labs and Amelia Dalton explore how Wi-SUN Micro-Mesh can reduce cost and simplify deployment for your next IoT mesh network. They also investigate the benefits that Digi XBee solutions bring to these types of networks and how you can jump start your next IoT mesh network design with Silicon Labs and Digi.
May 4, 2026
2,288 views