Hi
Across every successful chip program worldwide—advanced or mature node, digital or mixed‑signal—solid CMOS fundamentals remain the non‑negotiable building block. They sit beneath cell libraries, timing models, IR/EM sign‑off, and ECO strategies. For India’s Semiconductor Mission in
particular, a workforce fluent in device‑level reality (not just idealized theory) is essential to accelerate credible tape‑outs at scale.
Over the past five years, working with 1,000+ learners, we’ve seen the same pattern: textbook MOSFET intuition often diverges from silicon behavior. Velocity saturation flattens currents earlier than expected, supply scaling shifts gain and noise margins, and PVT corners move
switching thresholds more than spreadsheets suggest. When those effects are internalized the industry way, timing closure tightens, ECO loops shorten, and risk falls.
To address this need, we’re running a ten‑day, cloud‑based program: “Unlearn & Relearn CMOS Basics with SKY130 SPICE Labs.” Participants will:
- Rebuild transistor intuition from first principles using production‑proven SKY130 device models
in NGSpice.
- Derive VTC, extract switching thresholds, and size PMOS/NMOS for balanced delays with evidence from live plots.
- Quantify noise margins, analyze PVT variation, and study sub‑1 V operation to understand real trade‑offs in low‑power design.
- Connect device‑level effects to PD/STA/ECO decisions that influence yield and schedule.
Logistics are simple: no tool installs; you’ll receive a ready VDI on day one, with
mentors available across time zones throughout the ten days. The course is suitable for students, practicing engineers, and faculty; prior SPICE experience is helpful but not required.
If your team is investing in robust chip design skills aligned with national priorities and global best practices, this is a focused way to strengthen the foundation that everything else depends on.
Details and enrolment: (Registration closes in 1-day)
https://www.vlsisystemdesign.com/cmos-circuit-design-spice-simulation-using-sky130-technology/
With respect and an open
invitation to learn together,
VLSI System Design (VSD) Teaching Team
PS If you are already certain your CMOS fundamentals withstand rigorous production scrutiny, please feel free to pass this along to peers who might benefit.
