Basics of VLSI Design

The term very large-scale integration (VLSI) refers to the process of designing, fabricating, and assembling millions to billions of complementary MOSFET (CMOS) transistors onto one chip, known as integrated circuits (IC), as a semiconductor product. As of 2022, with a commercially available microprocessor with \(>\) 110 billion transistors, semiconductor sales have passed 600 billion US dollars worldwide. This shows that semiconductors are crucial components in electronic devices. In such circumstances, the main three steps of semiconductor production, i.e., (i) design, (ii) fabrication, and (iii) assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP), have faced changes over time to address the high demand for such products even in today’s market with the massive impact of shortages in the supply chain. However, from the security point of view, these advancements may negatively affect the reliability and trustworthiness of the VLSI design flow. In this chapter, we will explore the basics of VLSI design, from design through fabrication and ATP. We will also explore advancements in the design flow from vertical (local) to horizontal (global), and how this flow could be modified to meet market and technology demands in the future. This chapter provides fundamental information about VLSI design, giving readers insight into the importance of security and protection as we move forward.