Porting FPGA IP Core to ASIC

[kishore2k4]

Hi guys,

I have a core that is working perfectly in an FPGA. As I moving to ASIC design I want to port that as well. I just want to know one thing. After I finish porting the core would it be better to commercialise the core or make a chip and commercialise that?

 

[sameer_dlh25]

Re: ASIC IP Core

It depends on what exactly that core is..
1. If it is a single design in itself and you can afford to do marketing for it then commercialize it as ASIC.
2. If your design is generic enough to be connected on the different buses existing in the market or design prevail in the market. Then commercialize as IP, the thing is everybody wants to take a proved IP on the silicon hence you need to prototype it as well.

I would prefer the second one..:|

 

[r63511]

ASIC IP Core

one more thing, if you prefer the second, the IP delivery is much more complex than a pile of RTL design files. You need also provide testplan, block guide, synthesis script, etc. SoC companies are critical for the IPs they bought. Good luck !

 

[archillios]

ASIC IP Core

what cores?
processor?
I don't think it's good idea to sell it as IP, for soc need total solution, not single IP.
Another point is , you need make it silicon verified, no company will buy FPGA-verified IP for their complex, often high cost, Soc product.
Good luck for you!

 

[kishore2k4]

Re: ASIC IP Core

Thanks to all you guys. The core is a complete design that is FPGA-proven. A guy I know suggeted that we invest to make it an ASIC. Right now we have just enough budget to use the ST 0.12u process and if it works we can immediately get investments for production. Now for the ugly part.

I designed the core and tested it in FPGA and know little about IC design on the other hand my friend is a professional IC designer. He says it can be done in 6-9 months span including the silicon samples and a prototype. I am quite simply not sure about the whole thing as I lack expertise on IC design.

If we make an ASIC out of it and produce say <10k units the cost of a single unit still will be high? As the 0.12u prototypes alone costs around $30k. I am confused.

 

[mm6349]

ASIC IP Core

That's true.. if the number of unit less than 100k, the cost per unit will be very very high when using such advanced process due to a huge mask cost. For prototyping, of course, the cost of prototypes will be extremely high. But when it is in production, for example, 1 million units, the cost would be less than 10$ a piece.

For the cost of prototyping for ST, please visit http://cmp.imag.fr/products/ic/?p=prices2007