This presentation by Matt Venn introduces Tiny Tape Out, an initiative recognized for its significant contribution to semiconductor workforce development and academic training. Tiny Tape Out simplifies ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design by leveraging cloud-based tools (GitHub Actions for GDS file generation) and offering regular, affordable shuttle services. The project boasts a strong community, having supported over 1,500 designs from 30+ countries and 50+ universities, with more than 100 proven to work. The talk demonstrates the end-to-end design and testing process, showcases diverse advanced projects (including a Z80 CPU, mixed-signal designs, and a RISC-V micro-Linux ASIC), and highlights online tools for design and simulation. Future plans include a low Earth orbit satellite for chip testing, a crowdsourced RISC-V competition, and expanded fab access (IHP, SkyWater, and upcoming GF-180 through new partnerships). Tiny Tape Out also runs impactful workshops, inspiring new talent in the semiconductor industry.
0:05 Introduction to Tiny Tape Out: Matt Venn introduces Tiny Tape Out, highlighting its value in semiconductor workforce development and academic training due to its ease of use and accessibility.
0:47 Secret Sauce: Ease of Access & Regular Shuttles: A key to Tiny Tape Out's success is its "ASIC in the cloud" approach, using GitHub Actions to automatically generate GDS files for a single 160x100 micron tile (approx. 1000 gates). This process takes about 5 minutes with no local installation required.
1:36 Affordable & Regular Shuttles: Tiny Tape Out runs frequent, low-cost multi-chip shuttles, accommodating around 500 single-tile designs and supporting larger or mixed-signal projects for a few hundred euros.
2:13 Impressive Scale & Community Impact: The initiative has taped out over 10 chips, supporting more than 1,500 designs and engaging with 5,000 people across 30+ countries and 50+ universities, with 100+ designs proven functional. The Discord community has grown to over 3,000 members.
3:42 End-to-End Design & Test Demo: A practical demonstration shows designing a simple logic circuit using the Walkwei schematic editor, generating the ASIC files via GitHub, and testing the physical chip on a Tiny Tape Out dev kit.
8:47 Advanced Project Showcase: Tiny Tape Out supports complex projects, including a working Z80 CPU, mixed-signal designs, a software-defined radio (SDR) using two chips, a RISC-V micro-Linux ASIC, a documented Lisa microcontroller, and an open-source 555 timer.
11:30 Online Tools for Learning & Design: Key online tools include Silhiz for drawing and simulating MOSFETs (teaching fundamental semiconductor concepts) and a new 3D circuit visualizer by Alexander Mortv that allows users to see designs running on silicon.
14:42 Updated Chip Viewer: A collaboration with Text Planes provides a new chip viewer for Tiny Tape Out 7, offering high-resolution images of decapped chips and the ability to explore different layers and project details.
15:47 Future Project: Low Earth Orbit Satellite: Tiny Tape Out 6 is planned to be launched into low Earth orbit as a pocket cube satellite, running 20 community-contributed experiments for up to two years, potentially expanding to all future chips.
17:04 Crowdsourced RISC-V Competition: A competition is underway to build an open-source microcontroller by inviting community-submitted peripherals to a silicon-proven RISC-V core.
18:02 Upcoming FPGA Board: An FPGA version of the dev kit is in development, allowing users to test their designs on FPGA before ordering the ASIC.
18:39 Expanded Shuttle Services & Fab Support: To ensure reliable manufacturing, Tiny Tape Out has partnered with Swiss Chips/IHP (running four shuttles, first public one closing soon) and Chip Foundry (continuing Sky130/IHP130 access after Efabless closure).
21:22 Global Foundries (GF-180) Support: Wafer Space (Tim Anel) and Synopsis are supporting efforts to adapt Tiny Tape Out for GF-180, with development sponsored by Tilitus, aiming for access to three different fabs by 2026.
22:52 Workshops for Workforce Development: Tiny Tape Out runs large workshops, often with hundreds of students, guiding them through transistor simulation, digital design, and ASIC file creation in just 4 hours, effectively recruiting and inspiring future semiconductor talent.
24:32 Call to Action: Matt Venn invites participation in Orcom (Valencia, September), promotes his digital and analog courses (guaranteeing a tape out), and encourages connection via social media and citations of his e-paper.