LSI and the Equipment Designer

Evolution of the integrated circuit technology into the era of large-scale integration (LSI) has already resulted in a dramatic improvement in device density. Indications are that this improvement will continue for some time to come. This increased device density, with its promise of decreased cost, size, weight, power dissipation and increased reliability, has made many equipment designers eager to design with LSI. Although the literature abounds with articles on the various aspects of LSI, there appears to be a shortage of papers which tie all the tradeoffs inherent in LSI together to provide a useful tool for the designer. This is attempted by looking at LSI through the eyes of an equipment designer who has not previously designed with LSI. A background is provided which will aid the designer in evaluating the many tradeoffs inherent in making a design "LSI-able."