MOSIS - A gateway to silicon

The MOSIS Service, a low-cost prototyping service for standard-cell and full-custom VLSI circuit development, is discussed. MOSIS (an acronym for MOS Implementation System) has developed a methodology that allows the merging of many different projects from various organizations onto one wafer. This cost-sharing gives designers opportunities that might be prohibitive at regular commercial prices. Since designs are combined on a single mask set. MOSIS users pay for only the fraction of the silicon that they use. Runs are scheduled on a regular basis for 3.0-, 2.0-, 1.6-, and 1.2- mu m double-metal CMOS/bulk technologies. MOSIS quality control and access to MOSIS are described.<<ETX>>