ASIC Forensic Redesign
Navy SBIR FY2005.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1
Topic No.: N05-031
Topic Title: ASIC Forensic Redesign
Proposal No.: N051-031-0816
Firm: Crossfield Technology LLC
4505 Spicewood Springs Road
Suite 360
Austin, Texas 78759
Contact: Dennis Ferguson
Phone: (512) 795-0220
Web Site: www.crossfieldtech.com
Abstract: Crossfield proposes an innovative forensic approach for re-engineering legacy devices based upon using a mechanical/ion-etch (dry etch) process to extract transistor and transistor interconnect data. This transistor netlist data is then fed through an extract program to establish a gate level netlist from the transistor and transistor interconnect database. The gate level netlist, together with a minimal set of electrical and functional knowledge supplied by the end user, is used with a novel standard cell library that can be "updated" to reflect a specific older process technology. The forensic process can be used on gate arrays as well as standard cell based ASICs.
Benefits: The benefit of a forensic ASIC redesign capability is the ability to cost effectively re-create 1980's ASIC and gate array technology to support military and commercial communications and control systems. With the increasing pressure on productivity and safety, it is not always economically viable to replace the existing infrastructure control electronics. This would require downtime, significant cost in re-establishing control function in the latest technology, and certifying to regulatory agencies that the new system meets the most recently established minimum standards for safety and the environment. This is why many times, it is easier to establish a new plant than to upgrade an older facility. Therefore, many times, the ability to keep a machine functioningy through replicant parts, is preferable to taking plant, a machine, or a military system out of service.

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