In CB-9VX/VM the 5 V I/O buffers can be placed at any location of the I/O area and are freely mixable with 3.3 V buffers. The internal core is identical to CB-9VX/VM. However, in case the speed and drivability requirements of the 5 V I/O cells are moderate, CB-9VX/VM is flexible enough to offer as well 5 V tolerant I/Os, that safely interface to 5 V devices.
This unique feature is another step for highest design flexibility of system design.
Process
CB-9VX/VM ASICs are fabricated using NEC's 3.3 V 0.35 µm (drawn) titanium-silicide (Ti-Si) process. The Ti-Si option allows the use of a more compact cell layout, which results in a higher integration density compared to non-silicided CMOS processes. Signal wiring is done in two or three metal layers (Al). For this 2 nd generation 0.35µm technology, the metal-2 routing within each cell is replaced with poly-silicon, which significantly improves routability. The tightened metal pitch enables very low routing overhead. Thus, an excellent density of more than 17.5k available gates/mm2 is achieved.
The CB-9VX/VM ASIC family offers highest flexibility concerning power routing, split power supply lines and other customer specific requirements.
Integration Level
The CB-9VX/VM family includes 26 different step sizes with die sizes from 4.5 x 4.5 mm2 up to 19.54 x 19.54 mm2 . This results in a usable gate count from about 50k gates up to 2.7 mio gates. To meet different design requirements, three different I/O pad geometries are defined. While pad structures with 60 µm pitch (C-Step type) offer highest I/O bandwidth for pad-limited designs, 120 µm pad structures (S-Step type) /-are well suited for core area limited designs. In between NEC's 80µm pad library (T-Step type) balances both requirements.
Table 2: CB-9VX/VM line-up
| Step Name |
I/O Pads*
(C/T/S Step) |
Usable Gates** |
| 2 layer |
3 layer |
| B60 |
196/156/104 |
61 k |
99 k |
| C02 |
236/180/124 |
71 k |
137 k |
| C40 |
268/204/140 |
92 k |
176 k |
| C78 |
300/228/156 |
131 k |
219 k |
| D01 |
316/244/164 |
147 k |
246 k |
| D26 |
340/260/176 |
162 k |
274 k |
| D52 |
356/276/184 |
183 k |
309 k |
| D90 |
388/300/200 |
211 k |
361 k |
| E16 |
412/316/212 |
233 k |
398 k |
| E54 |
444/340/228 |
263 k |
460 k |
| E80 |
468/356/240 |
287 k |
494 k |
| F18 |
500/380/256 |
317 k |
562 k |
| F44 |
516/396/264 |
341 k |
604 k |
| F70 |
540/412/276 |
366 k |
638 k |
| G08 |
572/436/292 |
397 k |
711 k |
| G34 |
596/452/304 |
422 k |
755 k |
| G72 |
628/476/320 |
464 k |
818 k |
| H10 |
660/500/336 |
493 k |
893 k |
| H49 |
692/524/352 |
536 k |
971 k |
| H87 |
726/548/368 |
579 k |
1034 k |
| J26 |
758/572/384 |
607 k |
1113 k |
| J51 |
772/588/392 |
629 k |
1154 k |
| K15 |
828/628/420 |
714 k |
1289 k |
| K92 |
892/676/452 |
802 k |
1490 k |
| M97 |
1060/804/536 |
1141 k |
2148 k |
| P63 |
1204/908/608 |
1433 k |
2736 k |
 |
*Depending on package and circuit specification, some pads are used for power only and are not available as signal pads
**Actual gate count varies depending on circuit implementation, utilization and selection of C, T or S step
Block Library Support
NEC's CB-9VX/VM ASIC family includes block library support which matches various different requirements. Huge libraries are available for both 3.3 V for highest performance and 2.0 V lowest power dissipation. For both voltages, libraries include cells for high drivability and for low power consumption, respectively, as shown in Tab.4. These cells can of course be mixed in one design. Design for Testability is supported by means of full-scan and LSSD library elements.
Table 3: Voltage Availability of CB-9VX/VM
| Library |
CB-9VX/VM |
CB-C9VM |
| I/O voltage |
3.3 ± 0.3V |
5.0V ± 10% |
3.3V ± 10% |
| core voltage |
3.3 ± 0.3V |
2.0 ± 0.2V |
3.3 ± 0.3V |
 |
Each sub-library includes logic functions with several different drive strengths, allowing the synthesis tool to optimise the design according to the defined synthesis constraints.
Table 4: Block Libraries
| Library |
Combinational Logic Elements |
Sequential Elements |
High-speed |
170 |
127 |
Low-power |
161 |
86 |
Scan-Path |
n/a |
22 |
 |
The CB-9VX/VM 3.3 V library features a typical gate delay of 75 ps for a 2-NAND gate with a fan-out of 1 and no wire load and a power dissipation of 0.37 µW/MHz/gate.
Figure 2: Performance Positioning of CB-9VX/VM*
*cell delay is the typical delay time of F322 NAND2 with a F/O of 1 and no wire load; power consumption is a typical value
For very low power applications, the CB-9VX/VM family also supports 2 V core supply voltage. The trade-off is a decreased timing performance with a 151 ps gate delay for 2- NAND with fanout of 1 and no wire load. The big advantage of this 2 V library is a reduced power consumption of 120 µW/MHz/gate. a very efficient way of implementing algorithms as comparisons for data filtering and translations, as often used for applications in data management, networking or compression. NEC offers a high performance CAM macro allowing highest flexibility for optimum system design.
Macro Library Support
The high integration density in conjunction
with the large silicon die size and the ultimate design flexibillity
offered by NEC's CB-9VX/VM technology builds the foundation
for complete system level integration. This trend is driven
by NEC with a strong support for large predefined macro blocks
which in many cases represent the functionality of well known
standard devices.
A subset of the available macros is shown
in Table 5. The macro library is under steady growth and NEC
also offers a macro on demand service based on customer requests.
The macros are completely supported by NEC's
OpenCAD ® environment, which includes high quality simulation
and test pattern generation support.
Of course various kinds of memory macros
are also available for CB-9VX/VM. Memory blocks are generated
based on advanced memory-compiler tools and thus ensure highest
flexibility according to customer requirements. Available
memory types include single and dual port RAM macros optimised
either for speed or density and asynchronous ROM.
Technical data from compiled RAM blocks are
summarised in Table 6 on the next page for 3.3 V supply voltage.
Content addressable memories (CAM) can be
a very efficient way of implementing algorithms as comparisons
for data filtering and translations, as often used for applications
in data management, networking or compression. NEC offers
a high performance CAM macro allowing highest flexibility
for optimum system design.
As process technology of CB-9VX/VM is compatible
to 1 st generation technology, all macros and library elements
of this family are available, as well.
Table 5: CB-9VX/VM Mega Macro Library (subset listing)
| Type |
Description |
|
Type |
Description |
| analog |
A/D Converter: 10 bit, 100 KHz |
|
I/F Periph. |
NA71037L: DMA Controller |
| analog |
A/D Converter: 8 bit, 100 KHz |
I/F Periph. |
NA71051L: USART, 300kBit/s, full duplex |
| analog |
A/D Converter: 8 bit, 500 KHz |
I/F Periph. |
NA71054L: progr. timer/counter |
| analog |
A/D Converter: 8 bit, 220 MHz |
I/F Periph. |
NA71055L: progr. parallel interface (3x
8bit) |
| analog |
Triple D/A Converter: 8 bit, 220 MHz |
Datapath |
High-Speed Multiplier/Accumulator |
| analog |
D/A Converter: 8 bit, 220 MHz |
CPU |
V30MX: 16 bit/33 MHz microprocessor |
| analog |
D/A Converter: 9 bit, 5 MHz |
CPU |
NZ70008H: 8 bit/16 MHz Z80 microprocessor |
| analog |
D/A Converter: 10 bit, 30 MHz |
CPU |
V850E: 32 bit RISC microcontroller |
| PLL |
Analog PLL |
DSP |
OAK: Digital Signal Processor |
| I/F Periph. |
USB: Universal Serial Bus Interface |
DSP |
PINE: Digital Signal Processor |
| I/F Periph. |
RAC: RAMBUS ASIC Cell |
DSP |
SPX |
| I/F Periph. |
NA71059L: progr. interrupt controller |
CPU |
ARM7TDMI |
| I/F Periph. |
IEEE 1284: Bidirectional Centronics |
CPU |
V30MT: microprocessor |
| I/F Periph. |
NA16550: UART with FIFO |
CPU |
V810: RISC microcontroller |
| I/F Periph. |
NA4993: 8 bit parallel I/O real-time clock |
CPU |
V851: RISC microcontroller |
 |
Table 6: Compiled RAM Specification
| RAM Type |
3.3 Volt supply voltage |
min. size
[bits x words] |
max. size**
[bits x words] |
| Tac* [ns] |
Pdyn [mW/MHz] |
1-port High-Speed |
3.61 |
0.50 |
1 x 32 |
32 x 2048 |
1-port High-Density |
6.50 |
0.36 |
1 x 16 |
32 x 2048 |
1-port Super High-Speed |
2.89 |
0.34 |
1 x 64 |
16 x 1024 |
2-port High-Speed |
3.73 |
0.97 |
1 x 32 |
32 x 2048 |
2-port High-Density |
7.41 |
0.50 |
1 x 32 |
32 x 1024 |
 |
*max. access time at 8bits x 512 words from clock to valid
data with unloaded outputs
**larger block sizes are available by connecting basic hard
macros
|
Interface Macro Support
The CB-9VX/VM standard interface library includes
complete LVTTL input, output and bidirectional buffer support
with optional schmitt-trigger, pull-up and pull-down support.
For very low power applications additional
level shifter cells are available which allow the usage of
3.3 V I/O interfaces for system compatibility in conjunction
with 2 V core supply voltage. For special applications a set
of high-speed I/O buffer types is available. This includes
3.3 V PCI Cells for 66 MHz applications, GTL (Gunning Transceiver
Logic) I/O cells, HSTL (class 1, 2, 3, 4) interface cells
and pseudo-ECL (pECL) input cells.
5V tolerant I/Os with CB-9VX/VM
Although CB-9VX/VM is a 3.3 V optimised technology
with thin gate oxide, NEC offers 5 V compatible I/O interfacing.
As Figure 3 shows, NEC's interface library allows direct interfacing
to 5 V devices on input and output side. Output levels are
compatible to 5 V TTL specification, input levels are compatible
to 5 V CMOS and TTL specification and both are internally
protected against damaging. For such applications no additional
5 V supply voltage is necessary.
Figure 3:
CB-9VX/VM 5V-tolerant Interfacing

CB-9VX/VM Applications
Major advantages of NEC's CB-9VX/VM ASIC family
are high integration density, high speed, very low power consumption
and cost effective memory and megamacro integration.
Following these main advantages results in
a wide range of applications. High performance transmission
and switching systems for example based on ATM technique may
take advantage from high speed, high integration density and
high performance memory integration. High end hand-held applications
as PDA's or mobile communication equipment make use of low
power and the capability of global system integration including
powerful microprocessor cores, which results in small system
cases. Future high end consumer products such as digital TV
set-top boxes need system on silicon integration to allow
cost effective mass production. High end chipsets for engineering
work stations (EWS) or graphic PC-subsystems need very high
performance combined with cost effective packaging solutions.
So the very low power consumption offered by NEC's CB-9VX/VM
family has impact on system pricing, as in many cases the
usage of more cost effective packaging solutions becomes possible.
CAD Support
The CB-9VX/VM family ASIC's are completely
supported by NEC's OpenCAD TM design environment, a unified
front-to-back-end design package that allows designers to
mix and match tools from the industry's most popular third-party
vendors and from NEC's offering of powerful proprietary software
tools. These tools perform schematic capture, logic synthesis,
floor-planning, logic and timing simulation, static timing
analysis, layout, design and circuit rule check, and memory
compilation. The company's proprietary clock tree synthesis
tool can be used to automatically buffer the clock lines as
needed to minimise clock skew, essential for high speed designs.
The library elements of NEC's CB-9VX/VM family
are modelled in a non-linear way using table look up methods.
This allows the most accurate timing verification throughout
synthesis, estimated timing simulation and sign-off timing
simulation as it includes not only the influence of actual
load conditions but also of the logic-cells input slopes.
NEC spends most efforts to guarantee a converging design flow
and to avoid design iterations.
Placement and routing is performed in NEC's
design centers, which allows quick and flexible handling of
specific design demands. In most cases no floorplanning is
necessary, to meet the required timings. This leads to a significant
reduction of design efforts on the customer's side. For complex
hierarchical designs, NEC's floorplaner may be used to speed
design time and ensure critical paths.
Test Support
The CB-9VX/VM family supports automatic test
generation through a scan-test methodology, which allows high
fault coverage, easy testing and short development time. This
includes internal scan as well as boundary scan. NEC also
offers optional build-in self test (BIST) architecture for
RAM testing. Test of embedded megamacros is supported from
NEC's testbus concept, which allows the use of predefined
test pattern sets for integrated core macros.
Packaging
NEC offers a wide variety of over 60 package
types. The CB-9XV/VM family can be packaged in NEC's most
popular packages. These include plastic quad-flat packs (PQFPs)
with optional head spreader and pin counts in the range from
100 to 304 pins. Plastic Ball Grid Arrays (BGA) and Tape BGAs
256 to 696 ball contacts and Fine Pitch BGAs with 0.8 µm ball
pitch are also supported.
CB-9VX/VM Performance
| Overview Absolute Maximum Ratings |
Power supply voltage, V DD |
-0.5 to 4.6 V |
Input voltage, V I
|
3V input buffer
(at V I < V DD + 0.5 V) |
-0.5 to 4.6 V |
3V fail-safe input buffer
(at V I < V DD + 0.5 V) |
-0.5 to 4.6 V |
5V-tolerant buffer
(at V I < V DD + 3.0 V) |
-0.5 to 6.6 V |
Output voltage, V O
|
3V buffer
(at V O < V DD + 0.5 V) |
-0.5 to 4.6 V |
5V-tolerant buffer
(at V O < V DD + 3.0 V) |
-0.5 to 6.6 V |
Latch-up current, I LATCH |
>1 A (typ) |
Operating temperature, T OPT |
-40 to +85°C |
Storage temperature, TSTG |
-65 to +150°C |
 |
|
 |
Input/Output Capacitance
V DD =V I=0 V; f=1 MHz |
| Terminal |
Symbol |
Typ |
Max |
Unit |
| Input |
C IN |
10 |
20 |
pF |
| Output |
C OUT |
10 |
20 |
pF |
| I/O |
C I/O |
10 |
20 |
pF |
 |
Note: Values do not include package pin capacitance.
Power Consumption |
| Description |
Limits |
Unit |
2-input NAND
(F302, F/O=0, l=0) |
0.37 |
|
2-input NAND
(F302, F/O=2, l=typ) |
0.37 |
|
 |
|
Recommended Operating Conditions
| Parameter |
Symbol |
3V Buffer |
5V-Tolerant |
3.3V PCI |
Unit |
| Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
Power supply voltage |
V DD |
3.0 |
3.6 |
3.0 |
3.6 |
3.0 |
3.6 |
V |
Junction temperature |
T J |
-0 |
+125 |
-0 |
+125 |
-0 |
+125 |
°C |
Low-level input voltage |
V IL |
0 |
0.8 |
0 |
0.8 |
-0.5 |
xx |
V |
High-level input voltage |
V IH |
2.0 |
V DD |
2.0 |
V DD |
0.5 V DD |
xx |
V |
Input rise or fall time |
t R , t F |
0 |
200 |
0 |
200 |
0 |
xx |
ns |
Input rise or fall time, Schmitt |
t R , t F |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
xx |
ms |
 |
AC Characteristics V DD = 3.3
V ± 0.3 V; T j = 0 to +125°C
| Parameter |
Symbol |
Min |
Typ |
Max |
Unit |
Conditions |
Toggle frequency |
f TOG |
880 |
|
|
MHz |
D-F/F; F/O=2, L=0 |
Delay time |
 2-input NAND (F322) |
t PD |
49.8 |
76.1 |
113.2 |
ps |
F/O=1; L=0 |
| t PD |
76.6 |
113.8 |
169.9 |
ps |
F/O=2; L=typ |
 Flip-flop (F611NQ)
|
t PD |
321.4 |
497.4 |
776.1 |
ps |
F/O=1; L=0 |
| t PD |
354.2 |
549.6 |
860.0 |
ps |
F/O=2; L=typ |
| t SETUP |
490 |
|
|
ps |
-- |
| t HOLD |
390 |
|
|
ps |
-- |
 Input buffer (FI01)
|
t PD |
107.4 |
155.6 |
221.9 |
ps |
F/O=1; L=0 |
| t PD |
126.7 |
175.5 |
252.0 |
ps |
F/O=2; L=typ |
 Output buffer (12 mA) 3.3V |
t PD |
454.5 |
675.5 |
1021 |
ps |
C L = 0pF |
 Output buffer (12 mA) 3.3V |
t PD |
1624 |
2375 |
3525 |
ps |
C L = 50pF |
 Output buffer (6 mA) 5V-tolerant |
t PD |
957 |
1393 |
2078 |
ps |
C L = 0pF |
 Output buffer (6 mA) 5V-tolerant |
t PD |
2508 |
3650 |
5408 |
ps |
C L = 50pF |
Output rise time (9 mA) |
t R |
1708 |
2165 |
2994 |
ps |
C L = 15pF; 10-90% |
Output fall time (9 mA) |
t F |
1082 |
1522 |
2381 |
ps |
C L = 15pF; 10-90% |
 |
|