IC Design Flow · Topic 9 of 9
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IC Design FlowLesson 9 of 9
Tapeout
Handing the finished layout to the foundry to be manufactured.
What you’ll learn
- What tapeout means
- GDSII/OASIS and the mask set
- Why it's a point of no return
Why it matters
Tapeout commits the design to expensive mask-making and manufacturing.
Explanation
Tapeout is the moment the final layout (as a GDSII or OASIS file) is sent to the foundry to make photomasks and begin fabrication. The name dates from when layouts were shipped on magnetic tape.
After tapeout, changes require new masks and a costly re-spin, so it follows thorough signoff.
Visual explanation
Key terminology
- GDSII / OASIS
- Standard layout file formats sent to the foundry.
- Mask set
- The photomasks made from the layout, one per layer.
- Re-spin
- A costly re-manufacture to fix a post-tapeout bug.
Example
First silicon comes back weeks after tapeout for bring-up and validation.
Common mistakes
Watch out for:
- Treating tapeout as the finish line — bring-up and validation still follow.
Real-world application
A mask set for an advanced node can cost millions, so tapeout is taken very seriously.
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