Very large scale integration (VLSI) is the manufacturing and design methodology that allows millions of semiconductor devices to be etched onto a single silicon die. This density enables complete systems, such as microprocessors and high-capacity memory chips, to exist as single components. The methodology requires specialized electronic design automation tools to manage the layout and routing of so many microscopic connections.
The new VLSI class covers everything from basic transistor layout to full microprocessor tape-out.
Though originally defined by a specific transistor count, the industry now uses VLSI as a blanket term for any highly complex digital chip design.
Also heard as
- VLSI
Related terms
VLSI
Very large-scale integration is the process of creating an integrated circuit by combining thousands to millions of transistors onto a single chip.
LSI
This historic chip classification refers to integrated circuits containing tens of thousands of transistors.
Wafer-scale integration
A manufacturing approach where an entire silicon wafer is used as a single massive integrated circuit.
Layout
The physical arrangement of components and traces on a chip or circuit board.