Design of an application specific integrated circuit for a VMEbus Industrial Control System

The introduction of ASIC technology in recent years has provided the digital designer with a unique method for developing electronic systems offering higher levels of performance and functionality coupled with the requirement for less physical space. This project describes the application of ASIC technology into a series of I/O modules. These modules were important components in the development of a VMEbus Industrial Control System at Texas Instruments®. Following the initial documentation of the ASIC design specifications, the project included a sequence of tasks, developed from established ASIC development guidelines, containing distributed responsibilities between the designer and the ASIC device manufacturer. A key requirement in completing the project involved the use of high level software design capture and simulation tools, available from the ASIC manufacturer, operating in an electronic workstation environment. Verification of the ASIC prototype devices, fabricated from the development process data, provided assurance of a successful design effort. The ASIC device performed all specified functionality during target system operation without failure. Only one minor modification, external to the device, was required to ensure reliable operation under all specified conditions. The ASIC device was considered a significant achievement in the development of the Texas Instruments VMEbus Industrial Control System.