Microelectronics: From Fundamentals to SiliconGate’s Design Perspective

Course developed by: Fábio Passos, Silicongate LDA
Contact: fabio.passosnoSpam@silicongate.com

Course Description

This comprehensive SiliconGate training program provides a solid foundation in modern microelectronics, guiding participants from essential semiconductor and device concepts to practical circuit-level understanding. The course begins with the physics of MOS devices, CMOS technology fundamentals, and principles of digital and analog circuits, ensuring students gain the core knowledge required to navigate today’s semiconductor landscape. Through clear explanations and hands-on examples, learners build confidence in interpreting device behavior, evaluating circuit performance, and understanding how integrated systems are constructed from the ground up.

As the course progresses, it transitions into the professional analog and digital design flows used at SiliconGate. Participants explore the full lifecycle of IP development—specification, architecture, design, simulation, verification, layout, and signoff—while gaining insight into the methodologies, tools, and best practices that ensure robust and high-performance silicon solutions. Detailed design examples, real IP development scenarios, and workflow walkthroughs provide a practical, industry-aligned perspective. By the end of the course, attendees will have a cohesive understanding of how foundational microelectronics principles connect to advanced design practices in a modern semiconductor design environment.

Learning Objectives

• Students can explain the fundamental semiconductor and MOS device concepts that underpin modern microelectronics.
• Students can describe CMOS technology fundamentals and their relevance to digital and analog circuit behavior.
• Students can interpret device characteristics and analyze circuit performance
• Students can follow the complete analog and digital IP development flow used in industry (SiliconGate)—from specification and architecture to design, simulation, verification, layout, and signoff.
• Students can apply professional methodologies, tools, and best practices to evaluate and implement robust silicon design solutions.
• Students can understand real IP development scenarios and workflows, connecting theoretical foundations to practical semiconductor design execution