what is pre-silicon and post-silicon in simple words please?

Answer 1

As a chip designer, pre-silicon refers to the virtual model of the chip that is expressed in a hardware description language for simulation, and physical views for the physical implementation that will generate the tooling for the fabrication facility which is also used to verify adherance to the manufacturing rules. As silicon geometries have reduced to 65nm and 45nm there are techniques to compare the virtual ideal model against a model that includes simulation of some manufacturing effects like thickness and lithography snoothing of the metal layers and poly.

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Answer 2

Where have you seen the phrases used?

I have heard the term "pre-silicon" used to describe the time in the 1960's before silicon became the main semiconductor used in the electronics industry.

The use of silicon allowed the rapid development of integrated circuits

Post-silicon could refer (depends on context) to the time after the introduction of silicon, or to a possible time in the future when silicon has been replaced by other materials like gallium arsenide.

Answer 3

I work with silicon every day and never heard the term.

Answer 4

pre-silicon = small chest

post-silicon = large chest

(real is better)