Mastering Functional ECO in Mixed-Signal ASICs

Mastering Functional ECO in Mixed-Signal ASIC Design: Challenges and Solutions

Mixed-signal ASICs are at the heart of modern electronics, powering devices that bridge the analog real world with digital intelligence. From smartphones and tablets to medical devices, automotive sensors, and IoT gadgets, these chips are critical for seamless functionality. Yet designing them is no simple task, especially when it comes to managing functional Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).

A recent webinar hosted by Daniel Nenni in partnership with Easy-Logic Technology highlighted the complexities and innovative solutions for functional ECO in mixed-signal ASIC design. The session offered valuable insights into the technical hurdles faced by design teams and practical strategies to overcome them efficiently.

Challenges in Mixed-Signal ASIC ECOs

Mixed-signal ASICs combine analog blocks, digital logic, and interface circuits to support protocols like USB, SPI, and I2C. While analog circuitry forms the backbone, the digital components often introduce unique ECO challenges:

• Short project cycles, sometimes just six months per chip

• Multiple successive ECOs on the same digital block

• Manual RTL design modifications

• Mixed-level ECOs combining RTL and netlist

• Timing variations caused by changes in analog circuitry

• Updates required for peripheral blocks based on customer system specifications

• Scan chain repairs due to ECO operations

• Limited spare resources for logic modifications

• ECO requests arising even after test chip release

These factors make ECO management in mixed-signal designs particularly demanding, requiring specialized approaches beyond standard ECO methodologies.

Easy-Logic’s Tailored ECO Solutions

Easy-Logic Technology addresses these challenges with over ten years of proven expertise. Their approach focuses on streamlining the ECO process for mixed-signal ASICs:

• Simplifying workflows to reduce manual intervention

• Using specialized algorithms to optimize logic patch size

• Providing practical methodologies for efficient ECO execution

Deployed across diverse projects, Easy-Logic’s solutions help design teams manage ECO requests effectively, minimize redesign costs, and meet tight delivery schedules.

Why Functional ECO Expertise Matters

For companies and engineers in automotive electronics, medical devices, IoT, industrial automation, and other sectors, mastering functional ECO is more than a technical requirement—it is a strategic advantage. Efficient ECO processes enable faster product launches, cost savings, and the flexibility to adapt to evolving system requirements.

As mixed-signal ASICs continue to drive innovation in modern electronics, having robust ECO strategies ensures that designers can overcome challenges and deliver high-quality, reliable chips on time.

Source - Semiwiki