SEA-OF-GATES ARCHITECTURE

This paper deals with the development of sea-of-gates technology for t he design of VLSI circuits. Sea-of-gates technology, also considered a second generation gate-array system, is discussed in detail. Its inte rnal structure and the main physical aspects that differentiate sea-of -gates from conventional gate-arrays are presented. The advantages ove r the previous generation of gate-arrays, and for some circuits in com parison with full-custom technology, are discussed, together with its influence in the likely ASIC market.