Google and SkyWater have announced an upgrade to their initiative that allows open-source hardware developers to produce a trial batch of their chips for free, thereby avoiding costs associated with initial prototype production. All expenses related to manufacturing, packaging, and shipping will be covered by Google. Applications are accepted only from projects that are entirely open-licensed, free from non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and not restricted in the use of their products.
The announced changes involve providing the ability to use a 90nm manufacturing process instead of the previously offered 130nm. A new SkyWater PDK (Process Design Kit) will soon be released, detailing the 90nm FDSOI (SKY90-FD) process used at the SkyWater facility, enabling the preparation of the necessary design files for chip production. Unlike the traditional CMOS BULK process, the SKY90-FD process employs a thinner insulating layer between the substrate and the top layer of the crystal, resulting in slimmer transistor designs.
Source: opennet.ru
