Date of Award

6-11-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Shoba Krishnan

Abstract

Integrated circuit design is a key aspect of the quickly-growing semiconductor industry. Familiarity with high-level design, layout, and validation is critical for students seeking an industrial or academic career in the field. Learning full-stack design at an academic institution is made difficult by the amount of resources required and limited timeframe. In this project, we develop a thermometer-coded digital-to-analog converter from concept to fabrication as a means to create a new integrated circuit design and fabrication course at Santa Clara University. We also develop a design flow using software from Cadence Design Systems and the 250 nm CMOS process node from Texas Instruments. Our data converter was implemented using a 64-bit digital decoder, a precision reference current generator, a 64-bit switched cascode current mirror, and telescopic transimpedance amplifier. This project was the first mixed-signal tapeout effort in the history of Santa Clara University. Using the design flow and documentation developed by this project, future students and researchers at Santa Clara University will be able to quickly design and tape-out custom integrated circuits.

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