180 GHz chip design with open source tools - an interview with Shafin Hossain.

180 GHz chip design with open source tools - an interview with Shafin Hossain.

Author: Matt Venn November 4, 2025 Duration: 42:25
Design repo: https://github.com/shafinhossain/TO_M...
OpenEMS script: https://github.com/VolkerMuehlhaus/op...

00:00 Intro 
00:41 Shafin intro 
02:33 Ironman Inspiration 
04:11 G band power amplifier on IHP 130 BiCMOS 
15:37 Design Questions 
25:47 Simulation Questions 
29:00 Testing 
31:48 General Questions 
34:13 Tools Questions 
37:36 How to contact Shafin 
38:46 Plans for the future 
40:38 Outro

For anyone curious about how the tiny, powerful chips that run our world are actually created, Zero to ASIC Course offers a clear and engaging path through the complex landscape. Hosted by Matt Venn, this podcast demystifies the journey of designing Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), breaking down the barriers between abstract concepts and physical silicon. Each episode serves as an informal lesson, weaving together foundational physics, current industry news, and practical engineering insights. You'll hear conversations with practitioners and pioneers who are actively shaping open-source silicon, making a field often shrouded in proprietary secrecy feel accessible and collaborative. This isn't just theoretical; it's about the tools, the challenges, and the community effort to bring custom chip design to more people. By listening to this podcast, you gain a nuanced understanding of semiconductor development, from initial design to final fabrication. The discussions naturally explore the intersection of education, technology, and open-source philosophy, providing context for both newcomers and seasoned engineers looking to stay current. Matt guides the exploration with a focus on real-world application, ensuring that every interview and news segment builds towards a comprehensive, practical knowledge base. Tune in to connect the dots between software, hardware, and the innovative future of computing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 43

Zero to ASIC Course
Podcast Episodes
Get started with Analog - Interview with Nanik Adnani. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
take my analog course: https://www.zerotoasiccourse.com/analog/Nanik's distortion ASIC: https://www.tinytapeout.com/chips/tt0...Kelly Heaton's analog birds: https://www.kellyheatonstudio.com/dee...--00:00 Intro 00:55 Nan…
Rest in peace Z80, long live the open source Z80! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:38
00:00 intro 00:56 z80 04:54 Submitted to TT07 06:52 NMOS 08:22 dynamic memory 10:28 z80 was everything in one chip 12:00 hand layout 14:10 most widely used CPU in the 80s 17:27 Tiny Tapeout compromise 18:56 voltage compa…
Chips in days with Minimal Fab - An interview with Leo Moser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:25
Talking about the minimal fab with Leo Moser. Leo recently won a competition run by minimal fab and had a design fabricated.He's published a few blog posts about it here:About the Minimal Fab: https://mole99.uber.space/2…
An interview with Ed Conway - Silicon Supply Chains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
Follow Ed here: https://twitter.com/EdConwaySky Buy his book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... Sign up to my newsletter here: https://www.zerotoasiccourse.com/news...