MOSIS FAQs: Products and Services
The most frequently asked questions about products and services available through MOSIS.
1.0 What is the main product or service provided by MOSIS?
2.0 What fabrication processes are available?
3.0 What packaging technologies are available?
4.0 Can I order the following from MOSIS?
4.1 Design services?
4.2 Testing services?
4.3 Design rule checking?
4.4 Printed circuit boards?
4.5 Photos of my chip?
4.6 Plots of my chip?
4.7 Whole wafers?
4.8 Large quantities of chips?
4.9 Additional chips from past fabrication runs?
4.10 Packages and lids (materials only)?
4.11 Packages for parts not fabricated by MOSIS?
4.12 MCM devices?
4.13 MEMS (microelectromechanical) devices?
4.14 Net-list-to-parts services?
5.0 Does MOSIS have its own design rules?
6.0 Does MOSIS have its own cell libraries?
7.0 If I order wafers, how many parts will I receive?
1.0 What is the main product or service provided by MOSIS?
MOSIS is a low cost prototyping and small-volume production service for VLSI circuit development. Customers send integrated circuit designs to MOSIS over the internet and receive fabricated parts within a few weeks. For more information, see About MOSIS and the MOSIS Products web pages.
2.0 What fabrication processes are available?
MOSIS offers several CMOS processes, with a range of feature sizes. For more information, see Fabrication Processes Available Through MOSIS.
3.0 What packaging technologies are available?
Customers can order packaged and/or unpackaged parts. Supported packages include (a) MOSIS-provided ceramic packages, (b) MOSIS-provided i2a Technologies (formerly IPAC), and open cavity plastic packages and (c) customer-supplied packages assembled by MOSIS vendors. MOSIS also supports flip-chip bumping.
4.0 Can I order the following from MOSIS?
4.1 Can I order Design Services?
MOSIS does not currently provide design services. Third-party providers offer a variety of services.
4.2 Can I order Testing Services?
Functional testing (digital) is available from MOSIS. Contact the MOSIS support desk for more details.
4.3 Can I order Design Rule Checking?
MOSIS does not offer design rule checking (DRC).
4.4 Can I order Printed Circuit Boards?
MOSIS does not offer printed circuit board fabrication because it is more efficient and cost effective for designers to contract directly with board manufacturers. We can, however, give you the name of some suppliers we have worked with:
American Technology Services
1312 East 29th Street, Signal Hill CA 90806
Phone: 562-426-0521 | Fax: 562-426-2560
Dynamic Details, Inc.
1220 N. Simon Circle, Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: 714-688-7300
Multilayer Technology Inc (Multek)
16 Hammond, Irvine, CA 92718
Phone: 949-951-3388 | Fax: 949-951-5431
4.5 Can I order Photos of my Chip?
MOSIS does not provide micro-photography services, but we can give you the name of a photographer we have work with for many years:
Melgar Photographers: 408-733-4500
4.6 Can I order Plots of my Chip?
MOSIS does not provide plotting services, but we can give you the name of a supplier we work with:
Artwork Conversion Services: 831-426-6163
4.7 Can I order Whole Wafers?
If you wish to receive whole wafers from MOSIS, you must purchase an entire fabrication run. We cannot send you wafers from a shared MOSIS run, because those wafers will contain projects designed by other MOSIS customers. For more information about purchasing wafers, see Request For Quote (RFQ) For Large Quantity Or Size.
4.8 Can I order Large Quantities of Chips?
The Automated Price Quote Request form generates a quote for one or multiple prototyping lots of die based on the information you provide. For very large quantities, you may wish to consider purchasing an entire fabrication run yourself. For more information, see Custom Price Quote Request form.
4.9 Can I order Additional Chips from Past Fabrication Runs?
If MOSIS has additional wafers in stock for a particular run, those wafers can be used to provide customers with additional parts. It's important to note, however, that additional wafers are not always available. For more information, see Ordering Additional Die from a Previous MOSIS Run
4.10 Can I order Packages and Lids (materials only)?
It is sometimes possible to purchase small quantities of packages and lids from MOSIS, but packaging materials are not a standard MOSIS product, and the part you need might not always be available. If you wish to purchase packages or lids from MOSIS, send a Request for Package Quote that includes the manufacturer, part number and quantity required through the MOSIS Support System.
Instead of ordering through MOSIS, you may wish to order materials directly from one of the suppliers MOSIS works with:
Coors Technical Ceramics: 800-821-6110
Kyocera America: 858-576-2600
Spectrum Semiconductor: 408-435-5555
4.11 Can I Order Packages for Parts not Fabricated by MOSIS?
Assembly of parts not fabricated by MOSIS is not a service currently offered by MOSIS. Some packaging vendors will assemble small quantities of parts, but there is often a minumum charge, which could be as high as several hundred dollars. Here are some assembly vendors MOSIS has worked with:
I2A Technologies (formerly IPAC): 408-321-3600
Corwil Technology: 408-321-6404
Norsk Engineering: 408-943-0590
Pantronix Corporation: 510-656-5898
4.12 Can I order MCM Devices?
MOSIS does not currently offer MCM fabrication, but that may change in the future. If you would like MOSIS to offer this service, please let us know by sending a message through the MOSIS Support System.
4.13 Can I order MEMS (Microelectromechanical) Devices?
MOSIS provides an interface for fabrication of CMOS-compatible MEMS devices.
4.14 Net-list-to-parts services?
MOSIS does not currently offer a netlist-to-parts service but that may change in the future. If you would like MOSIS to offer this service, please let us know by sending a message through the MOSIS Support System.
5.0 Does MOSIS have its own design rules?
For each CMOS process, MOSIS supports the vendor's rules for that process, and the MOSIS SCMOS rules for some of the CMOS process. For more information, connect to Layout Design Rules for MOSIS Processes.
6.0 Does MOSIS have its own cell libraries?
MOSIS does not currently provide cell libraries, other than basic I/O pads for selected SCMOS processes. Library and/or CAD tool companies provide a variety of cells that vary both by processes and in function. For more information, connect to MOSIS Design Flows.
7.0 If I order wafers, how many parts will I receive?
The number of parts you can get from a dedicated run depends on:
- The size of your design
- The size of the reticle used by the fabricator
- The size of the wafers used by the fabricator
- Yield factors related to the fabricator's process
- Yield factors related to your particular design
- The overhead space required by MOSIS
- The overhead space required by the fabricator
You will need to work with MOSIS on a case-by-case basis to determine the number of wafers that will meet your requirements. Send a Request for Quote to get started.