Pdk

PDK stands for Process Design Kit, a collection of data and models provided by a semiconductor foundry to enable the design of integrated circuits for a specific manufacturing process. A PDK translates process capabilities into machine-readable information that can be used by electronic design automation (EDA) tools to design, simulate, and verify chips intended for fabrication.

A typical PDK includes technology files that describe the structure of the process layers, design rules, and process parameters; a standard cell library with pre-characterized layouts; transistor and device models (such as SPICE models) for circuit simulation; design-rule-check (DRC) and layout-versus-schematic (LVS) decks; parasitics and extraction data; and reference designs or test structures. It also provides guidance on process corners, reliability margins, and recommended design practices to ensure manufacturability and performance consistency.

PDKs are closely tied to a specific fabrication process node and foundry, and they are used within EDA flows from major vendors to perform layout, verification, simulation, and extraction. They enable engineers to predict fabrication outcomes and to tape out designs that will meet electrical and timing specifications. Access to PDKs is typically governed by foundry agreements, though some open or educational PDKs exist to support research and open-source toolchains.

Open PDK projects and open-source efforts have increased in recent years, providing access to certain process data (for example, some 130 nm open PDKs) to the broader community. These initiatives aim to facilitate experimentation and learning, while still requiring validation and proper integration with compatible design tools.