Application-specific memory
Application-specific memory (ASM) is a chip based on the ASIC flow, but containing
a large memory block. Almost every chip today contains memory parts.
They can be static RAM, dynamic RAM, ROM, etc., but in general they are no
more than 512 kbits in size. An ASM is a chip that requires a lot of memory, from
1Mbit up to 64 Mbits. Examples are video RAM (VRAM), synchronous graphic
RAM (SGRAM), and in some cases more complicated designs.
The design of a memory block as described fully in the next section is done
in a full-custom style. If memory expertise is part of the overall design process,
then the chip could be implemented in a full-custom flow as well