Trusted Access Program Office

Intellectual Property

This guide provides Trusted Access Program Office (TAPO) customers with information on how to obtain and use Intellectual Property (IP) from the TAPO portfolio. The guide describes:

  • The process for acquiring IP
  • How to get technical information
  • Licensing information
  • A list of some common IP pitfalls

The guide also includes a basic listing of available IP, the process used to apply for access and a list of resources where help can be obtained in searching for IP.

TAPO IP Acquisition Flow

The TAPO IP acquisition flow is predicated on the need to provide robust customer support with minimal paperwork. From the beginning to the end of the customer's IP search, they will be paired with a TAPO Customer Application Engineer (CAE). The CAE can obtain assistance from the TAPO IP Manager and a GLOBALFOUNDRIES U. S. 2 LLC (GFUS2) Field Application Engineer (FAE) as needed. With the help of these individuals, the customer will receive instruction in both business and technical areas related to gaining access to existing IP or developing a new IP block.

For every customer design submitted via a Customer Request Form (CRF) indicated as needing IP, the assigned TAPO CAE will send the customer the appropriate Base IP document for their specific technology node for which TAPO IP is available.

  • The Base IP document indicates what IP is available, some of which is margined down to -55C (mil spec) PVTs. Some of this IP is obtained from GlobalFoundries via the GlobalFoundries View (GFV) portal, some from IP providers such as ARM or Synopsys, and some from other IP providers as indicated by GFV.
  • IP Request for development - if the IP being requested does not currently exist, the customer can request a quote to have the IP developed. A statement of work (SOW) including detailed specifications for the new piece of IP will be required.
  • IP Update – the CAE or TAPO IP Manager provides status to the customer as their request for IP development is being processed.

The following picture illustrates the IP process.

TAPO IP Portfolio

The TAPO IP portfolio is technology node dependent, but typically includes Standard Cell libraries, SRAMs, PLLs, oscillators, and I/O cells such as GPIO, LVDS, and SSTL. Datasheets, product briefs, and more detailed information may be obtained from GFV.

In collaboration with GF US2, TAPO is involved in ensuring that these libraries have support for multiple EDA views, PVT points, and metal stacks.

TAPO IP Licensing Rules

Using IP from the Trusted Foundry portfolio is subject to certain licensing rules. A top-level review of these rules follows. This review is not a full legal statement of the user's rights, but is meant to be an overview of the rules. A complete understanding of the limitations may be obtained through GF US2.

  • All IP in the TAPO IP portfolio is only for use in U.S. Government sponsored programs that access GF US2 through TAPO. Commercial or other non-U.S. Government applications require the user to resolve license, use and payment agreements with GFUS2, and/or the IP vendor, as applicable.
  • While most of the IP in the TAPO portfolio carry unlimited use licenses, some will require the customer to purchase a use fee. Contact a TAPO Customer Application Engineer for a listing of which IP blocks may require this.
  • Each use of IP in silicon is a chargeable use. Each use covers the tapeout of a prototype and production run so long as the production/re-spin run is being made to: fix an error, change timing or type of memory, update GFUS2 IP, or change less than 15% of the logic gates.
  • If a customer produces a prototype, but does not move to production, that counts as one use. The license fee is not refunded, nor can it be transferred to another project.
  • For non-silicon validated IP, the customer may produce a test chip to validate the IP without charge as long as the sole purpose of the tapeout is IP verification. The test chip may not be used to build samples.
  • All TAPO IP will require the customer to sign or agree to GF US2’s non-disclosure agreement. This agreement covers only the company signing it. If the customer is subcontracting their design services, the subcontractor may be required to sign a similar agreement. This can take some time to bring to closure when third party IP providers are involved. The rule of thumb is that all parties who will have access to GF US2 data must sign the agreement.

For more information about IP license use, please see the GF US2 IP license agreement or contact GF US2.

TAPO IP Resources

It is common for a customer to have questions when going through the various stages of the design cycle. With this in mind, the following resources may be helpful:

  • The Base IP document for the technology node in use.
  • Global-Foundry View (GFV) Portal – GF US2 posts a large volume of technical data on the website where they house their IP. A GFV account may be obtained by request for account enablement to the TAPO CAE and a customer can submit a ‘case’ (ticket) through GFV for IP assistance.
  • TAPO Customer Application Engineer (CAE) - this is the customer's main point of contact throughout the entire engagement with TAPO.
  • TAPO IP Coordinator - this is TAPO's chief contact for TAPO IP.
  • TAPO Website - this website offers information on services customers could obtain through TAPO.
  • GF US2 Field Application Engineer (FAE) – GF US2 assigns an FAE to support TAPO customers with respect to IP.

Trusted IP

Many projects using the Trusted Access Program Office are seeking Trusted IP. At present, there is no certification process for vetting IP purchased by TAPO. While recognizing the concerns that exist in the defense community, there is neither a mandate nor identified resource to drive this kind of effort. Instead, TAPO and GF US2 have insisted on full views of the IP so that the concerned customer can perform their own security vetting to ensure a successful project.

Suggestions for Avoiding Common IP Pitfalls

Ensuring that one's IP is correct for a particular chip can be a difficult part of the design preparation process. Here are some suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls involved with acquiring IP.

  • The customer should consider IP acquisition as one critical path in their design cycle. When acquiring IP, there are many variables. Getting access to an IP block may involve one or more of the following efforts: a business cycle, legal cycle (Confidential Non-Disclosure Agreement, Design Kit License Agreement), requirements collection cycle and development time. Each of these cycles has its own challenges. Time should be allotted for the unexpected.
  • The customer should ask about metal stack support. Some IP blocks are metal stack dependent and may not have support for the metal stack that a customer's design is targeting.
  • The customer should ask about PVT support. The TAPO IP portfolio consists of IP developed by many customers and vendors. While TAPO does its best to make its IP look like elements of a common library, there are still IP blocks with timing support for limited corners.
  • The customer should ask about available licenses. Not all pieces of IP in the TAPO library have unlimited uses. The customer may be asked to fund a usage fee.
  • The customer should ask about how current the IP block is to the latest GF US2 design rules. Some blocks available to TAPO are older and may not be current with the latest GF US2 Process Design Kit (PDK).
  • The customer should ask about risk factors. Some IP blocks are very complex. It is good to know if the IP is silicon verified.
  • The customer should ask about how using design subcontractors or university design services may impact their ability to obtain IP.
  • The customer should ask about where they will be getting technical support should they need it.
  • The customer should ask if the IP block they are seeking requires the use of other IP blocks.
  • The customer should make no assumptions.