The future impact of GaAs digital IC's

A review of digital GaAs IC technology and an assessment of its future impact on gigabit signal processing is presented. High-speed signal processing and computers will require MSI-complexity interface circuits capable of 1-10 GHz clock frequencies and LSI-complexity digital circuits operating in the 0.2-5 GHz range at tens of microwatts per gate. A wide range of applications exists for frequency counters, multiplexers, A/D converters, FFT's, microprocessors, and memories that operate at speeds significantly higher than on presently available circuits. Issues related to high-speed IC design such as power dissipation, packing density, capacitance effects, design rules, and intra- and interchip propagation delays are discussed.