EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Sep 5·5 min read
Reverse Engineering a Chip (or well, a GDS)
TL;DR
A GDSII layout file was reverse-engineered to determine its function and the input sequence that toggles its output. The challenge culminated in identifying the associated ASCII string.
✦ Why It Matters
Engage in reverse engineering challenges to enhance your skills in circuit design and analysis.
Key Takeaways
- Use KLayout for visualizing GDSII files effectively.
- Generate Verilog netlists to simulate circuit behavior.
- Manually identify circuit blocks for better understanding.
- Leverage Python scripts for automated analysis of layouts.
How It Works
The author began by visualizing the GDSII layout in KLayout, simplifying the view to focus on relevant circuit blocks. By generating a Verilog netlist from the GDS file, they could simulate the circuit's behavior and identify how different components interacted.
The process involved using Python scripts to automate the extraction of connectivity information, allowing for a more efficient analysis of the circuit's functionality.