Open source Z80 to replace end of line chip
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An open source version of the Z80 microcontroller is being built as the original Z80 dual in line package (DIP) microcontroller goes end of life.
Zilog, now part of Ixys and Littelfuse, announced the end of life of the original DIP version of the Z80 last month, although there are many other versions of the controller powering other chips.
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“It is a time for the open-source and hardware preservation community to step in with a Free and Open Source Silicon (FOSS) replacement for the Zilog Z80,” said chip designer Renaldas Zioma.
The first fabrication of the FOSS design is scheduled for June of 2024 using the next round of the Tiny Tapeout multi project wafer on a 130nm process, resulting in a die that measures just 0.064 mm2. Tiny Tapeout 7 is set to go to the fab in June.
The design uses a modern, free and open source silicon clone of the Z80 that will be silicon proven and pin compatible. It uses the OpenROAD open source EDA chip design flow and FOSS 130 nm Skywater PDK to synthesize production ready silicon. The open source design is available on Github at github.com/rejunity/z80-open-silicon
Tiny Tapeout infrastructure is used to test and pool design with many others to reduce the cost of physical chip fabrication at Skywater: app.tinytapeout.com/projects/668
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