Siliconnect

Wire up the chip.

Siliconnect is a wire-routing puzzle: trace between pads with the same name to connect them. Wires can't cross, so you have to decide where each one goes, and in what order. Every wire you draw changes the paths left for the others.

■ 6 chapters, from silicon to circuit board Each chapter adds a new rule based on real chip design. • Diffusion — where polysilicon crosses diffusion, a transistor gate forms • M1 — a single metal layer, so wires can't cross • M1/M2 and vias — vertical and horizontal on separate layers; change layers to turn • Power — wide power lines block the routes next to them • Package — bond wires run from the die's pads to the leads without crossing • PCB — match the lengths of differential pairs and avoid long parallel runs

■ Find the shortest route Each clear is rated S, A, or B by total wire length. Find the shortest wiring and collect S ranks.

■ Build logic gates from transistors In LAYOUT mode, wire transistors to build NOT, NAND, NOR, AND, and OR gates. Turn every row of the truth table green to finish.

■ Learn while you play Each main-game stage you clear shows a short fact about semiconductors. Each chapter opens with how its rule is used in real design.

■ What's inside • Main game: 6 chapters × 10 stages (60 stages) • Endless mode, unlocked by clearing every chapter (100 stages) • LAYOUT mode for building logic gates (5 gates) • Hints when you're stuck (one free hint per stage; more by watching an ad) • English and Japanese

Some parts of real chip design are simplified so they can be played as a game. Each chapter's "In real chips" section explains the differences. Siliconnect is free and shows ads. No account is needed, and your progress is stored on your device.

Discovery signals