NEC’s 0.15-micron ASIC story was a system-on-chip platform announcement, not a clearly documented standalone “ASIC core” product. In March 1999, EE Times reported that NEC planned to accept designs for its CB-11 platform beginning in June, with production targeted for the first quarter of 2000. CB-11 was designed for 0.18- and 0.15-micron processes and aimed at multimedia SoCs. Those dates were announced targets, not confirmation that the milestones occurred as planned.
What NEC announced in 1999
CB-11 combined semiconductor process options with standard-cell libraries and intellectual property (IP) cores, giving customers building blocks for custom system-on-chip designs. The announcement described a platform for integrating functions on a chip; it did not establish that NEC was selling a standalone retail product called an “ASIC core.”
NEC planned to start taking customer designs in June 1999 and targeted production for the first quarter of 2000. The available announcement documents the plan, not whether each milestone was met. It positioned CB-11 for multimedia applications and specified support for 0.18- and 0.15-micron processes.
CB-11’s reported integration capabilities
EE Times described CB-11 as able to combine logic with a range of memory and circuit modules. The figures below are capabilities reported for the platform in 1999, not proof that every combination or maximum was achieved in commercial chips.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Air Cooling & Low Noise Operation – This air-cooled ASIC development board runs at 50dB, maintaining stable temperature during long testing sessions.
- 4x BM1370 Chips – Equipped with 4 dedicated BM1370 ASIC chips to deliver steady processing capacity, ideal for chip testing, algorithm verification and embedded system debugging.
- Open Source Firmware – Fully open-source firmware with public code access. Ethernet supports remote monitoring and setting adjustment through a web browser.
- Compact & Lightweight Design – Net weight only 0.45kg, with 10×14×18cm dimensions, perfect for placement on lab benches and workstations.
- Built-in IPS Display – Integrated IPS screen shows real-time operating data for convenient setup and daily testing.
| Capability | What the 1999 report said |
|---|---|
| Gate capacity | Up to 34 million gates |
| I/O capacity | Up to 2,700 pins |
| Interconnect | Five, six or seven layers |
| Integration options | DRAM, flash, analog, CMOS and high-speed BiCMOS modules |
The combination was the point of the SoC pitch: customers could integrate more system functions into a custom chip rather than assemble them from separate components. The report lists platform options; it does not say that every design could use every module at once.
Why the announcement mattered to NEC
EE Times framed CB-11 as part of NEC’s effort to regain ground in the ASIC market and expand its system-on-chip business, with a focus on customers in the United States. The article reported NEC ASIC revenue of $1.23 billion in 1998, down from $1.78 billion in 1997, and said Lucent had taken the lead as the largest ASIC producer in 1998. These are the contemporary trade publication’s historical figures and market characterization.
Rank #2
- The Coral Dev Board Mini is a single-board computer that enables you to quickly prototype and deploy an embedded system with on-device ML inferencing.
- The board includes the Edge TPU coprocessor, which is a small ASIC designed by Google that accelerates TensorFlow Lite models in a power efficient manner. It's capable of performing 4 trillion operations (tera-operations) per second (tops), using 0.5 watts for each tops (2 tops per watt).
- Provides a complete system: a single-board computer with SoC + ML + wireless connectivity, all on the board running a derivative of Debian Linux we call Mendel, so you can run your favorite Linux tools with this board.
- Supports TensorFlow Lite: no need to build models from the ground up. Tensorflow Lite models can be compiled to run on the Edge TPU.
- Supports AutoML Vision Edge: easily build and deploy fast, high-accuracy custom image classification models to your device..MediaTek 8167s SoC (Quad-core Arm Cortex-A35).2 GB LPDDR3 and 8 GB eMMC memory
How CB-12 relates to the 0.15-micron story
NEC’s later technical documentation identifies CB-12 as its 0.15-micron-centered ASIC lineup. A 2006 NEC Technical Journal review says CB-12 was compatible with the CB130 0.13-micron and CB90 90nm generations, as well as more advanced processors then in development. The review also describes NEC’s V850E CPU core and licensed ARM7, ARM9 and ARM11 family cores for ASIC use.
That later lineup makes “ASIC cores” understandable as a reference to embedded CPU IP available within ASIC designs, but it should not be confused with the 1999 CB-11 platform announcement. NEC’s technical review also mentions associated Embedded Trace Macrocell and Vector Floating-Point Processor IP, along with a secondary linked cache controller; these are components of the documented IP range, not evidence that every CB-12 design included them.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Evidence of later use: a networking demonstration
A 2002 HPCwire report described networking technology demonstrations involving CB-11 and CB-12. It also reported a switch-fabric solution that NEC developed with Erlang Technology for enterprise and carrier-class OEMs. This documents a demonstration and collaboration, not a record of customer shipments.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- NerdMiner V2 Preloaded Bitcoin Lottery Miner Comes with NerdMiner V2 preloaded for Bitcoin lottery-style solo mining. Connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and complete setup to use it as a compact desktop BTC lottery miner. Typical performance is about 350 KH/s and may vary by settings and network conditions.
- ESP32-WROOM-32E Module Inside Built with the ESP32-WROOM-32E wireless module, supporting 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and BLE. It is also a programmable ESP32 development board for IoT, smart home, sensor display, dashboard and DIY electronics projects.
- 2.8 Inch 240x320 Touch Display Features a 2.8-inch 240 x 320 TFT LCD touch screen with resistive touch control. Suitable for status display, menu control, graphical interface, monitoring dashboard and custom touchscreen applications.
- Reprogrammable Development Board NerdMiner V2 is only the preloaded application. Users can erase or replace it with compatible ESP32 programs using Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, ESP-IDF or MicroPython for custom development projects.
- Complete Desktop Kit Includes the ESP32-2432S028R-PLUS touch screen development board, 3D-printed protective case and USB Type-C data cable. MicroSD card, battery, touch stylus, sensors and expansion modules are not included.
What the record does—and does not—establish
- CB-11 was announced as an SoC ASIC platform for 0.18- and 0.15-micron processes, with design acceptance planned for June 1999 and production targeted for early 2000.
- Its gate, I/O and interconnect figures were reported platform maxima, not independently corroborated shipment specifications.
- NEC’s later documentation identifies CB-12 as a 0.15-micron lineup and describes embedded CPU and related IP options.
- The sources establish a later networking demonstration, but do not establish first-hand chip testing, fulfillment of the original production target, or present-day availability.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
