Is Your RTL and Netlist Ready for DFT?

Is Your RTL and Netlist Ready for DFT?
by Daniel Payne on 06-29-2023 at 10:00 am

Synopsys Test Family ready for DFT

I recall an early custom IC designed at Wang Labs in the 1980s without any DFT logic like scan chains, then I was confronted by Prabhu Goel about the merits of DFT, and so my journey on DFT began in earnest. I learned about ATPG at Silicon Compilers and Viewlogic, then observability at CrossCheck where I met Jennifer Scher, now she’s… Read More


Automotive IP Certification

Automotive IP Certification
by Daniel Payne on 06-05-2023 at 10:00 am

SLM min

The electrification of cars and the growth of EVs means that more semiconductor content is being added with every new vehicle model from suppliers around the globe. There are unique concerns for automotive IP in terms of reliability, security and safety over the lifetime of the vehicle. I had the pleasure to speak with Pawini MahajanRead More


Synopsys Expands into Silicon Lifecycle Management

Synopsys Expands into Silicon Lifecycle Management
by Daniel Payne on 11-18-2021 at 10:00 am

SLM, Synopsys

I spoke with Steve Pateras of Synopsys last week to better understand what was happening with their Silicon Lifecycle Management vision, and I was reminded of a Forbes article from last year: Never Heard of Silicon Lifecycle Management? Join the Club. At least two major EDA vendors are now using the relatively new acronym SLM, and… Read More


Design IP Sales Grew 16.7% in 2020, Best Growth Rate Ever!

Design IP Sales Grew 16.7% in 2020, Best Growth Rate Ever!
by Eric Esteve on 04-13-2021 at 6:00 am

Table IP vendors 2021

Design IP Sales Grew 16.7% in 2020, to reach $4.6B and this is the best growth since year 2000!

The main trends shaking the Design IP in 2020 are very positive for the Top 3 IP vendors, each of them growing more than the market and confirm the importance of the wired interface IP market, aligned with the data-centric application, hyperscalar,… Read More


Less Haste More Speed – The Importance of Test Engineers

Less Haste More Speed – The Importance of Test Engineers
by Ramsay Allen on 10-17-2020 at 8:00 am

shutterstock 1470138506 2

Back in September 2019 semiengineering.com published an article called “The Hidden Potential of Test Engineers”. This article was of particular interest to me having previously worked as a mixed signal test development engineer.

Within the article Carl Moore explained that test engineers have the potential to increase revenue.… Read More


Webinar: Addressing the Challenges of Hyper-scaling within Data Centers with Advanced Node Embedded Sensing Fabrics

Webinar: Addressing the Challenges of Hyper-scaling within Data Centers with Advanced Node Embedded Sensing Fabrics
by Mike Gianfagna on 10-06-2020 at 10:00 am

Webinar Reminder Image

I had a chance to preview the subject webinar recently.  Yes, it’s a long title, but a very important topic. When it comes to hyper-scale data centers, there are substantial challenges associate with thermal management, power distribution and processing performance. Moortec explores approaches to these issues using their … Read More


5G, Hyperscaling and the Resurgence of Consumer Silicon

5G, Hyperscaling and the Resurgence of Consumer Silicon
by Ramsay Allen on 10-04-2020 at 6:00 am

TSMC 5G OIP 2020

At the recent TSMC OIP Ecosystem Forum and Technology virtual events, TSMC re-affirmed their previous prediction that 5G is going to be a multi-year silicon mega-trend with the biggest drivers being the ramp up of 5G handsets, supporting infrastructure and the continued growth of high performance computing (HPC).

We all want… Read More


From Moore’s Law to Moortec’s Law!

From Moore’s Law to Moortec’s Law!
by Tim Penhale-Jones on 09-20-2020 at 10:00 am

Moortecs Law

No-one likes being put on the spot and yet we all like a forecast…and as we all know, the only guarantee with a forecast is that it is wrong. Sports commentators have carved out a special niche for themselves with the ‘commentators curse’, just as they extol the virtues of an individual or a team, the sporting gods prove them wrong in … Read More


In-Chip Monitoring Helps Manage Data Center Power

In-Chip Monitoring Helps Manage Data Center Power
by Tom Simon on 09-07-2020 at 6:00 am

in-chip sensing

Designers spend plenty of time analyzing the effects of process, voltage and temperature. But everyone knows it’s not enough to simply stop there. Operating environments are tough and have lots of limitations, especially when it comes to power consumption and thermal issues. Thermal protection and even over-voltage protections… Read More


A Historical Case for Precision – or How a Gun Made in a Dungeon Changed the World

A Historical Case for Precision – or How a Gun Made in a Dungeon Changed the World
by Lee Vick on 08-26-2020 at 10:00 am

Flintlock Mechanism Wikipedia

We take for granted today the staggering precision of modern technology. Cars, electronics, robots and medical equipment, all come off the factory floor composed of effortlessly interchangeable parts; but this was not always the case. In the late 18th century most things that required any kind of precision were made by hand, … Read More