Despite NoCs being finely tuned in legacy subsystems, when subsystems are connected in larger designs or even across multi-die structures, differing traffic policies and system-level delays between NoCs can introduce new opportunities for deadlocks, livelocks and other hazards. Paul Cunningham (GM, Verification at Cadence),… Read More
Author: Bernard Murphy
Bug Hunting in NoCs. Innovation in Verification
The Future of Logic Equivalence Checking
Logic equivalence checking (LEC) is an automated process to verify that modified versions of a design evolving through implementation remain logically equivalent to the functionally signed-off RTL. This becomes important when accounting for retiming optimizations and for necessary implementation-stage ECOs which must… Read More
Theorem Proving for Multipliers. Innovation in Verification
An explosion in multiplier types/combinations lacking well-established C reference models for equivalence checking is prompting a closer look at theorem proving methods for verification. Paul Cunningham (GM, Verification at Cadence), Raúl Camposano (Silicon Catalyst, entrepreneur, former Synopsys CTO and now Silvaco… Read More
A New Class of Accelerator Debuts
I generally like to start my blogs with an application-centric viewpoint; what end-application is going to become faster, lower power or whatever because of this innovation? But sometimes an announcement defies such an easy classification because it is broadly useful. That’s the case for a recent release from Quadric, based… Read More
Accelerating Analog Signoff with Parasitics
An under-appreciated but critical component in signing off the final stage of chip design for manufacture is timing closure – aligning accurate timing based on final physical implementation with the product specification. Between advanced manufacturing processes and growing design sizes, the most important factors determining… Read More
Production AI is Taking Off But Not Where You Think
AI for revolutionary business applications grabs all the headlines but real near-term growth is already happening, in consumer devices and in IoT. For good reason. These applications may be less eye-catching but are eminently practical: background noise cancellation in earbuds and hearing aids, keyword and command ID in voice… Read More
Insights into Automotive AI in China
Now that claims and counter claims about advances in foundational AI seem to be dying down, it becomes more interesting to look at the next wave – AI applications in key markets. Figuring out what is really happening here presents its own problems. Marketing and analyst literature still projects unbounded promise (now dialed back… Read More
Novelty-Based Methods for Random Test Selection. Innovation in Verification
Coverage improvement effectiveness through randomized testing declines as total coverage improves. Attacking stubborn holes in coverage could be augmented through learned novel test guidance to random test selection. Paul Cunningham (GM, Verification at Cadence), Raúl Camposano (Silicon Catalyst, entrepreneur, former… Read More
System VIPs are to PSS as Apps are to Formal
In the formal world the core technology is extremely powerful, and specialist users need full access to tackle difficult problems. But for many applications, teams prefer canned solutions built on the core technology yet scalable to non-experts. A similar dynamic appears to be playing out between System VIPs and PSS. PSS, the… Read More
Automotive Autonomy’s Quiet Advance Through Radar
Given false starts and OEM strategic retreats you could be forgiven for thinking that the autonomous personal car dream is now a lost cause. But that’s not quite true. While moonshot goals have been scaled back or are running under wraps, applications continue to advance, for adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, automatic… Read More
The Journey of Interface Protocols: The Evolution of Interface Protocols – Part 1 of 2