Semiconductor IP Make the World Go Round!

Semiconductor IP Make the World Go Round!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-16-2014 at 3:00 pm

Semiconductor IP really does make the life of a semiconductor professional much easier which is why Google brings us so much IP traffic. If you look at the SemiWiki analytics, IP has always been a top draw. In comparison to standard EDA traffic, IP gets about 25% more views per blog on average. Synopsys is not only the leading EDA company… Read More


Semiconductor IP Information Flow!

Semiconductor IP Information Flow!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-13-2014 at 9:00 pm

One of the biggest challenges in the IP business, or any other business for that matter, is managing the information flow. Semiconductor IP is a critical piece of the fabless semiconductor ecosystem so anybody and everybody can write about it. Unfortunately, anybody and everybody ARE writing about it. From day one IP has been a … Read More


Who is REALLY Using TSMC 16FF+?

Who is REALLY Using TSMC 16FF+?
by Daniel Nenni on 11-12-2014 at 7:00 am

As I wrote last week there is a whole list of companies on LinkedIn with people working on TSMC 16nm. Today TSMC released a list of customers that have risk production 16FF+ silicon. Most of us knew this already but now we can talk about it in more detail. This is a really big deal for the FinFET doubters out there. Just because Intel had… Read More


What is up with CEVA?!?!?!

What is up with CEVA?!?!?!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-10-2014 at 7:00 pm

Semiconductor IP is definitely driving the rapid mobile expansion we are experiencing today and CEVA is a glaring example of that. Mobile design cycles are a fraction of what they used to be so who has time to create, integrate, AND validate your own IP blocks, especially at multiple foundries?


Just a little background, CEVA is really… Read More


Who is Using Samsung 14nm?

Who is Using Samsung 14nm?
by Daniel Nenni on 11-09-2014 at 7:00 am

As I have mentioned before, there are very few secrets in Silicon Valley. Just last week I was minding my own business at a Starbucks when I overheard two engineers complaining about Samsung 14nm shuttles being delayed. They had badges on but I won’t out them because it could have easily been any of the fabless companies in Silicon … Read More


Semiconductor Safety

Semiconductor Safety
by Daniel Nenni on 11-06-2014 at 7:00 am

Semiconductors and automotive are now like peanut butter and jelly. Certainly you can have one without the other but why would you? I remember when a car first talked to me telling me that the door was ajar. It sounded more like, “the door is a jar” but I got the point. Now my car tells me just about everything including what is wrong with… Read More


Samsung 14nm is the one delayed!

Samsung 14nm is the one delayed!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-05-2014 at 6:00 am

As you may have read, the CEO of Ultratech made some unfortunate statements on the recent quarterly conference call in regards to FinFET Yield. As a result there has been a lot of speculation about the who, what, and why. I blogged about it because it interested me personally plus I wanted to collect more data on the subject. Some of … Read More


Let the FinFET Yield Controversy Begin!

Let the FinFET Yield Controversy Begin!
by Daniel Nenni on 11-03-2014 at 8:00 am

It never ceases to amaze me how people point fingers and create controversy to cover their mistakes. It happened at 40nm, 28nm, and again at 20nm and now it is time for the regularly scheduled yield controversy. Of course any conversation about semiconductor yield generates clicks for SemiWiki so I’m happy to play along.

It generally… Read More


Semiconductor IP Forecast 2014 – 2020

Semiconductor IP Forecast 2014 – 2020
by Daniel Nenni on 11-01-2014 at 10:00 pm

Given that the majority of my 30+ years in Silicon Valley has revolved around semiconductor IP it should be of no surprise that IP is a big part of SemiWiki and our first book “Fabless: The Transformation of the Semiconductor Industry”. That is also why one of my first round blogger draft choices was IP expert Dr. Eric Esteve. Eric has… Read More


The GF IBM Deal Explained!

The GF IBM Deal Explained!
by Daniel Nenni on 10-28-2014 at 10:00 pm

I have it on pretty good authority that IBM has in fact come to terms with GlobalFoundries on the sale of their semiconductor business, or so I blogged last month. Did I mention that my grandparents and their many siblings settled in Upstate NY in the early 1900s from Italy via Ellis Island? So yes, I do qualify as an insider:

Insider Read More