Morris Chang Comments on Q2 2012: 28nm, 20nm, 16nm, FinFets, CAPEX, etc…

Morris Chang Comments on Q2 2012: 28nm, 20nm, 16nm, FinFets, CAPEX, etc…
by Daniel Nenni on 07-19-2012 at 5:42 pm

Twenty eight nanometer is progressing very well. Our output and our yields are both above the plans that we set for ourselves and the plans that we communicated to our customers early in the year. Early in the year means January-February of the year, we set our plans in output and in yields and we, of course, ever since then we tried toRead More


TSMC Reports Second Highest Quarterly Profit!

TSMC Reports Second Highest Quarterly Profit!
by Daniel Nenni on 07-19-2012 at 5:23 am

We all knew this quarter would be big but maybe not this big. Not all good news though so keep on reading. The news coverage is all over the map, mostly because they have no idea what a pure-play foundry really is. They also underestimate the power of mobile computing which should be a “Revenue by Application” market segment itself. … Read More


Design-to-Silicon Platform Workshops!

Design-to-Silicon Platform Workshops!
by Daniel Nenni on 07-17-2012 at 7:30 pm

Have you seen the latest design rule manuals? At 28nm and 20nm design sign-off is no longer just DRC and LVS. These basic components of physical verification are being augmented by an expansive set of yield analysis and critical feature identification capabilities, as well as layout enhancements, printability, and performance… Read More


How has 20nm Changed the Semiconductor Ecosystem?

How has 20nm Changed the Semiconductor Ecosystem?
by Daniel Nenni on 07-15-2012 at 7:30 pm


What does mango beer have to do with semiconductor design and manufacturing? At a table of beer drinkers from around the world I would have never thought fruity beer would pass a taste test, not even close. As it turns out, the mango beer is very good! Same goes for 20nm planar devices. “Will not work”, “Will not yield”, “Will not scale”,… Read More


Scoreboards and Results Predictors in UVM

Scoreboards and Results Predictors in UVM
by Daniel Nenni on 07-15-2012 at 10:56 am

If verification is the art of determining that your design works correctly under all specified conditions, then it is imperative that we are able to create an environment that can tell you if this is truly the case.

Scoreboards are verification components that determine that the DUT is working correctly, including ensuring that… Read More


Enabling 3D-IC Integration

Enabling 3D-IC Integration
by Daniel Nenni on 07-10-2012 at 9:00 pm

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As 2D device scaling becomes impractical, 3D-IC integration is emerging as the natural evolution of semiconductor technology; it is the convergence of performance, power and functionality. Some of the benefits of 3D-IC, such as increasing complexity, improved performance, reducing power consumption and decreasing footprints,… Read More


High-Productivity Analog Verification and Debug

High-Productivity Analog Verification and Debug
by Daniel Nenni on 07-08-2012 at 10:40 pm

See how Synopsys’ advanced analog verification solution can dramatically increase your verification productivity with CustomExplorer Ultra, along with CustomSim and CustomSim-VCS. CustomExplorer Ultra is a comprehensive simulation and debug environment for analog and mixed-signal design verification.

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DAC 2012 Cheerleader Controversy!

DAC 2012 Cheerleader Controversy!
by Daniel Nenni on 07-08-2012 at 9:00 pm

First, I must say that I’m biased. I like Cheerleaders, they are lots of fun, I even married one. Second, I’m not a fan of Peggy Aycinena. She has been on her EDA feminist rant for years now and I have been targeted multiple times. My solution has been to ignore her and any publication that supports her but this time she has gone too far.… Read More


TSMC: Production Proven Design Services Driving SoC Innovation!

TSMC: Production Proven Design Services Driving SoC Innovation!
by Daniel Nenni on 07-06-2012 at 8:30 pm

One of the truisms of today’s disaggregated semiconductor design and manufacturing model is counter-intuitive to the do-it-yourself focus that is at the heart of every engineer. And yet, time and time again, success rewards those who understand that with today’s ever increasing complexity, it is difficult, if… Read More


Synopsys IP Strategy 2012

Synopsys IP Strategy 2012
by Daniel Nenni on 07-01-2012 at 7:30 pm

Synopsys is the dominant player in the commercial EDA and semiconductor IP markets so it is always interesting to hear what John Koeter, Vice President of Marketing for IP, Services and System Level Solutions, has to say. John presented “The Role of IP in a Changing Landscape” at the SemiCO IMPACT Conference and I talked to him again… Read More