What the #3 EDA company is showing at #53DAC this year

What the #3 EDA company is showing at #53DAC this year
by Daniel Payne on 05-29-2016 at 12:00 pm

I live in Tualatin, Oregon just a few miles away from the corporate headquarters of the #3 EDA company in the world, Mentor Graphics. Since DAC is fast approaching, I thought it would be useful to give you a quick overview of what Mentor is going to be talking about in Austin, Texas during June 5-9. … Read More


Power Noise Sign-off at #53DAC

Power Noise Sign-off at #53DAC
by Daniel Payne on 05-29-2016 at 7:00 am

When I hear the company name of ANSYS the first EDA tool category that comes to mind is power noise sign-off. Going to DAC is a great way to find out what’s new with EDA, IP and foundries. There are three places that you can find ANSYS at DAC this year:… Read More


SRAM Optimization for 14nm and 28nm FDSOI

SRAM Optimization for 14nm and 28nm FDSOI
by Daniel Payne on 05-16-2016 at 4:00 pm

I’ve done SRAM and DRAM design before as a circuit designer from 1978-1986, but in 2016 there are so many more challenges to using 28nm and 14nm on FDSOI technology. One way to keep abreast of SRAM design is to read conference papers, so I just finished a paper from authors at STMicroelectronics and MunEDA presented at the IEEE… Read More


Seven Reasons to Attend DAC in Austin

Seven Reasons to Attend DAC in Austin
by Daniel Payne on 05-06-2016 at 7:00 am

I’m attending the 53rd Design Automation Conference (DAC) in Austin, Texas starting June 5th, and there are at least seven reasons that you should consider attending as well. For decades now DAC has been the premier place for all the players in our semiconductor ecosystem to get together: Academics, Commercial vendors … Read More


Eight Improvements for PCB Software

Eight Improvements for PCB Software
by Daniel Payne on 05-04-2016 at 12:00 pm

I first met John Durbetaki at Intel in Aloha, Oregon and we both had a keen interest in the nascent personal computer industry. My first PC was made by Radio Shack and dubbed the TRS-80 which maxed out at 48KB of RAM. I kept watch on Durbetaki as he left Intel and formed his own company OrCAD in 1985 to serve the needs of PC-based CAD software.… Read More


Process Development, CAD and Circuit Design

Process Development, CAD and Circuit Design
by Daniel Payne on 04-29-2016 at 7:00 am

Working at Intel as a circuit designer I clearly remember how there were three distinct groups: Process Development, CAD and Circuit Design. Each of the groups sat in a different part of the building in Aloha Oregon, we had different job titles, different degrees, spoke with different acronyms and yet we all had to work together … Read More


Static Timing Analysis Keeps Pace with FinFET

Static Timing Analysis Keeps Pace with FinFET
by Daniel Payne on 04-22-2016 at 12:00 pm

At SemiWiki we’ve been blogging for several years now on the semiconductor design challenges of FinFET technology and how it requires new software approaches to help chip designers answer fundamental questions about timing, power, area and design closure. When you mention the phrase Static Timing Analysis (STA) probably… Read More


Singularity, Semiconductors and Software

Singularity, Semiconductors and Software
by Daniel Payne on 04-15-2016 at 12:00 pm

One of my all-time favorite movies is 2001 A Space Odyssey where one of the leading roles is an AI-based system aboard a spacecraft named Hal that is designed to be a perfect machine yet makes a mistake and then cascades into assaulting and eliminating the human crew members. The future time when semiconductors and software combine… Read More


3D TCAD Simulation of Silicon Power Devices

3D TCAD Simulation of Silicon Power Devices
by Daniel Payne on 04-07-2016 at 12:00 pm

Process and device engineers are some of the unsung heroes in our semiconductor industry that have the daunting task of figuring out how to actually create a new process node that will fit some specific, market niche with sufficient yield to make their companies profitable and stand out from the competition. One such market segment… Read More


IoT or Smart Everything?

IoT or Smart Everything?
by Daniel Payne on 03-31-2016 at 12:00 pm

I just attended a keynote presentation at SNUG from Aart de Geus, CEO of Synopsys. This event is well attended with some 2,500 people that are learning from the 96 presentations on all things Synopsys, semiconductor. IP, and foundry trends. There are big name sponsors like: GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Samsung, socioeconomic, TSMC, Fujitsu,… Read More