ASIC Prototyping with 4M to 96M Gates

ASIC Prototyping with 4M to 96M Gates
by Daniel Payne on 09-17-2012 at 9:30 am

I’ve used Aldec tools like their Verilog simulator (Riviera PRO) when teaching a class to engineers at Lattice Semi, so to get an update about the company I spoke with Dave Rinehart recently by phone. A big product announcement by Aldec today is for their ASIC prototyping system with a capacity range of 4 Million to 96 Million… Read More


SemiWiki on Android

SemiWiki on Android
by Daniel Payne on 09-17-2012 at 8:30 am

This morning I got to try out the new Android app for SemiWiki, so this is something that you will benefit from as you’re on the go with an Android phone and want to stay up to date. It’s an intuitive app, so you’ll be up and running within minutes. My first step was to visit the Play Store, search for the app using “Semiwiki”,… Read More


The Need for OASIS in Post-layout IC Databases

The Need for OASIS in Post-layout IC Databases
by Daniel Payne on 08-31-2012 at 7:20 pm

OASIS is a hierarchical IC file format used for IC designs that is gradually replacing GDS II throughout the mask data stages. The compelling reason for using OASIS has always been the reduction of file size, and speed up of processing times through the use of hierarchy and fewer translation steps.

At the 45nm node an actual M1 layer… Read More


Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide

Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide
by Daniel Payne on 08-29-2012 at 11:14 am

Last week I reviewed Chapter 1 in the new book: Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide, and today I finish up my review of Chapters 2 through 11. You can read the entire book chapter by chapter, or just jump directly to the chapters most related to your design role or project needs. With multiple authors I was impressed with the wide range of… Read More


Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide

Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide
by Daniel Payne on 08-29-2012 at 11:14 am

Last week I reviewed Chapter 1 in the new book: Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide, and today I finish up my review of Chapters 2 through 11. You can read the entire book chapter by chapter, or just jump directly to the chapters most related to your design role or project needs. With multiple authors I was impressed with the wide range ofRead More


Book Review: Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide

Book Review: Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide
by Daniel Payne on 08-23-2012 at 4:00 pm

Almost every SoC has multiple analog blocks so AMS methodology is an important topic to our growing electronics industry. Authored by Jess Chen (Qualcomm), Michael Henrie (Cliosoft), Monte Mar (Boeing) and Mladen Nizic (Cadence), the book is subtitled: Advanced Methodology for AMS IP and SoC Design, Verification and ImplementationRead More


Book Review: Mixed-Signal Methodology guide

Book Review: Mixed-Signal Methodology guide
by Daniel Payne on 08-23-2012 at 4:00 pm

Almost every SoC has multiple analog blocks so AMS methodology is an important topic to our growing electronics industry. Authored by Jess Chen (Qualcomm), Michael Henrie (Cliosoft), Monte Mar (Boeing) and Mladen Nizic (Cadence), the book is subtitled: Advanced Methodology for AMS IP and SoC Design, Verification and ImplementationRead More


ARM + Broadcom + Linux = Raspberry Pi

ARM + Broadcom + Linux = Raspberry Pi
by Daniel Payne on 08-23-2012 at 12:28 am

Broadcom has designed an impressive SOC named the BCM2835 with the following integrated features:

  • ARM CPU at 700MHz
  • GPU – VideoCore IV
  • RAM – 256 MB

The British chaps at Raspberry Pi have created a $35.00 Linux-based computer based on the Broadcom BCM2835 chip that is tiny in size but big in utility:… Read More


SystemVerilog from Nevada?

SystemVerilog from Nevada?
by Daniel Payne on 08-16-2012 at 10:58 am

When I think of EDA companies the first geography that comes to mind is Silicon Valley because of the rich history of semiconductor design and fabrication, being close to your customers always makes sense. In the information era it shouldn’t matter so much where you develop EDA tools, so there has been a gradual shift to a wider… Read More