Big plans for state-of-the-art RF and microwave EDA

Big plans for state-of-the-art RF and microwave EDA
by Don Dingee on 02-13-2023 at 6:00 am

RF front-end components are driving demand for state-of-the-art RF and microwave EDA

RF and microwave design is no longer confined to a few defense and aerospace EEs huddled in dark cubicles working with spreadsheets and primitive circuit simulators. Now, areas like 5G and automotive demand complex RF systems. Advanced RF and microwave EDA tools are taking on electromagnetic (EM), thermal, and power simulation,… Read More


MIPI bridging DSI-2 and CSI-2 Interfaces with an FPGA

MIPI bridging DSI-2 and CSI-2 Interfaces with an FPGA
by Don Dingee on 12-19-2022 at 6:00 am

MIPI specification chart, courtesy MIPI Alliance

We’re so spoiled by 4K and 8K and frame rates of 120 Hz or higher video content on high-performance devices that now, many of us expect these higher resolutions and rates on even small devices. The necessary interfaces exist in MIPI Display Serial Interface 2 (DSI-2) and Camera Serial Interface 2 (CSI-2). The challenge is these interfaces… Read More


eFPGAs handling crypto-agility for SoCs with PQC

eFPGAs handling crypto-agility for SoCs with PQC
by Don Dingee on 12-13-2022 at 6:00 am

Improving crypto-agility using hybrid PQC with ECC

With NIST performing its down-select to four post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms for standardization in July 2022, some uncertainty remains. Starting an SoC with fixed PQC IP right now may be nerve-wracking, with possible PQC algorithm changes before standardization and another round of competition for even more … Read More


WEBINAR: FPGAs for Real-Time Machine Learning Inference

WEBINAR: FPGAs for Real-Time Machine Learning Inference
by Don Dingee on 11-30-2022 at 6:00 am

An server plus an accelerator with FPGAs for real-time machine learning inference reduces costs and energy consumption up to 90 percent

With AI applications proliferating, many designers are looking for ways to reduce server footprints in data centers – and turning to FPGA-based accelerator cards for the job. In a 20-minute session, Salvador Alvarez, Sr. Manager of Product Planning at Achronix, provides insight on the potential of FPGAs for real-time machine… Read More


Selecting a flash controller for storage reliability

Selecting a flash controller for storage reliability
by Don Dingee on 11-14-2022 at 10:00 am

2.5 SSD with Hyperstone X1

Flash memory cards and solid-state drives (SSDs) provide high-performance storage in many devices and systems today. While the flash chips inside cards and SSDs provide raw capacity and performance, they must be combined with an intelligent flash controller to achieve the reliability system designers and consumers need. … Read More


Higher-order QAM and smarter workflows in VSA 2023

Higher-order QAM and smarter workflows in VSA 2023
by Don Dingee on 10-25-2022 at 10:00 am

Higher-order QAM and smarter workflows in a 5G NR example from the Keysight 89600 VSA

3GPP Release 17 and 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) extend modulation complexity, raising the bar for conformance testing and test instrumentation to new levels. The latest release of Keysight PathWave 89600 Vector Signal Analysis 2023 (VSA 2023) software takes on higher-order QAM and smarter workflows, many customer-requested, for … Read More


Advanced EM simulations target conducted EMI and transients

Advanced EM simulations target conducted EMI and transients
by Don Dingee on 09-19-2022 at 6:00 am

Advanced EM simulations yield both conducted and radiated EMI in automotive power integrity analysis

A vital benefit of advanced EM simulations is their ability to take on complicated physical test setups, substituting far easier virtual tests yielding accurate results earlier during design activities. The latest release of Keysight PathWave ADS 2023 continues speeding up engineering workflows. Let’s look at three… Read More


Ultra-efficient heterogeneous SoCs for Level 5 self-driving

Ultra-efficient heterogeneous SoCs for Level 5 self-driving
by Don Dingee on 09-14-2022 at 6:00 am

Ultra-efficient heterogeneous SoCs target the AI processing pipeline for Level 5 self-driving

The latest advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like Mercedes’ Drive Pilot and Tesla’s FSD perform SAE Level 3 self-driving, with the driver ready to take back control if the vehicle calls for it. Reaching Level 5 – full, unconditional autonomy – means facing a new class of challenges unsolvable with existing technology… Read More


WEBINAR The Rise of the SmartNIC

WEBINAR The Rise of the SmartNIC
by Don Dingee on 09-08-2022 at 10:00 am

Achronix Webinar - Rise of the SmartNIC

A recent live discussion between experts Scott Schweitzer, Director of SmartNIC Product Planning with Achronix, and Jon Sreekanth, CTO of Accolade Technology, looked at the idea behind the rise of the SmartNIC and ran an “ask us anything” session fielding audience questions about the technology and its use cases.

Three phases

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A faster prototyping device-under-test connection

A faster prototyping device-under-test connection
by Don Dingee on 08-30-2022 at 6:00 am

ProtoBridge from S2C provides a high bandwidth prototyping device-unider-test connection

When discussing FPGA-based prototyping, we often focus on how to pour IP from a formative SoC design into one or more FPGAs so it can be explored and verified before heading off to a foundry where design mistakes get expensive. There’s also the software development use case, jumpstarting coding for the SoC before silicon … Read More