MEMS+, Bringing MEMS into the Electronic World

MEMS+, Bringing MEMS into the Electronic World
by Paul McLellan on 09-19-2014 at 1:59 pm

One of the things about MEMS devices is that they almost always live on a chip that also contains the electronics necessary to process the output from the sensor. For example, an on-chip accelerometer for a car airbag deployment will contain the electronics necessary to process the signal from the sensor and end up with something… Read More


GlobalFoundries on the Road

GlobalFoundries on the Road
by Paul McLellan on 09-17-2014 at 5:12 pm

Every year in the fall GlobalFoundries has a series of technical seminars they take on the road around the US. This year it kicks off on Tuesday, October 21 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose. Two days later it is at Dana Point (southern CA) and on the 30th it goes to Austin (you don’t need me to tell you where Austin is, I’m… Read More


Pole Pole All the Way to the Top

Pole Pole All the Way to the Top
by Paul McLellan on 09-13-2014 at 6:25 pm

We made it! I have stood on the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak of Kilimanjaro.

Obviously this blog entry is totally off-topic. If you want to read about semiconductors and stuff, you can skip it.

So how do you get to the top of a nearly 20,000’ mountain? Slowly.

Slowly on two different levels. The first level is giving your body time… Read More


TSMC OIP: Registration Open

TSMC OIP: Registration Open
by Paul McLellan on 09-06-2014 at 9:00 am

It’s that time of year again! The 4th TSMC Open Innovation Platform Ecosystem Forum is coming up on September 30th. As usual it is in the San Jose conference center. The TSMC OIP Ecosystem Forum brings together TSMC’s design ecosystem companies and their customers to share real case solutions to today’s design challenges.… Read More


Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro
by Paul McLellan on 09-05-2014 at 7:01 am

For several weeks I have been trying to put out one blog per day rather than being like London buses where there are none for ages and then three come along at once. Or SFMuni buses for that matter. This week has been more of the same. Well, OK, I skipped labor day because…labor day. All you IC types will be busy eating chips not designing… Read More


Synopsys VC VIP for Memory

Synopsys VC VIP for Memory
by Paul McLellan on 09-04-2014 at 7:01 am

Synopsys have been gradually broadening their portfolio of verification IP (VIP). It is 100% native SystemVerilog with native debug using Verdi (that was acquired from SpringSoft last year, now fully integrated into Verification Compiler). It has native performance with VCS. Going forward there are source code test suites.… Read More


Quicklogic Delivers First Wearable Sensor Hub with Under 150uW Standby

Quicklogic Delivers First Wearable Sensor Hub with Under 150uW Standby
by Paul McLellan on 09-03-2014 at 9:00 am

I have talked before about how the Internet of Things (IoT) doesn’t require enormous power-hungry SoCs. We all accept, or at least put up with, having to recharge our phones daily. But smart pedometers (or whatever a good name for Fitbit-like products are) had better last for a week or two between charges.

Today, Quicklogic… Read More


Big Data, the Cloud and the Internet of (Silicon) Things

Big Data, the Cloud and the Internet of (Silicon) Things
by Paul McLellan on 08-31-2014 at 7:01 am

Next week, eSilicon are kicking off a very widespread survey to measure some important semiconductor design and manufacturing challenges. Their goal is to measure customer sentiment regarding how Big Data, the Cloud and the Internet can impact these challenges. But here’s a secret, the survey is already live and you can… Read More


Improving Complex System Design

Improving Complex System Design
by Paul McLellan on 08-29-2014 at 7:01 am

Next week Mike Jensen of Mentor will present a webinar Improving Complex System Design Reliability and Robustness. The webinar will be presented live twice and presumably available for replay soon after, as is usually the case:

  • September 4th 6.00-6.45am pacific (9pm in Asia, 3pm in most of Europe)
  • September 4th 10.00-10.45am
Read More

Granite River Labs and TSMC Expand Agreement

Granite River Labs and TSMC Expand Agreement
by Paul McLellan on 08-28-2014 at 7:01 am

For several years now, TSMC has run increasingly sophisticated IP validation. Ramping a new process as a foundry requires a number of things to all come together almost simultaneously: the process, of course, and some designs to run and start to recover the huge capital investment a modern fab entails. With many SoCs having over… Read More