OTP Memory to Build Smarter Power Management

OTP Memory to Build Smarter Power Management
by Paul McLellan on 08-29-2013 at 11:20 pm

All chips have critical power management requirements, often with multiple supply voltages. Digital power management ICs (PMICs) are commonplace to convert unregulated voltages from batteries and noisy power supplies to fully regulated accurate power to keep even the most sensitive chips performing.

Powervation is a company… Read More


Foundry 2.0: Why It Is Different And Why You Should Care

Foundry 2.0: Why It Is Different And Why You Should Care
by Paul McLellan on 08-29-2013 at 5:22 pm

If you have been to an Ajit Manocha keynote recently, he talks a lot about Foundry 2.0. I covered his keynote at Semicon West in July here. Dan Hutcheson of VLSI Research interviewed Ajit about this new business model to identify it, see how it was different and see how GlobalFoundries were executing the model differently from the … Read More


Imagination Has More Stuff Than You…Imagine

Imagination Has More Stuff Than You…Imagine
by Paul McLellan on 08-29-2013 at 1:04 pm

Imagination seems to be well known for a couple of things. Firstly, everyone knows that it is the graphics processor used in the iPhone and the iPad and lots of other phones. And they know that Imagination acquired MIPS at the start of this year.

But what people don’t seem to really appreciate is just what a huge portfolio of IP… Read More


Ballmer’s Retirement Leaves Nokia High and Dry

Ballmer’s Retirement Leaves Nokia High and Dry
by Paul McLellan on 08-26-2013 at 5:36 pm

It looks to me as if Ballmer’s planned resignation from Microsoft is going to leave Nokia high and dry without an operating system. Because any successor to Ballmer will cancel Windows Phone which has managed to take Microsoft’s penetration in smartphones from 5% before it had a serious partnership with Nokia all … Read More


LSI’s Experience With Formality Ultra

LSI’s Experience With Formality Ultra
by Paul McLellan on 08-26-2013 at 5:36 pm

LSI is an early adopter of Formality Ultra, Synopsys’s tool for improving the entire ECO flow. I already wrote about the basic capability of the tool here. ECOs are changes that come very late in the design cycle, after place and route has already been “nearly” completed. They occur either due to last minute spec… Read More


Intel Really is Delaying 14nm Move-in. 450mm is Slipping Too. EUV, who knows?

Intel Really is Delaying 14nm Move-in. 450mm is Slipping Too. EUV, who knows?
by Paul McLellan on 08-24-2013 at 3:23 pm

I attended the semi-annual SEMI Silicon Valley Lunch meeting last week. The semiconductor equipment people are the ones that really know what is going on. People can talk about capex numbers on conference calls but it is the equipment vendors who either do or do not get orders for particular types of equipment. In turn, the analysts… Read More


Jasper: Negronis on tap

Jasper: Negronis on tap
by Paul McLellan on 08-22-2013 at 6:26 pm

Did you know that Jasper’s Corner Tap in San Francisco serves Negronis on tap? It’s true. They also have Hanky Panky on tap, which is a Negroni with the Campari replaced with Fernet (which everyone pronounces as Frenet despite it being…well…wrong). And here’s another thing you probably didn’t… Read More


Who is One Step Above Colgate and One Below P&G?

Who is One Step Above Colgate and One Below P&G?
by Paul McLellan on 08-21-2013 at 1:13 am

So who do you think is #31 on the list on Forbes list of the most innovative companies in the world? One place above Colgate and one place below Procter and Gamble. Your first thought is probably why am I asking this on a blog covering semiconductors and going on about toothpaste manufacturers. The answer is Dassault Systèmes. Perhaps… Read More


Test, The Forgotten Step-Child of Semiconductor Design

Test, The Forgotten Step-Child of Semiconductor Design
by Paul McLellan on 08-20-2013 at 7:56 pm

Somehow, when designing a chip it is synthesis and place & route that gets all the attention. But it is no good taping out perfect layout without also having away to test the silicon. Somehow, test just isn’t as glamorous.

On September 10-12th is the International Test Conference which, as usual, is at the Disneyland Hotel… Read More


Hogan’s Labor Day Luau

Hogan’s Labor Day Luau
by Paul McLellan on 08-16-2013 at 11:57 am

Jim Hogan is having his annual Heart of Technology charity barbecue at his home in Santa Cruz. This year it is on Saturday August 31st and it’s a luau. It is from 2pm to 8pm at 2171 Sunny Acres Drive, Santa Cruz. Each adult requires a tax-deductible donation of $50 to FleaHab of Santa Cruz County (kids are free).

In addition to Hawaiian… Read More