Adapting an embedded FPGA for Aerospace Applications

Adapting an embedded FPGA for Aerospace Applications
by Tom Dillinger on 01-30-2018 at 4:00 pm

The IC industry is commonly divided into different market segments – consumer, mobile, industrial, commercial, medical, automotive, and aerospace. A key differentiation among these segments is the characterization and reliability qualification strategy for the fabrication process and design circuitry. For each segment,… Read More


Scoreboard and Issues Management Tools for PCB Projects

Scoreboard and Issues Management Tools for PCB Projects
by Tom Dillinger on 01-16-2018 at 12:00 pm

The complexity of an SoC design necessitates that the project managers have accurate visibility into the overall design status, spanning the entire range of tasks – from functional simulation error triage, to physical layout verification errors, to electrical analysis results. Flow scripts used by SoC teams parse the log file… Read More


"The Year of the eFPGA" 2017 Recap

"The Year of the eFPGA" 2017 Recap
by Tom Dillinger on 12-22-2017 at 7:00 am

This past January, I had postulated that 2017 would be the “Year of the Embedded FPGA”, as a compelling IP offering for many SoC designs (link). As the year draws to a close, I thought it would be interesting to see how that prediction turned out.

The criteria that would be appropriate metrics include: increasing capital investment;… Read More


Timing Analysis for Embedded FPGA’s

Timing Analysis for Embedded FPGA’s
by Tom Dillinger on 10-25-2017 at 7:00 am

The initial project planning for an SoC design project faces a difficult engineering decision with regards to the “margin” that should be included as part of timing closure. For cell-based blocks, the delay calculation algorithms within the static timing analysis (STA) flow utilize various assumptions to replaceRead More


Design for Manufacturability Analysis for PCB’s

Design for Manufacturability Analysis for PCB’s
by Tom Dillinger on 09-29-2017 at 7:00 am

Chip designers are familiar with the additional physical design checking requirements that were incorporated into flows at advanced process nodes. With the introduction of optical correction and inverse lithography technology applied during mask data generation, and with the extension of a 193nm exposure source to finerRead More


Embedded FPGA IP as a Post-Silicon Debugger

Embedded FPGA IP as a Post-Silicon Debugger
by Tom Dillinger on 09-08-2017 at 12:00 pm

The hardware functionality of a complex SoC is difficult to verify. Embedded software developed for a complex, multi-core SoC is extremely difficult to verify. An RTOS may need to be ported and validated. Application software needs to be developed, and optimized for performance. Sophisticated methodologies are employed to… Read More


Project Management Tools for Analog IP Verification

Project Management Tools for Analog IP Verification
by Tom Dillinger on 09-05-2017 at 12:00 pm

Large SoC design teams typically have a cadre of project managers to oversee all facets of functional verification — e.g., specification, reviews, directed testbench development, automated (pseudorandom) testcase generation, HDL coverage measurement and reporting, and bug identification/tracking database management.… Read More


Extraction Features for 7nm

Extraction Features for 7nm
by Tom Dillinger on 08-21-2017 at 12:00 pm

Frequent Semiwiki readers are familiar with the importance of close collaboration between the foundries and EDA tool developers, to provide the crucial features required by new process nodes. Perhaps the best illustration of the significance of this collaboration is the technical evolution of layout parasitic extraction.… Read More


Automotive IC Design Requires a Unique EDA Tool Emphasis

Automotive IC Design Requires a Unique EDA Tool Emphasis
by Tom Dillinger on 08-14-2017 at 12:00 pm

Semiwiki readers are no doubt very familiar with the increasing impact of the automotive market on the semiconductor industry. The magnitude and complexity of the electronic systems that will be integrated into upcoming vehicle designs reflects the driver automation, safety, and entertainment features that are in growing… Read More