Static Timing Analysis (STA) has been an EDA tool category for many years now, yet with each new generation of smaller foundry process nodes come new physical effects that impact timing, requiring new analysis features to be added. For advanced process nodes, there are five different types of analysis that must be included when… Read More
Electronic Design Automation
Successful 3DIC design requires an integrated approach
While the leap from traditional SoC/IC designs to Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuits (3DICs) designs brings new benefits and opportunities, it also introduces new challenges. The benefits include performance, power efficiency, footprint reduction and cost savings. The challenges span design, verification, thermal… Read More
IROC at the TSMC Open Innovation Ecosystem Platform
Radiation is everywhere. Radiation contributes to Single Event Effects (SEE) in semiconductor circuits and packaging. As chips get larger, containing more functions, and using lower voltage to reduce power, SEEs have become more significant to product reliability, Failures In Time rates (FIT), and meantime between failures… Read More
Synopsys Debuts RISC-V IP Product Families
Synopsys has just announced that it has expanded its ARC processor portfolio to include a family of RISC-V processors. These will be branded under the ARC name as ARC-V and are expected to become available in 2024. This is a significant announcement which I attempt to unpack briefly below.
Why add RISC-V to the portfolio and why now?
… Read MoreA Fast Path to Better ARC PPA through Fusion Quickstart Implementation Kits and DSO.AI
Synopsys recently presented a webinar on using their own software to optimize one of their own IPs (an ARC HS68 processor) for both performance and power through what looks like a straightforward flow from initial configuration through first level optimization to more comprehensive AI-driven PPA optimization. Also of note … Read More
Make Your RISC-V Product a Fruitful Endeavor
Consider RISC-V ISA as a new ‘unforbidden fruit’. Unlike other fruits (ISAs) that grow in proprietary orchards, RISC-V is available to all, i.e. open-source. Much like a delicious fruit can be transformed into a wide array of delectable desserts, so can RISC-V be utilized to create a plethora of effective applications across … Read More
Webinar: Fast and Accurate High-Sigma Analysis with Worst-Case Points
IC designers are tasked with meeting specifications like robustness in SRAM bit cells where the probability of a violation are lower than 1 part-per-billion (1 ppb). Another example of robustness is a Flip-Flop register that must have a probability of specification violation lower than 1 part-per-million (1 ppm). Using Monte… Read More
Generative AI for Silicon Design – Article 2 (Debug My Waveform)
Generative AI has been making waves across various industries, and its potential continues to expand. Among its many applications, one particularly intriguing area is the capacity of GenAI to explain digital design waveforms and act as a co-pilot for hardware engineers in the debugging process. In this article, we will explore
S2C’s FPGA Prototyping Accelerates the Iteration of XiangShan RISC-V Processor
S2C announced that the Beijing Institute of Open Source Chip (BOSC) adopted its Prodigy S7-19P Logic System, a VU19P-based FPGA prototyping solution, in the development of the “XiangShan” RISC-V processor. S7-19P not only accelerates the iterations of processor development but also simplifies other companies to realize … Read More
Developing Effective Mixed Signal Models. Innovation in Verification
Mixed-signal modeling is becoming more important as interaction between digital and analog circuitry become more closely intertwined. This level of modeling depends critically on sufficiently accurate yet fast behavioral models for analog components. Paul Cunningham (Senior VP/GM, Verification at Cadence), Raúl Camposano… Read More
Rethinking Multipatterning for 2nm Node