I’ve watched the SPICE market segment into multiple approaches, like: Classic SPICE, Parallel SPICE, FastSPICE and Analog FastSPICE. In a similar fashion the same thing just happened to EM/IR analysis, because after years of waiting we finally have a different approach to EM/IR analysis that works at the top-level of … Read More




EUV’s Pupil Fill and Resist Limitations at 3nm
The 3nm node is projected to feature around a 22 nm metal pitch [1,2]. This poses some new challenges for the use of EUV lithography. Some challenges are different for the 0.33NA vs. 0.55NA systems.
0.33 NA
For 0.33 NA systems, 22 nm pitch can only be supported by illumination filling 4% of the pupil, well below the 20% lower limit for
What’s Wrong with Robotaxis?
For some reason the obsession with robotaxis persists throughout the world and throughout the transportation industry. The collective conventional wisdom appears to be that getting rid of the human drivers of taxis and letting these vehicles freely operate presumably around the clock will save money and the environment.… Read More
KLAC same triple threat headwinds Supply, Economy & China
-KLA sings same cautionary song as LRCX (with Intel Chorus)
-Sees similar softening of WFE & second half
-Same Government “notice” on China/14NM – Same supply ills
-We remain concerned about share loss in patterning
Deja Vue, all over again- Great QTR & Guide amid caution & softening
KLAC reported… Read More
The Semiconductor Market Downturn Has Started
What we alone said would surely happen, but what was widely denied by the industry, was confirmed with June’s WSTS Blue Book report. Right on cue with our December 2021 forecast, the current semiconductor Super Cycle is finally drawing to a close and the 17th market downturn has now well and truly started.
The Macro Evidence
At the… Read More
Podcast EP98: How Menta is revolutionizing embedded FPGA deployment
Dan is joined by Dr. Yoan Dupret, the Managing Director and CTO of Menta – a leader in embedded FPGA IP cores for chips and smart sensors. Yoan explores the impact Menta’s embedded FPGAs are having on current designs. The reasons for Menta’s success and where the impact will be in the future are both discussed as well.… Read More
How TSMC Contributed to the Death of 450mm and Upset Intel in the Process
Pinpointing exactly when 450mm died is tricky. Intel’s pullback in 2014 has been cited as a pivotal moment because it was the main backer of the proposed transition, as it had been for the shift to 150mm (6-inch) wafers in the early 1980s.
However, the participation of global foundry leader TSMC was also seen as crucial if 450mm wafers… Read More
LRCX – Great QTR and guide but gathering China storm
-Lam reports record QTR and great guide amid growing anxiety
-Weakness has not yet trickled down to Lam’s order book
-Company contacted by US government on new China restrictions
-Combination of supply issues/China/economy cut WFE view
Numbers are great
Lam reported revenues of $4.64B and EPS of $8.83 which represented… Read More
DSP IP for High Performance Sensor Fusion on an Embedded Budget
Whether we realize it or not, everyday applications we use depend on data gathered by sensors. We can bet that pretty much every application uses at least a couple of different types of sensors, if not more. That is because different types of sensors are better suited to collect data depending on the application, the environment … Read More
SEMICON West 2022 and the Imec Roadmap
SEMICON West 2022 was held from July 12th to 14th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
On Monday the 11th before the show, Imec held a technology forum at the Marriott Marquee right around the corner from the Moscone center. In recent years the Imec forums have shifted away from the process technology I cover to more of a system and… Read More
Weebit Nano Moves into the Mainstream with Customer Adoption