Coverage analysis is how you answer the question “have I tested enough?” You need some way to quantify the completeness of our testing; coverage is how you do that. Right out of the gate this is a bit deceptive. To truly cover a design our tests would need to cover every accessible state and state transition. The complexity of that task… Read More





Intel and TSMC do not Slow 3nm Expansion
The media has gone wild over a false report that Intel and TSMC are slowing down 3nm. It is all about sensationalism and getting clicks no matter what damage is done to the hardworking semiconductor people, companies and industry as a whole. And like lemmings jumping off a cliff, other less reputable media outlets perpetuated this… Read More
Fast EM/IR Analysis, a new EDA Category
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
Rapidus, IBM, and the Billion-Dollar Silicon Sovereignty Bet