I’ve written before about how the automotive industry adheres to functional safety (FS) as defined in the ISO 26262 standard, along with other SemiWiki bloggers. That standard certainly defines the What part of FS, however it doesn’t mandate how you meet the standard, what tools you should be using, file formats … Read More





Fuzzing to Validate SoC Security. Innovation in Verification
Fuzzing is to software verification what randomization is hardware verification. Can a fuzzing approach improve hardware security testing? Paul Cunningham (GM, Verification at Cadence), Raúl Camposano (Silicon Catalyst, entrepreneur, former Synopsys CTO) and I continue our series on research ideas. As always, feedback… Read More
Molecular Sensing for Semiconductor Etch Applications
As process technologies have advanced, the difficulties in performing etch operations have increased. New structures and chemistries have created challenges in monitoring these complex operations. For instance, 3D-NAND structures call for high aspect ratio (HAR) trench etching. Likewise, in addition to involving Al, … Read More
Machine Learning Applied to Increase Fab Yield
Machine learning applications have become pervasive and increasingly complex, from recommendation agents in online interactions to personal assistants for command response to (ultimately) autonomous vehicle control. Yet, an often overlooked facet of machine learning technology is the deployment in industrial process… Read More
Avery Levels Up, Starting with CXL
Let me acknowledge up front that Avery isn’t the most visible EDA company around. If you know of them, you probably know their X-propagation simulator. Widely respected and used, satisfying a specialized need. They have also been quietly building over the years a stable of VIPs and happy customers, with a special focus on VIPs for… Read More
Safety Architecture Verification, ISO 26262
I love to read articles about autonomous vehicles and the eventual goal of reaching level 5, Full Automation, mostly because of the daunting engineering challenges in achieving this feat and all of the technology used in the process. The auto industry already has a defined safety requirements standard called ISO 26262, and one… Read More
WEBINAR: What Makes SoC Compiler The Shortest Path from SoC Design Specification to Logic Synthesis?
Defacto SoC Compiler whose 9.0 release was announced recently automates the SoC design creation from the first project specifications. It covers register handling, IP and connectivity insertion at RTL, UPF and SDC file generation right to logic synthesis. As part of the generation process of RTL and design collaterals, basic… Read More
Supply Issues Limit 2021 Semiconductor Growth
Worldwide semiconductor shipments were $123.1 billion in 1Q 2021, up 3.6% from 4Q 2020 and up 17.8% from a year ago, according to WSTS. The 3.6% quarter-to-quarter growth was the highest for a first quarter since 1Q 2010, eleven years ago. The strong growth in 1Q21 implies strong growth in the following quarters and for the year 2021.… Read More
AMAT Nice Beat Strong Growth for Both 2021 & 2022
-Strong beat & guide- WFE up in 2021 & 2022-$160B combined
-Taking share in conductor etch & CVD
-Traditional Moore Scaling – No More?
-Foundry Logic leads followed by DRAM with weak NAND
Nice beat & guide & raise
Applied reported revenues of $5.58B with GM of 47.5% resulting in non-GAAP EPS of $1.63. … Read More
Podcast EP21: Leading Edge Analog Design
Dan is joined by Mark Williams, founder and CEO of Pulsic. The application of shape-based routing to automate analog design is explored. Pulsic’s revolutionary new automated analog layout system, Animate is also discussed. With this system, multiple, high quality, fully routed layouts can be created in minutes from … Read More
Rapidus, IBM, and the Billion-Dollar Silicon Sovereignty Bet