In all the hubbub about AI/ML, it’s easy to see why visual ML gets more attention. It’s got appeal because of applications such as autonomous driving. Because of this it’s easy to overlook the importance of audio ML. I own a Tesla and putting it into autopilot is very cool, but even it has voice recognition built in as an important feature… Read More
Cost, Cycle Time, and Carbon aware TCAD Development of new TechnologiesOur good friend Scotten Jones wrote a paper…Read More
3D ESD verification: Tackling new challenges in advanced IC designBy Dina Medhat Three key takeaways 3D ICs…Read More
Reimagining Architectural Exploration in the Age of AIThis is not about architecting a full SoC…Read MoreThe Quiet Giant in Verification IP and More
In the technology industry, we’re all used to the hype about the latest and greatest. Semiconductor IP participates in the over-drive news cycle from time to time as well. So, when I see a company that has real, solid credentials but has resisted the temptation to over-hype, it gets my attention. I had an experience like this recently… Read More
That Last Level Cache is Pretty Important
Last-level cache seemed to me like one of those, yeah I get it, but sort of obscure technical corners that only uber-geek cache specialists would care about. Then I stumbled on an AnandTech review on the iPhone 11 Pro and Max and started to understand that this contributes to more than just engineering satisfaction.
Caching
A brief… Read More
SPIE 2020 – ASML EUV and Inspection Update
I couldn’t attend the SPIE Advanced Lithography Conference this year for personal reasons, but last week Mike Lercel of ASML was nice enough to walk me through the major ASML presentations from the conference.
Introduction
In late 2018, Samsung and TSMC introduced 7nm foundry logic processes with 5 to 7 EUV layers, throughout … Read More
Design IP Revenue Grew 5.2% in 2019, Good News in Declining Semi Market
Good news is good to hear, particularly these days! The behavior of the Design IP market in 2019 is extremely positive, when the semiconductor market has seen a decline worst than in 2009 (economy crisis) or 2001 (internet bubble collapse). Analysis this 5.2% growth in detail will help to understand the future of the IP market, as… Read More
Short vs Long Term Covid19 Impact
-Short term Covid19 impact is primarily logistics related
-Longer term impact is more systemic/demand driven
-Impact will wind through supply chain over several qtrs
-Other issues, such as trade, remain an overhang
Short term versus long term in the semiconductor industry
The stocks declines over the last months seem to indicate… Read More
Wave Computing and MIPS Wave Goodbye
Word on the virtual street is that Wave Computing is closing down. The company has reportedly let all employees go and will file for Chapter 11. As one of the many promising new companies in the field of AI, Wave Computing was founded in 2008 with the mission “to revolutionize deep learning with real-time AI solutions that scale from… Read More
TSMC COVID-19 and Double Digit Growth in 2020
TSMC has had an incredible run since its founding in 1987 which spans most of my 36 year semiconductor career. Even in these troubled times TSMC is a shining bellwether with double digit growth expectations while the semiconductor industry will be flat or slightly down. Let’s take a close look at the TSMC Q1 2020 conference call and… Read More
Lithography Resolution Limits – Arrayed Features
State-of-the-art chips will always include some portions which are memory arrays, which also happen to be the densest portions of the chip. Arrayed features are the main targets for lithography evaluation, as the feature pitch is well-defined, and is directly linked to the cost scaling (more features per wafer) from generation… Read More
Cadence – Defining a Roadmap to the Future
Cadence recently published a position paper that details a set of enabling technologies that will be needed for product design going forward. Entitled Intelligent System Design, the piece describes the changing landscape of system design and the requirements for success. Cadence has built a branded approach to address these… Read More




Quantum Computing Technologies and Challenges