Synopsys announced their quarterly results this afternoon. It is the end of their Q3 (yes, they are not on the regular calendar year. Neither, for that matter, is Mentor who announce tomorrow). On the earnings call Aart started off:Good afternoon. I’m happy to report that our third quarter results were very strong, as we achieved… Read More
Why IP Quality and Governance Are Essential in Modern Chip DesignBy Kamal Khan In today’s semiconductor industry, success…Read More
U.S. Electronics Production GrowingU.S. electronics production has been on an accelerating…Read More
Inference Acceleration from the Ground UpVSORA, a pioneering high-tech company, has engineered a…Read More
AI-Driven DRC Productivity Optimization: Revolutionizing Semiconductor DesignThe semiconductor industry is undergoing a transformative shift…Read More
Emulator-Like Simulation Acceleration on GPUs. Innovation in VerificationGPUs have been proposed before to accelerate logic…Read MoreMy Tryst with Semiconductors and EDA
Yes, today I realize it feels like a tryst with semiconductors. In actual meaning; it wasn’t a love affair with semiconductors, but I must say the greatest thing it taught me about how it approaches towards perfection. And that became the guiding principle in my life; how can I do something better. Of course nothing is perfect in life… Read More
Seeing Firsthand How the Internet has Changed Traveling
We hear a lot of talk about the internet improving our lives, but most of the time this translates into time spent on FaceBook, shopping on Amazon or other distractions. However, on our just completed trip to Europe I discovered how mobile internet connectivity can transform the experience of traveling.
At home when I drive places… Read More
Only One Type of OEM Seems to Work in EDA
OEM agreements don’t seem to work in EDA. Sometimes they are signed but usually they turn out to be closer to joint marketing agreements. The reason seems to be that EDA software is complex and requires high-touch support especially when getting the product first installed and introduced into a production flow. The effect… Read More
EVS Codec: The Next Big Thing in Mobile Voice
What is the next big thing in LTE-based 4G mobile networks? Apparently, it’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) these days, especially after 3GPP has released the Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) codec that industry watchers call a breakthrough in audio and voice communications.
Long Term Evolution or LTE is the first cellular system… Read More
CEVA achieves first certified Bluetooth 4.2 IP
SoC designers working on chips for the IoT and wearables now have access to cutting-edge certified Bluetooth Smart technology from CEVA. At Bluetooth ASIA in Shanghai, CEVA announced the RivieraWaves Bluetooth Smart 4.2 IP Platform has achieved full certification by the Bluetooth SIG to the Bluetooth 4.2 specification using… Read More
Jen-Tai Hsu Joins Kilopass and Looks to the Future of Memories
Kilopass has a new VP of engineering, Jen-Tai Hsu. I sat down with him last week to find out where he came from and where he and Kilopass are going.
He grew up in Taiwan and went to National Taiwan University where he studied electrical engineering. Then he came to the US and went to Case Western Reserve University to get a masters degree,… Read More
My Top Ten Regrets if I were Dying?
As birthday #55 rapidly approaches I say to myself: Self, if I were dying what would be my regrets? The first thing I did was ask The Google because I’m not coming up with anything really interesting myself. Also, it really isn’t a pressing problem for me as my life expectancy has increased quite a bit over the last 30 years, or so I’m told.… Read More
Designing for Variation
There is a widespread phenomenon in designing chips that new effects creep up on you. First they are so small you can ignore them. Then you can add a little pessimism to your timing budget or whatever gets affected. But eventually the effects go from second order to first order. You certainly can’t ignore them, and the guard … Read More
GaN Technology for the Connected Car
GaN technology is disruptive, in the best sense of the word, making possible what was once thought to be impossible – eGaN® technology is 10 times faster, significantly smaller, and with higher performance at costs comparable to silicon-based MOSFETs. The inevitability of GaN displacing the aging power MOSFET is becoming clearer… Read More


Intel to Compete with Broadcom and Marvell in the Lucrative ASIC Business