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Verifying DRC Decks and Design Rule Specifications

Verifying DRC Decks and Design Rule Specifications
by Daniel Nenni on 02-19-2014 at 8:00 am

DRVerify is part of the iDRM design rule compiler platform from Sage DA, something that I have been personally involved with for the past three years. DRVerify is mainly used to verify third party design rule check (DRC) decks and ensure that they correctly, completely and accurately represent the design rule specification. In… Read More


The Future of Money is Digital – BitCoin Introduction

The Future of Money is Digital – BitCoin Introduction
by Sam Beal on 02-18-2014 at 5:00 pm

By now most people who read or listen to the news know something about Bitcoin (BTC). Most people have the perception that it is either the currency of crime or speculation. Put aside the perceptions and consider this. When is the last time you saw someone write a check in the grocery store, especially someone under 60? Today’s… Read More


Smart cards hard for the US to figure out?

Smart cards hard for the US to figure out?
by Don Dingee on 02-18-2014 at 3:30 pm

Every once in a while, I just scratch my head and wonder just what in the wide, wide world of tech is going on. More than ever, it seems the big barriers to adoption aren’t a lack of technology – instead, barriers come from a system that staunchly defends the old way of doing things, even when the participants are battered, broken, and … Read More


Verification of Power Delivery Networks

Verification of Power Delivery Networks
by Paul McLellan on 02-18-2014 at 2:43 pm

Power delivery networks (PDN) are the metal structures on a chip that delivers the power. In a high-end desktop SoC this might be delivering as much as 150W, and with voltages around 1V that means over 150 amps of current. Clearly getting the PDN correct is critical for a correctly functioning chip. One of the challenges to verifying… Read More


Is Smartphone Market Maturing?

Is Smartphone Market Maturing?
by Pawan Fangaria on 02-17-2014 at 12:00 pm

Yes and No, in my view. Yes to a certain extent, considering that most of the people in developed world have more than one (may be with dual sim card) phone; and No, considering the vast untapped market in the third world countries of Asia and Africa. In India, although much of the population (who can afford a phone) has phone, but not … Read More


HDMI, DisplayPort, MHL IPs + Engineering Team = Good Move

HDMI, DisplayPort, MHL IPs + Engineering Team = Good Move
by Eric Esteve on 02-17-2014 at 10:18 am

This news is certainly not as amazing that the acquisition of MIPS by Imagination, or Arteris by Qualcomm… but it shows that Cadence is building a complete Interface IP port-folio, brick after brick. The result will be that a complete wall is being built on the Synopsys road to monopoly and complete success on Interface IP market.… Read More


Dr. Cliff Hou, TSMC VP of R&D, Keynote

Dr. Cliff Hou, TSMC VP of R&D, Keynote
by Daniel Nenni on 02-16-2014 at 9:00 am

This will be my 30[SUP]th[/SUP] Design Automation Conference. I know this because my first DAC was the same year I got married and forgetting how many years you have been married can cost you half your stuff. I have known Cliff Hou for half of that time and he has proven to be one of the most humble and honorable men I have worked with, definitely.… Read More


Speeding Up AMS Verification by Modeling with Real Numbers

Speeding Up AMS Verification by Modeling with Real Numbers
by Daniel Payne on 02-15-2014 at 7:00 pm

My first introduction to modeling an AMS behavior using a language was back in the 1980’s at Silicon Compilers using the Lsim simulator. Around the same time the VHDL and Verilog languages emerged to handle the modeling of both digital and some analog behaviors. The big reason to model analog behavior with a language is for… Read More


Power Control Moving into Hardware

Power Control Moving into Hardware
by Paul McLellan on 02-14-2014 at 6:30 pm

Sonics have been building networks-on-chips (NoCs) for a long time and have amassed a rich patent portfolio. So being granted a new one isn’t usually deemed press-release-worthy. However, their latest patent on power management is pretty significant. It is patent 8,601,288 titled “Intelligent Power Controller”.

Historically… Read More


Happy Birthday Xilinx

Happy Birthday Xilinx
by Luke Miller on 02-14-2014 at 4:00 pm

I have never done this before, wished a company happy birthday. So here goes, Happy Birthday Xilinx! How does it feel to be 30? Looking good eh? Signing up for AARP? My family and I just sang and had cake and ice cream. They did look at me like I was nuts when I set a place at the table for a Xilinx FPGA. In all seriousness, over the years Xilinx… Read More