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Avoiding layout related variability issues

Avoiding layout related variability issues
by Daniel Nenni on 05-26-2013 at 7:55 am

In advanced process technologies, electrical and timing problems due to variability can become a big issue. Due to various processing effects, a circuit performance (both speed and power) is dependent on specific layout attributes and can vary a lot from instance to instance. The accumulated effects can be severe to the point… Read More


Heart of Technology Heads to DAC in Austin

Heart of Technology Heads to DAC in Austin
by Randy Smith on 05-25-2013 at 2:45 pm

With the support of the Heart of Technology, one of the big events this year at DAC will be the Kickin’ It Up in Austin celebration on June 3, at the amazing, world famous Austin City Limits Live! The event starts at 8:00 PM, runs until 1:00 AM and features three bands – 9-time Grammy winner Asleep at the Wheel; Vista Roads, an industry… Read More


DAC50 App for iPhone Now Available

DAC50 App for iPhone Now Available
by Paul McLellan on 05-24-2013 at 8:24 pm

This year’s version of Bill Deegan’s DAC App for iPhone is now available for download from the iTunes App Store. The App has the entire calendar included, and makes it easy to add any interesting looking event to your calendar. The whole exhibit hall can be searched and there is a zoomable map of the exhibit hall.

I have… Read More


Bringing Sanity to Analog IC Design Verification

Bringing Sanity to Analog IC Design Verification
by Daniel Payne on 05-24-2013 at 1:07 pm

Two weeks ago I blogged about analog verification and it started a discussion with 16 comments, so l’ve found that our readers have an interest in this topic. For decades now the Digital IC design community has used and benefited from regression testing as a way to measure both design quality and progress, ensuring that first… Read More


The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things
by Paul McLellan on 05-24-2013 at 1:02 am

There is a lot of talk about the Internet of Things (IoT) about how everything is going to be connected to the internet. For some reason the archetypal example is a refrigerator that knows what you are nearly out of and puts it on your shopping list. Or orders it from the store. Or something. This seems like pretty high on the list of things… Read More


PinPoint in Practice

PinPoint in Practice
by Paul McLellan on 05-23-2013 at 10:40 pm

I talked with a mystery person earlier this week. I would love to tell you his (or her) name and the company he (or she) works for but they are the sort of company that doesn’t casually endorse any suppliers so it all has to remain anonymous. But they have been a customer of Pinpoint, originally from Tuscany Design Automation until… Read More


Do my tests certify the quality of my products?

Do my tests certify the quality of my products?
by Pawan Fangaria on 05-23-2013 at 9:00 pm

Honestly speaking, there is no firm answer to this question, and often when we get confronted by our customers, we talk about the coverage reports. The truth is a product with high rate of coverage can very easily fail in customer environment. Of course coverage is important, and to be clear about the fact that the failure is not because… Read More


It’s all in the details of FPGA requirements management

It’s all in the details of FPGA requirements management
by Don Dingee on 05-23-2013 at 8:30 pm

Word association: if I said “requirements management”, you’d probably say IBM Rational “DOORS,” or maybe Serena or Polarion if you come from the IT world. But what if the requirements you need to manage are for an FPGA or ASIC, with HDL and testbench code and waveform files and more details backing verification, and compliance… Read More


A Brief History of NanGate

A Brief History of NanGate
by Daniel Nenni on 05-23-2013 at 8:10 pm

NanGate got started in 2004 by a group of engineers from Vitesse Semi and Intel. The technology and market idea was to address and solve the inherent shortcomings of standard cell based design as compared to full custom. Anyone having tried to push the performance of a standard cell design knows the frustration… if only I had a betterRead More


Bats about DAC!

Bats about DAC!
by SStalnaker on 05-23-2013 at 8:05 pm

DAC 2013 is closing in fast now…and if you haven’t made your plans for what you want to see and do, you’d better get going! Of course, I’m happy to help you out with a few suggestions…starting with that most important objective—conference swag. Stop by the Mentor Graphics booth (#2046, for those of you who actually look at your floor… Read More