Amidst frequently changing requirements, time pressure and demand for high accuracy, it is imperative that EDA and design companies look at time consuming processes in the overall design flow and find alternatives without losing accuracy. High Frequency Analysis of IC designs is one such process which is traditionally based… Read More




A New Mixed-Signal IC Router
Pure digital routers for IC designs have an easier task than mixed-signal routers, because mixed-signal routers have more constraints like:
- Shielded buses
- Differential pairs
- Twisted pairs
- Matched RC routing
- 20nm technology rules
- Double Patterning Technology (DPT)
Moore and Beyond: Global Semiconductor Primer
There are a couple of new analyst reports out that are interesting enough to blog about. I talk to the financial types on the phone every week or so explaining the semiconductor business and answering questions about the foundries and the top fabless companies. We don’t always agree on the outlook but there is always something to … Read More
Can Samsung Deliver As Promised?
Samsung’s aggressive marketing is starting to hit the fabless semiconductor ecosystem so we had all better be prepared. Samsung’s 2012 marketing budget exceeded $400M which probably beats the marketing budget of the entire fabless ecosystem! The question is, will the fabless semiconductor industry be easily swayed by Samsung’s… Read More
Unlocking the Full Potential of Soft IP
EDA vendors, IP suppliers and Foundries provide an eco-system for SoC designers to use in getting their new electronic products to market quicker and at a lower cost. An example of this eco-system are three companies (TSMC, Atrenta, Sonics) that teamed up to produce a webinar earlier in March called: Unlocking the Full Potential… Read More
A Brief History of Forte Design Systems
When Semiwiki readers see the name Forte Design Systems, they may think of the live bagpipers’ performance that closes the yearly Design Automation Conference. Forte has been the sponsor of this moving end to DAC since 2001. Step with me behind the plaid kilts for a good look at this remarkable company headquartered in San Jose, … Read More
Mixed-Signal SoC verification has integrated solution
These days when we talk of SoC verification, what comes to our mind immediately is VirtualPlatform. Of course with the increasing size, complexity and different styles of designs, it is very much a need.
However, that is supported by actual verification engines and methodologies which are varying considerable with digital, … Read More
Data Management for Designers
Back when I was a programmer at VLSI Technology in the mid-1980s, I was responsible for all the data management in the VLSI Design Tools. By responsible for, I mean that I designed the whole system and wrote all the code. Prior to the 5th release of our product, there was no data management, designers simply used filenames and it was … Read More
Simon Segars to be New CEO of ARM
ARM announced today that Warren East, the CEO, would be retiring at the end of June. The new CEO will be Simon Segars, currently President of ARM and the de facto #2 guy. Currently Simon is based in the US and I don’t know if he plans to return to Britain or not. But he will live what will inevitably be a lifestyle that involves crossing… Read More
View from the top: Brad Quinton
Many engineers dream about starting their own company some day, and today I talked with an engineer that has gone beyond the dreaming stage to actually start an EDA company and then get that company acquired. His name is Brad Quinton and the start-up was called Veridae Systems, now part of Tektronix.
Brad Quinton… Read More
TSMC N3 Process Technology Wiki