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Schematic Capture, Analog Fast SPICE, and Analysis Update

Schematic Capture, Analog Fast SPICE, and Analysis Update
by Daniel Payne on 09-20-2012 at 1:10 pm

At the DAC show in June I met with folks at Berkeley DA and heard about their Analog Fast SPICE simulator being used inside of the Tanner EDA tools. With the newest release from Tanner called HiPer Silicon version 15.23 you get a tight integration between:… Read More


GlobalFoundries Announces 14nm Process

GlobalFoundries Announces 14nm Process
by Paul McLellan on 09-20-2012 at 8:00 am

Today GlobalFoundries announced a 14nm process that will be available for volume production in 2014. They are explicitly trying to match Intel’s timeline for the introduction of 14nm. The process is called 14XM for eXtreme Mobility since it is especially focused on mobile. The process will be introduced just one year after… Read More


ReRAM Based Memory Buffers in SSDs

ReRAM Based Memory Buffers in SSDs
by Ed McKernan on 09-19-2012 at 11:40 am


In a paper at the VLSI meeting in Hawaii, Professor Ken Takeuchi described using an ReRAM buffer with an SSD. He points to some major performance gains that one can expect from such a configuration in terms of energy, speed and lifetime. Is this an opportunity for ReRAM that could spur development of the technology? Read more in a post… Read More


High Speed PHY Interfacing with SSIC, UFS or PCI express in Smartphone, Media tablet and Ultrabook at Lower Power

High Speed PHY Interfacing with SSIC, UFS or PCI express in Smartphone, Media tablet and Ultrabook at Lower Power
by Eric Esteve on 09-19-2012 at 10:54 am

We have recently commented the announcement from MIPI Alliance and PCI-SIG, allowing PCI Express to be used in martphone, Media tablet and Ultrabook, while keeping decent power consumption, compatible with these mobile devices. The secret sauce is in the High Speed SerDes function selected to interface with these high data Read More


Synopsys-Springsoft: Almost Done

Synopsys-Springsoft: Almost Done
by Paul McLellan on 09-19-2012 at 8:01 am

Synopsys announced today that they had completed the two main hurdles to acquiring SpringSoft. Remember, SpringSoft is actually a public Taiwanese company so has to fall in line with Taiwanese rules. The first hurdle is that they have obtained regulatory approval in Taiwan for the acquisition (roughly equivalent to FTC approval… Read More


SemiWiki? There’s an App for that

SemiWiki? There’s an App for that
by Paul McLellan on 09-18-2012 at 7:20 pm

The iPhone version of the SemiWiki App is now available. Download it from the iTunes store, it’s free. The App allows you to look at similar things to the website but much more conveniently adapted to fit the small screen. When you first start up the App you can log in (assuming you are a SemiWiki registered user and why would you… Read More


PCI express WILL be used in Smartphone and Media Tablet… opening infinity of new opportunities

PCI express WILL be used in Smartphone and Media Tablet… opening infinity of new opportunities
by Eric Esteve on 09-18-2012 at 12:24 pm

Looking at the various Interface protocols like HDMI, SuperSpeed USB, Universal Flash Storage (UFS) or even SATA integrated in Application Processor for smartphone and media tablet, one extremely powerful Interface protocol, already in use in electronic systems from various market segments from PC, PC Peripherals, Networking,… Read More


ASIC Prototyping with 4M to 96M Gates

ASIC Prototyping with 4M to 96M Gates
by Daniel Payne on 09-17-2012 at 9:30 am

I’ve used Aldec tools like their Verilog simulator (Riviera PRO) when teaching a class to engineers at Lattice Semi, so to get an update about the company I spoke with Dave Rinehart recently by phone. A big product announcement by Aldec today is for their ASIC prototyping system with a capacity range of 4 Million to 96 Million… Read More


SemiWiki on Android

SemiWiki on Android
by Daniel Payne on 09-17-2012 at 8:30 am

This morning I got to try out the new Android app for SemiWiki, so this is something that you will benefit from as you’re on the go with an Android phone and want to stay up to date. It’s an intuitive app, so you’ll be up and running within minutes. My first step was to visit the Play Store, search for the app using “Semiwiki”,… Read More


SemiWiki Releases Mobile Apps!

SemiWiki Releases Mobile Apps!
by Daniel Nenni on 09-16-2012 at 6:00 pm

In response to the growing mobile audience and increasing cost of data plans, SemiWiki has uploaded Android and Apple IOs applications. The SemiWiki mobile apps are available to you at no cost and are advertisement free. The Android app is available TODAY but the IOs app is still PENDING Apple approval (up to 60 days) versus GoogleRead More