In the complex world of silicon design, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of our designs is paramount. As our chips become more sophisticated, the process of bug hunting—identifying and rectifying errors in our designs—becomes even more critical. Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the silicon design industry… Read More




Handling metastability during Clock Domain Crossing (CDC)
SoC designs frequently have lots of different clock domains to help manage power more efficiently, however one side effect is that when the clock domains meet, i.e., in a Clock Domain Crossing (CDC), there’s the possibility of setup and hold time violations that can cause a flip-flop to become metastable. Synchronizer … Read More
Predicting Stochastic Defectivity from Intel’s EUV Resist Electron Scattering Model
The release and scattering of photoelectrons and secondary electrons in EUV resists has often been glossed over in most studies in EUV lithography, despite being a fundamental factor in the image formation. Fortunately, Intel has provided us with a laboriously simulated electron release and scattering model, using the GEANT4… Read More
Navigating Edge AI Architectures: Power Efficiency, Performance, and Future-Proofing
The surge in Edge AI applications has propelled the need for architectures that balance performance, power efficiency, and flexibility. Architectural choices play a pivotal role in determining the success of AI processing at the edge, with trade-offs often necessary to meet the unique demands of diverse workloads. There are… Read More
Cadence Integrates Power Integrity Analysis and Fix into Design
As integration levels increase, clock frequencies rise, and feature sizes shrink it is not surprising that all or most aspects of semiconductor design become more complex and demand more from design technologies. One example where the traditional approach is breaking down is in optimizing power distribution networks (PDNs)… Read More
Webinar: Silicon Catalyst & EE Times Examine the Bigger Picture Aspects of AI – Nov. 29, 2023 – 9am to 10am Pacific
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is dominating the news cycle these days. It used to be about the latest (and largest) chips to accelerate AI algorithms. While that’s still relevant and exciting, AI news is taking a much broader, socioeconomic character. What does AI mean for job security, the economy, or even life on Earth? These … Read More
China’s hoard of chip-making tools: national treasures or expensive spare parts?
In the closing scene of Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), the camera pulls back to reveal an enormous warehouse stacked with crates of artifacts hidden away by the US government.
One could imagine a similar warehouse in China today. The crates would hold a different kind of treasure – semiconductor production … Read More
Semiconductors Headed Toward Strong 2024
The global semiconductor market is now solidly in a turnaround. WSTS revised its data for 2Q 2023 growth over 1Q 2023 to 6.0% from 4.2% previously. 3Q 2023 was up 6.3% from 2Q 2023. With our Semiconductor Intelligence forecast of 3% growth in 4Q 2023, the year-to-year growth in 4Q 2023 will be a positive 6%. This will set the stage for… Read More
AMAT- Facing Criminal Charges for China Exports – Overshadows OK Quarter
– News that AMAT facing criminal charges for violating China sanctions
– Sounds like Ion implant tools sent to SMIC in China via South Korea
– Criminal probe goes back to shipments starting in 2021 & 2022
– Overshadows an otherwise OK quarter and outlook
Reuters broke the news on the day of earnings
… Read MorePodcast EP194: The Impact of Joining TSMC’s OIP From the Perspective of Agile Analog
Dan is joined by Chris Morrison. Chris has 15 years’ experience of delivering innovative analog, digital, power management and audio solutions for international electronics. Currently he is the director of product marketing at Agile Analog, the analog IP innovators. Previously he has held engineering positions, including… Read More
Intel Foundry Delivers!