Back in the early days of ASIC when we had just two and then (wow!) three layers of metal, place and route was done by putting the standard cells in rows with gaps between them and then using a specialized router to do the interconnection. It would use one layer of metal horizontally and one vertically and avoid jogs. This was called a … Read More
AMS Design using Co-Simulation
The big three vendors in EDA offer AMS simulation tools but what about simulation choices from other EDA vendors?
It turns out there are two privately held EDA companies that have done business since the 1980’s and have just integrated a Verilog A simulator with a SPICE circuit simulator. The two companies are Aldec with a … Read More
UMC Wins Qualcomm 28nm Second Source Contract!
This is common knowledge in Taiwan but apparently the guys over at SemiAccurate.com did not get the memo. I hear a name change is in the works: www.RarelyAccurate.com. Remember, these are the same clairvoyants who said TSMC shut down 28nm which as we now know is absolutely false. The QCOM elite stay at the Hsinchu Royal Hotel which… Read More
Audio IP Subsystems Made Easy with a Complete, SoC-Ready Solution
After the launch of ARC based complete sound system IP by Synopsys last month, which could be the effective starting point for subsystem IP offering, providing the initiative will be successful (this was not really the case in the past, as we discussed it in our blog), the company proposes a webinar focusing on:
- The growing complexity
Flexible ASIC Strategy!
During my last Taiwan trip I also spent time with Global Unichip. Clearly, in order for the semiconductor industry to thrive we must enable design starts. With the rising costs and complexity of semiconductor design and manufacturing this is a much greater challenge which is why I’m so interested in GUC, for the greater good of the… Read More
Milestones to Building a Successful Technology Software Company
Join us on May 31, 2012 for the first in a series of conversations exploring concepts and best practices for emerging companies. The first conversation will outline the critical milestones which must be conquered to take a start-up from early stages to a strong, growing, sustainable… Read More
Smart mobile SoCs: Samsung
There are few companies that impact the overall mobile supply chain more than Samsung. They are one of Apple’s largest suppliers, fabbing the processor and LCDs in the iPhone and iPad. They also design and fab the Exynos SoC at the heart of their own Galaxy line of phones and tablets.… Read More
Qualcomm Meets Jerry Sanders at 28nm
First the good news: 4G LTE design in activity is off the charts as OEMs building smartphones, tablets and Ultrabooks are buying into the capability for product rollouts that will occur starting in September. Now the bad news: there’s not enough to go around until probably well into 2013. For a Company sitting on over $26B in cash,… Read More
"Mechanics of Creativity" at DAC 2012: Oxymoron?
A perennial DAC highlight for me is the panel session sponsored by Women in Electronic Design. This year, it is called “The Mechanics of Creativity: What does it take to be an idea machine?”
Is this an oxymoron?
I interviewed panelist Dee McCrorey , Chief Risk Guru and Innovation Catalyst at Risktaking for Success LLC, to find out.… Read More
The Carbon Decade
Carbon Design Systems celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. It is a celebration that the company has survived a decade but also bittersweet that the company hasn’t been acquired for a juicy premium. But we just have to accept that EDA is not a business where you can throw together a company in 18 months and sell it for $1B… Read More
AI Semiconductor Market