Synopsys Galaxy Platform & Lynx Design System supports FD-SOI

Synopsys Galaxy Platform & Lynx Design System supports FD-SOI
by Eric Esteve on 06-05-2014 at 11:36 am

This is a new brick that Synopsys brings to build FD-SOI credibility. We have talked at Semiwiki about FD-SOI technology developed by the LETI and STM, and recently endorsed by Samsung Foundry, offering a more than credible second source to STM. And we have said that the FD-SOI introduction will need to be supported by EDA and IP vendors… Read More


Cadence Go (war-game) strategy

Cadence Go (war-game) strategy
by Eric Esteve on 05-26-2014 at 8:19 am

I was attending to CDN-Live in Munich last week, so I was expecting Cadence to announce new IP related acquisition like Lip-Bu Tan did last year (Cosmic Circuit, Evatronix and Tensilica). In fact, Lip-Bu was not in Munich and Charlie Huang, SVP Worldwide Field Operations and System & Verification Group, was holding the morning… Read More


A Brief History of Mobiveil

A Brief History of Mobiveil
by Daniel Nenni on 04-03-2014 at 8:00 am

Semiconductor IP is a relatively established frontier for innovation in Silicon Valley but it is not as easy as it looks. It certainly is not as easy as the two year old start-up Mobiveil has made it look. With a team of more than 100, led by experienced Semiconductor IP professionals, Mobiveil already has a portfolio of silicon proven… Read More


Automating PCB Timing Closure, Saving Up to 67%

Automating PCB Timing Closure, Saving Up to 67%
by Daniel Payne on 03-05-2014 at 10:10 am

The benefits of using EDA software is that it can automate a manual process, like PCB timing closure, saving you both time and engineering effort. This point was demonstrated today as Cadenceadded new timing-closure automation to their Allegroproduct family, calling it Allegro TimingVision. On Tuesday I spoke with Hemant ShahRead More


Who needs DDR4 PHY running at 2667 Mbps?

Who needs DDR4 PHY running at 2667 Mbps?
by Eric Esteve on 02-02-2014 at 11:15 am

As of today, DDR4 are targeting server, networking and consumer applications, and it will take another year before we use DDR4 equipped PC at home. In fact, a majority of consumers will rather buy a smartphone or tablet than a PC, most of these devices coming with PLDDR2 and only a few high-end tablets are equipped with LPDDR3 memory.… Read More


Remember FPGA Memory

Remember FPGA Memory
by Luke Miller on 06-25-2013 at 3:10 pm

We must admit the excitement of the FinFETs and all that coupled with the enormous amount of DSPs and BRAMs in the FPGA world is very cool. They even have ARMs, and I highly recommend that they get Legs then they can run around and everything and fit in with the rest of us. Perhaps the Feds can grant them immigration status and they could… Read More


Cadence September News: strong IP and VIP focus

Cadence September News: strong IP and VIP focus
by Eric Esteve on 09-14-2012 at 4:25 am

There are three articles on the front page, in the September release of Cadence newsletter, all of them are dedicated to either IP (DDR4), VIP (NVM express VIP being used at Samsung) or Martin Lund. You can read Martin’s interview here and/or take a look at what I write about him this summer. This strong focus on IP, and in fact on Interface… Read More


Is DDR4 a bridge too far?

Is DDR4 a bridge too far?
by Don Dingee on 09-11-2012 at 8:30 pm

We’ve gone through two decades where the PC market made the rules for technology. The industry faces a question now: Can a new technology go mainstream without the PC?

By now, you’ve certainly read the news from Cadence on their DDR4 IP for TSMC 28nm. They are claiming a PHY implementation that exceeds the data rates specified for … Read More


Memory Controller IP, battle field where Cadence and Synopsys are really fighting face to face. Today let’s have a look at Cadence’s strategy.

Memory Controller IP, battle field where Cadence and Synopsys are really fighting face to face. Today let’s have a look at Cadence’s strategy.
by Eric Esteve on 01-12-2012 at 9:45 am

I have shared with you last year some strategic information released by Cadence in April about their IP strategy, more specifically about the launch of the DDR4 Controller IP. And try to understand Cadence strategy about Interface IP in general (USB, PCIe, SATA, DDRn, HDMI, MIPI…) and how Cadence is positioned in respect with their… Read More


Interface Protocols, USB3, HDMI, MIPI… the winner and losers in 2011

Interface Protocols, USB3, HDMI, MIPI… the winner and losers in 2011
by Eric Esteve on 01-07-2012 at 11:30 am

Releasing a new protocol like ThunderBolt, HDMI or SuperSpeed USB has not only to do with bandwidth performance or form factor of the connector as a guarantee of success. Some non-scientific parameters also play a role in the alchemy, that’s why forecasting the success of a certain protocol is such a hard task, and can’t be reduced… Read More