AMD Design IP Deal with Virage Logic… Oops… Synopsys

AMD Design IP Deal with Virage Logic… Oops… Synopsys
by Eric Esteve on 09-23-2014 at 9:59 am

Whoever has said that history never repeats itself should read this recent PR from AMD! The news can be summarized in three points:

  • Multi-year agreement gives AMD access to a range of Synopsys design IP including interface, memory compiler, logic library and analog IP for advanced FinFET process nodes
  • Synopsys acquires rights
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Interface IP Protocols: Status

Interface IP Protocols: Status
by Eric Esteve on 09-16-2014 at 3:52 am

If your company develops Design IP to support well-known protocols like USB, PCIe, HDMI, DDRn memory controller, MIPI specification (and more), it’s crucial to know your competition, the market size by segment, and even more important the market potential by segment. The latest can be obtained by the Compound Annual Growth Rate… Read More


So Easy To Learn VIP Integration into UVM Environment

So Easy To Learn VIP Integration into UVM Environment
by Pawan Fangaria on 07-02-2014 at 7:30 am

It goes without saying that VIPs really play a Very Important Part in SoC verification today. It has created a significant semiconductor market segment in the fabless world of SoC and IP design & verification. In order to meet the aggressive time-to-market for IPs and SoCs, it’s imperative that readymade VIPs which are proven… Read More


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


High Quality PHY IPs Require Careful Management of Design Data and Processes

High Quality PHY IPs Require Careful Management of Design Data and Processes
by Pawan Fangaria on 01-29-2014 at 10:05 am

In last few years IP design has grown significantly compared to the rest of the semiconductor industry. There are newer IP start-ups opening across the world, particularly in India and China. Amid this rush, I wanted to understand the actual dynamics pushing this business and whether all of these IPs follow quality standards. … Read More


What’s new in the “Interface IP Survey” ?

What’s new in the “Interface IP Survey” ?
by Eric Esteve on 11-26-2013 at 9:27 am

The reader will find many updates in the “Interface IP Survey” from IPNEST, released in October 2013. Good question, as the IP market is a very fast moving one and the protocol based Interface IP, is moving even faster… exhibiting 20% growth rate in 2012, expected to grow with 10% CAGR between 2012 and 2017 to reach $700M. … Read More


Interface Protocols, USB3, PCI Express, MIPI, DDRn… the winner and losers in 2013

Interface Protocols, USB3, PCI Express, MIPI, DDRn… the winner and losers in 2013
by Eric Esteve on 11-19-2013 at 11:57 am

How to best forecast a specific protocol adoption? One option is to look at the various IP sales, it will give you a good idea of the number of SoC or IC offering this feature on the market in the next 12 months. Once again, if you wait for the IP sale to have reached a maximum, it will be too late, so you have to monitor the IP sales dynamic when… Read More


Mobile SoC will benefit now from M-PCIe

Mobile SoC will benefit now from M-PCIe
by Eric Esteve on 08-27-2013 at 10:12 am

We have already discussed the recently released M-PCIe ECN from PCI-SIG in Semiwiki at the end of 2012, but the new “standard” (in fact an Engineering Change from PCI-SIG and MIPI Alliance) was only real on paper, at that time. The upcoming webinar from Synopsys, M-PCIe: Utilizing Low-Power PCI Express in Mobile Designs, shows … Read More


The FPGA Blob is Coming…

The FPGA Blob is Coming…
by Luke Miller on 07-24-2013 at 5:00 pm

I never understood when I was a kid how ‘the Blob’ could actually catch someone but it sure did. It caught the unsuspecting, the off guard. I mean you’d have time for a soda and shower if you saw it on your road. And no, your manager is not the Blob; don’t think like that, it’s always his boss. The blob comes to consume the worker who was unaware… Read More


Data Centers accounts for 2 to 3% of WW Energy Consumption!

Data Centers accounts for 2 to 3% of WW Energy Consumption!
by Eric Esteve on 07-11-2013 at 8:19 am

Do you think this figure will go down? Considering the massive move to Mobile equipment, pushing to de-localize your storage medium to instead use the cloud capabilities, and looking at the huge number of people buying smartphone and tablet in emerging countries, no doubt that Data Center related energy consumption is expected… Read More