First Thoughts from #54DAC!

First Thoughts from #54DAC!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-24-2017 at 7:00 am

This was my 34[SUP]th[/SUP] DAC, yes 34. It is a shame blogging did not exist back then because I would have liked to have read thoughts from my eager young mind, or maybe not. The first thing that struck me this year is the great content. Before DAC I review the sessions I want to see and this year there were many more than I had time for. … Read More


Electronics upturn boosting semiconductors

Electronics upturn boosting semiconductors
by Bill Jewell on 06-21-2017 at 12:00 pm

Production of electronics has been accelerating in the last several months, contributing to strong growth in the semiconductor market. China, the largest producer of electronics, has seen three-month-average change versus a year ago (3/12 change) accelerate from below 10% for most of 2016 to 14.5% in April 2017. China’s April… Read More


TSMC @ #54DAC!

TSMC @ #54DAC!
by Daniel Nenni on 06-16-2017 at 9:00 am

TSMC has been an ardent supporter of DAC for the last 18 years which has brought in the other foundries because, as the industry leader, wherever TSMC goes the other foundries naturally follow. The exception of course is Intel Custom Foundry because they march to the beat of a different drummer, if you know what I mean. The CoFluent… Read More


System Implementation Connectivity Verification and Analysis, Including Advanced Package Designs

System Implementation Connectivity Verification and Analysis, Including Advanced Package Designs
by Tom Dillinger on 06-08-2017 at 4:00 pm

Regular Semiwiki readers are aware of the rapid emergence of various (multi-die) advanced package technologies, such as: FOWLP (e.g., Amkor’s SWIFT, TSMC’s InFO); 2D die placement on a rigid substrate (e.g., TSMC’s CoWoS); and, 2.5D “stacked die” with vertical vias (e.g., any of the High Bandwidth Memory,… Read More


Memory drives semiconductor boom in 2017

Memory drives semiconductor boom in 2017
by Bill Jewell on 06-03-2017 at 7:00 am

The semiconductor market was down 0.4% in first quarter 2017 from 4Q 2016 and up 18.1% from a year ago, according to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). The 0.4% decline in 1Q 2017 versus 4Q 2016 is strong compared to an average 4% decline from 4Q to 1Q over the previous five years. The relative strength in 1Q 2017 was driven… Read More


Webinar -New Concepts in Semiconductor IP Lifecycle Management

Webinar -New Concepts in Semiconductor IP Lifecycle Management
by Daniel Payne on 05-26-2017 at 7:00 am

The semiconductor IP market continues growing at a healthy rate, and IP reuse is a staple of all modern SoC designs. Along with the acceptance of IP reuse comes a host of growing challenges, like:

  • Increase in design files
  • Increase in meta-data
  • More links between design members worldwide
  • More links between data in multiple engineering
Read More

Live from the TSMC Earnings Call!

Live from the TSMC Earnings Call!
by Daniel Nenni on 04-17-2017 at 7:00 am

Last week I was invited to attend the TSMC earnings call at the Shangri-la Hotel in Taipei which was QUITE the experience. I generally listen in on the calls and/or read the transcripts but this was the first one I attended live. I didn’t really know what to expect but I certainly did NOT expect something out of Hollywood. Seriously,… Read More


CEO Interview: Sanjay Keswani of Consensia

CEO Interview: Sanjay Keswani of Consensia
by Daniel Nenni on 04-03-2017 at 7:00 am

Sanjay Keswani founded Consensia in 2013. He has deep experience in the high-tech industry, guiding some of the world’s high profile technology brands through complex innovation and business transformation projects including companies such as Atmel, KLA-Tencor, Hughes Aircraft, and Motorola Mobility. Consensia customers… Read More


Tool Trends Highlight an Industry Trend for AMS designs

Tool Trends Highlight an Industry Trend for AMS designs
by Bernard Murphy on 01-11-2017 at 7:00 am

Archaeologists often use tools found in digs as a major indicator of trends in civilizations. The same could be said for trends in design, though we don’t have to reconstruct these design trends – we tend to see them ahead of us.

The trend in this case is the growing importance of sensors in designs and there’s no better example of that… Read More


2017 Semiconductor Dead Pool

2017 Semiconductor Dead Pool
by Daniel Nenni on 01-05-2017 at 12:00 pm

In 2015 we saw $85B in semiconductor acquisition activity and in 2016 there was more than $110B. Given 2015 and 2016 were relatively flat years for the $335B semiconductor industry and 2017 looks like more of the same we should expect consolidation to continue, absolutely.

So, let’s come up with a list of companies that may fall in… Read More