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Ann Mutschler

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Ann Mutschler is senior executive editor at Semiconductor Engineering.

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System Bits: Dec. 16
By Ann Mutschler - 16 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

High rise chip For decades, the mantra of the semiconductor industry has been ‘smaller, faster, cheaper.’ Stanford researchers are also adding ‘taller’ to the mix, and describing how to build high-rise chips that promise to leapfrog the performance of the single-story logic and memory chips on today's circuit cards. Stanford researchers said their approach would end the ‘logjams�... » read more

Yield Ramp Challenges Increase
By Ann Mutschler - 11 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

As semiconductor manufacturing moves down to smaller process nodes, there’s no doubt that it is increasingly difficult to ramp both test and manufacturing yields. One reason for this is simply scale. Smaller nodes translate into more steps and greater complexity in the manufacturing process, with attendant process variations. “Smaller process nodes increase the amount of embedded mem... » read more

Personal Security In The IoT
By Ann Mutschler - 09 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

I have to admit that in some regards, the Internet of Things concerns me…and not necessarily in a good way. Yes, I appreciate how convenient it will be when my refrigerator automatically orders my groceries when I get low on something, manages the electricity usage in my home, not to mention monitoring all of my bodily functions (ok, that might be an exaggeration), but are we stopping to ask ... » read more

System Bits: Dec. 8
By Ann Mutschler - 08 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

Path to quantum transistors An odd, iridescent material that's puzzled physicists for decades turns out to be an exotic state of matter that could open a new path to quantum computers and other next-generation electronics, according to University of Michigan physicists. The researchers have been able to confirm that several properties of the compound samarium hexaboride that raise hopes for... » read more

Power/Performance Bits: Dec. 8
By Ann Mutschler - 08 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

Light in lieu of wires In a development that could eventually lead to computers that use optics rather than electricity to carry data, Stanford engineers have designed and built a prism-like device they call an ‘optical link’ that can split a beam of light into different colors and bend the light at right angles. The optical link is a tiny slice of silicon etched with a pattern that res... » read more

Cost Reduction, Power Management Get More Intense In IoT
By Ann Mutschler - 04 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

Power has become a consideration even if there is a plug in the wall. But for applications sitting out who knows where in the [getkc id="76" comment="Internet of Things"] (IoT), it is more than a consideration. It is one of the primary requirements, given the small size of these devices, rivaled only by cost. Reflecting on what brought the industry to this point, Aveek Sarkar, vice president... » read more

Architecting For Optimal Interface IP Integration
By Ann Mutschler - 04 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss the design and integration of complex interface IP with Ty Garibay, VP of engineering at Altera; Brian Daellenbach, president of Northwest Logic; Frank Ferro, senior director of product management for memory and interface IP at Rambus; Saman Sadr, director of analog design at Semtech; and Navraj Nandra, senior director of marketing for analog/mixed ... » read more

Power Limits Apps In The IoT
By Ann Mutschler - 04 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

The applications in the IoT are seemingly limitless, but the power is one thing that can’t be. Mary Ann White at Synopsys reminded me that a lot of the energy harvesting devices are super low power and there is a reason why they use just a simple LCD-type display. But we agree it would be so cool if we could have color LCDs that still only consume low power. Of course, I have no doubt tha... » read more

System Bits: Dec. 2
By Ann Mutschler - 02 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

A graphene layer reads optical information from nanodiamonds electronically It is assumed that nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds could be used to construct vital components for quantum computers but reading optically-written information electronically from them has not been possible. Now, by using a graphene layer, a team of scientists headed by the Technische Universität München (TUM) ha... » read more

Power/Performance Bits: Dec. 2
By Ann Mutschler - 02 Dec, 2014 - Comments: 0

Harvesting more of the sun's energy As solar panels become less expensive and capable of generating more power, solar energy is becoming a more commercially viable alternative source of electricity and today’s photovoltaic cells can only absorb and use a small fraction of that light, which means a significant amount of solar energy goes untapped. However, a new technology created by research... » read more

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