Research Bits: August 22


Photonic memory Researchers from Zhejiang University, Westlake University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a 5-bit photonic memory capable of fast volatile modulation and proposed a solution for a nonvolatile photonic network supporting rapid training. This was made possible by integrating the low-loss phase-change material (PCM) antimonite (Sb2S3) into a silicon photonic plat... » read more

Power Semis Usher In The Silicon Carbide Era


Silicon carbide production is ramping quickly, driven by end market demand in automotive and price parity with silicon. Many thousands of power semiconductor modules already are in use in electric vehicles for on-board charging, traction inversion, and DC-to-DC conversion. Today, most of those are fabricated using silicon-based IGBTs. A shift to silicon carbide-based MOSFETs doubles the powe... » read more

EDA Tool To Detect SW-HW Vulnerabilities Ensuring Data Confidentiality In A RISC-V Architecture


A technical paper titled “SoftFlow: Automated HW-SW Confidentiality Verification for Embedded Processors” was published by researchers at RWTH Aachen University, Robert Bosch, and Newcastle University. Abstract: "Despite its ever-increasing impact, security is not considered as a design objective in commercial electronic design automation (EDA) tools. This results in vulnerabilities being... » read more

A Chiplet-Based Fully Homomorphic Encryption Accelerator


A technical paper titled “CiFHER: A Chiplet-Based FHE Accelerator with a Resizable Structure” was published by researchers at Seoul National University. Abstract: "Fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) is in the spotlight as a definitive solution for privacy, but the high computational overhead of FHE poses a challenge to its practical adoption. Although prior studies have attempted to desig... » read more

Anode Interlayers To Reduce Interfacial Resistance Of Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries And Prevent Short-Circuit Formation


A technical paper titled “Design Strategies for Anodes and Interfaces Toward Practical Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries” was published by researchers at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. Abstract: "Solid-state Li-metal batteries (based on solid-state electrolytes) offer excellent safety and exhibit high potential to overcome the energy-density limitations of current Li-ion batteries... » read more

A Novel Optically Triggered Self-Adaptive ZVS Method For SiC MOSFETs 


A technical paper titled “Optically Triggered Self-Adaptive Zero Voltage Switching” was published by researchers at University of Cambridge, Zhejiang University, and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Abstract: "Zero voltage switching (ZVS) is useful to increase power electronics efficiency but difficult to achieve due to the nonlinear parasitic capacitance of the power semiconducto... » read more

Week In Review: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Test


Intel dropped out of a $5.4 billion deal to purchase Tower Semiconductor in Israel. Intel cited the inability to obtain regulatory approval in a timely manner as the reason for ending the deal signed in February. Intel will pay a $353 million termination fee to Tower. The silicon wafer supply has moved back into positive territory for 2023 thanks to a 7% decline in wafer shipments combined w... » read more

Week In Review: Automotive, Security and Pervasive Computing


The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that between 2021 and 2050, ADAS technologies currently available to U.S. will prevent "approximately 37 million crashes, 14 million injuries, and nearly 250,000 deaths, which would represent 16% of crashes and injuries, and 22% of deaths that would otherwise occur on U.S. roads without these technologies," according to a new report. Governmen... » read more

Week In Review: Design, Low Power


Synopsys’ board of directors appointed Sassine Ghazi as president and chief executive officer effective on Jan. 1, 2024. Ghazi, who is currently the COO, will succeed Aart de Geus, co-founder, chair, and CEO of Synopsys, who will then become the executive chair of board of directors. IBM Research introduced  an energy-efficient mixed-signal analog AI chip for DNN inferencing and demonstra... » read more

Who Will Regulate Data Exchanges In Chiplets?


Scaling is still important when it comes to logic and low power, but it's no longer the main avenue for improving performance. What used to be a single chip, comprised of various IP blocks and components on a single SoC, is giving way to a heterogeneous collection of chiplets — at least for the big chipmakers and system companies at the leading edge. Chiplets are currently the best solutio... » read more

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