Understand MOSFET Switch Behavior Via An LED Driver Simulation


Automotive incandescent bulbs have largely given way to more efficient, reliable, stylish, and even safer light emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs turn on in a fraction of the time and are especially useful in brake lamps, where fractions of a second matter. The challenge in designing an automotive LED lamp is in satisfying government requirements for light output while also being cost effective. Ano... » read more

Reducing Hardware Security Risk


In today’s world, hackers, computer viruses and cyber-terrorists are making headlines almost daily. Security has become a priority in all aspects of life, and most importantly, of our businesses. Recently hackers have been targeting the heart of our most complex systems, the Application Specific ICs (ASICs) and Systems on Chips (SoCs) that run them. The risk associated with these devices i... » read more

Are Better Machine Training Approaches Ahead?


We live in a time of unparalleled use of machine learning (ML), but it relies on one approach to training the models that are implemented in artificial neural networks (ANNs) — so named because they’re not neuromorphic. But other training approaches, some of which are more biomimetic than others, are being developed. The big question remains whether any of them will become commercially viab... » read more

Winners And Losers At The Edge


The edge is a vast collection of niches tied to narrow vertical markets, and it is likely to stay that way for years to come. This is both good and bad for semiconductor companies, depending upon where they sit in the ecosystem and their ability to adapt to a constantly shifting landscape. Some segments will see continued or new growth, including EDA, manufacturing equipment, IP, security an... » read more

New Design For Trusted Data


Recently, I wrote about Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE from now on) which I think is going to be something big that you will hear lots about in the future. Here's the reason I think it is going to be big. The people who care the most about security, such as financial institutions, governments, and companies with huge amounts of valuable data (such as semiconductor companies, or social m... » read more

Variables Complicate Safety-Critical Device Verification


The inclusion of AI chips in automotive and increasingly in avionics has put a spotlight on advanced-node designs that can meet all of the ASIL-D requirements for temperature and stress. How should designers approach this task, particularly when these devices need to last longer than the applications? Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss these issues with Kurt Shuler, vice president of... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: June 30


1μm pitch wafer bonding At the recent IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC), Imec presented a paper on a fine-pitch hybrid wafer-to-wafer bonding technology for heterogeneous integration. Imec described a way to enable hybrid bond pitches down to 1μm using a novel Cu/SiCN (copper/silicon-carbon-nitrogen) surface topography. Today, the industry is developing or shi... » read more

Using Built-In Self-Test Hardware To Satisfy ISO 26262 Safety Requirements


The promise of autonomous vehicles is driving profound changes in the design and testing of automotive semiconductor parts. The ICs for safety-critical applications need to meet the ISO 26262 standard for functional safety. Among the challenges in the design flow has been aligning the metrics for design-for-test and for functional safety. This paper describes using logic built-in-self-test as b... » read more

Designing An Efficient And Low-Noise Power Supply For Sensors And Encoders


Smart, accurate sensors and encoders are bringing new levels of intelligence to automated industrial equipment. Indeed, the smart factory is being realized across a variety of manufacturing landscapes, enhancing productivity and efficiency. Enabling these compact sensors and encoders to perform reliably requires a high level of power efficiency. This paper discusses why conventional power manag... » read more

Power/Performance Bits: June 30


Up-converting lasers Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a filter chip that can convert the output from low-cost lasers to have the same frequency noise as big, expensive lasers, making them suitable for applications such as LiDAR. The noise in a laser's frequency is an important indicator of quality. Low-quality, noisy lasers have more random variations, making them use... » read more

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