Designing For The IoT


Each day of the Design Automation Conference (DAC) starts with a keynote. What was particularly noteworthy this year was that they all focused on some aspect of the [getkc id="76" comment="Internet of Things"] (IoT), and the value of hardware within the IoT. Semiconductor Engineering attended all of the keynotes. What follows are highlights of those talks, along with some analysis. (The four... » read more

How Much Verification Is Necessary?


Since the advent of IC design flows, starting with RTL descriptions in languages like Verilog or VHDL, project teams have struggled with how much verification can and should be performed by the original RTL developers. Constrained-random methods based on high-level languages such as [gettech id="31021" t_name="e"] or [gettech id="31023" comment="SystemVerilog"] further cemented the role of t... » read more

Using Formal To Verify Safety-Critical Hardware For ISO 26262


Automotive technology has come a long way since the days of the Ford Model T. Today's smart vehicles not only assist their drivers with tasks such as parking, lane management, and braking, but also function as a home away from home, with WiFi hotspots and sophisticated entertainment systems. These sophisticated features are made possible by increasingly complex electronic systems—systems that... » read more

When The Chips Are Down, Software-Defined Data Centers Can Ease R&D Creases


The design team of a fabless semiconductor company seemed to go into a tizzy every 6 months. They had to deliver the latest chips to their end customer amid extremely aggressive deadlines. They realized that if they needed the might of the millennials to bump up their bottom line, they would have to give their models and designs a makeover (read upgrade) every few months. To read more, click... » read more

1D-3D CFD And 3D-1D CFD: Simulation Based Characterization


To understand 1D-3D CFD and 3D-1D CFD, we have reviewed the history of attempts at both loose and close coupling of 1D and 3D CFD codes, the motivations of engineers who did it, and the benefits to be gained from these complementary engineering simulation technologies. Not least, because the umbrella term ‘1D/3D’ covers a number of different possible implementations with their own pros and ... » read more

Blog Review: July 26


Mentor's Dan Driscoll digs into designing for safety and security on the Xilinx UltraScale+ MPSoC and the different mechanisms that support subsystem isolation. Cadence's Paul McLellan listens in on a talk by Bosch's Volkmar Denner on the future of communications and AI in connected autos. Synopsys' Robert Vamosi points to a recently-discovered vulnerability that could be present in thous... » read more

Machine Learning Popularity Grows


Machine learning and deep learning are showing a sharp growth trajectory in many industries. Even the semiconductor industry, which generally has resisted this technology, is starting to changing its tune. Both [getkc id="305" kc_name="machine learning"] (ML) and deep learning (DL) have been successfully used for image recognition in autonomous driving, speech recognition in natural langua... » read more

Establish A Software Procurement Process To Manage Supply Chain Risk


Improving the procurement language in your software contracts is an effective way to convey requirements for built-in security. Too many examples of afterthought bolt-on security have put enterprises and users at risk due to exploitable software. Historically, there has been no shared liability associated with software because standard contracts have absolved software suppliers and outsource... » read more

System Bits: July 25


The language of glove In a development that allows the gestures in American Sign Language to be decoded, University of California San Diego researchers have developed a smart glove that also has application in virtual and augmented reality to telesurgery, technical training and defense. [caption id="attachment_232228" align="alignnone" width="300"] "The Language of Glove": a smart glove that ... » read more

The Week In Review: Design


Tools Mentor released the latest version of its FloTHERM CFD software for electronics cooling simulation, adding a new design window to create and solve variants of a model with features to improve scenario definition and design space exploration. Other enhancements include support for Phase Change Materials, more abilities for PCB designs, and an improved parallel solver. Markets IC Insig... » read more

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