2023: A Good Year For Semiconductors


Looking back, 2023 has had more than its fair share of surprises, but who were the winners and losers? The good news is that by the end of the year, almost everyone was happy. That is not how we exited 2022, where there was overcapacity, inventories had built up in many parts of the industry, and few sectors — apart from data centers — were seeing much growth. The supposed new leaders we... » read more

Blog Review: Dec. 20


Siemens' Huw Geddes finds that the flexibility offered by the RISC-V ISA can introduce further verification and validation requirements to ensure that the combination of extensions and customization not just works but does not break anything else while delivering expected performance, plus looks at how processor trace can help. Cadence's Gustavo Araujo explains the various optimizations in t... » read more

Proprietary Vs. Commercial Chiplets


Large chipmakers are focusing on chiplets as the best path forward for integrating more functions into electronic devices. The challenge now is how to pull the rest of the chip industry along, creating a marketplace for third-party chiplets that can be chosen from a menu using specific criteria that can speed time to market, help to control costs, and behave as reliably as chiplets developed in... » read more

Data Formats For Inference On The Edge


AI/ML training traditionally has been performed using floating point data formats, primarily because that is what was available. But this usually isn't a viable option for inference on the edge, where more compact data formats are needed to reduce area and power. Compact data formats use less space, which is important in edge devices, but the bigger concern is the power needed to move around... » read more

Arm Statistical Profiling Extension: Performance Analysis Methodology


This paper presents a methodology for workload characterization and root cause analysis using the Arm Statistical Profiling Extension (SPE) demonstrated on a Neoverse N1 core. The target audience are software developers and performance analysts in software development, analysis, optimization, and tuning. This paper may also help silicon engineers to conduct performance analysis and debugging. T... » read more

Blog Review: December 13


Synopsys' Charles Dittmer discusses key and emerging use cases for Bluetooth Low Energy and how combining BLE with other wireless protocols can open new avenues of functionality for application areas including automotive, hearables, and retail. Cadence's Neelabh Singh points out changes in the terminologies describing USB4 links and shows the various possible link configurations put forth by... » read more

Security Becoming Core Part Of Chip Design — Finally


Security is shifting both left and right in the design flow as chipmakers wrestle with how to build devices that are both secure by design and resilient enough to remain secure throughout their lifetimes. As increasingly complex devices are connected to the internet and to each other, IP vendors, chipmakers, and systems companies are racing to address existing and potential threats across a ... » read more

Auto Network Speeds Rise As Carmakers Prep For Autonomy


In-vehicle networks are starting to migrate from domain architectures to zonal architectures, an approach that will simplify and speed up communication in a vehicle using fewer protocols, less wiring, and ultimately lower cost. Zonal architectures will partition vehicles into zones that are more manageable and flexible, but getting there will take time. There is so much legacy technology in ... » read more

Blog Review: Dec. 6


Cadence's Vinod Khera checks out potential implications of generative AI for EDA, including how it could increase the learning rate of students and reduce the rising verification cost. Synopsys' Kiran Vittal considers the driving factors behind RISC-V's growth and why it is becoming increasingly important for applications ranging from automotive to 5G mobile, AI, and data centers. Siemens... » read more

Chip Industry Week In Review


By Susan Rambo, Gregory Haley, and Liz Allan Amkor plans to invest about $2 billion in a new advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria, Arizona. When finished, it will employ about 2,000 people and will be the largest outsourced advanced packaging facility in the U.S. The first phase of the construction is expected to be completed and operational within two to three years. Synopsys p... » read more

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