Optimizing Analog For Power At Advanced Nodes


As any engineering manager will tell you, analog and digital engineers seem like they could be from different planets. While this has changed somewhat over time, [getkc id="52" comment="analog"] is still something of a mystery to many in [getkc id="81" kc_name="SoC"] design teams. Throw power management into the mix and things really get interesting. Improvements in analog/mixed-signal tools... » read more

Memory VIP


As the consumer market, and the mobile segment in particular, continues to demand more features and more performance in their gadgets, the designer community is confronted with myriad challenges of delivering on those demands – not the least of which is verifying compliance of ever-evolving protocols that enable the connection of everything within the system on chip (SoC), and the connection ... » read more

Taking The Mystery Out Of IP, SoC And Automotive System Debug


I recently had to take my car to the dealership because the gas-saving "auto-shut-off-while-stopped" feature wasn't working. The dealer explained that the reason it took two days to debug was because it "touched on many systems" in the car. In the end, they realized the battery wasn't fully charged and blamed it on my short 10-mile commute. Whether that was an honest answer or an example of ... » read more

Meeting The USB IP Requirements Of SoC Designs From 180-nm To 14/16nm FinFET


The ubiquitous USB standard provides data and charging capabilities to a multitude of consumer and enterprise products. USB’s ease-of-use and wide availability is belied by USB IP designers’ technical innovations. Without these innovations, USB could not be enabled in a broad range of process technologies ranging from 180-nm to the latest 14/16-nm FinFET technologies. This white paper ad... » read more

The Week In Review: Design


IP ARM introduced a new software platform and a free operating system aimed at IoT development. The OS incorporates security, communication and device management features for improved energy efficiency. The device server simplifies the connection and management of devices, incorporating security and improving efficiency. Cadence rolled out a broad IP portfolio for TSMC's 16nm platform, and ... » read more

More Than Moore


Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss the value of feature shrinks and what comes next with Steve Eplett, design technology and automation manager at [getentity id="22664" e_name="Open-Silicon"]; Patrick Soheili, vice president and general manager of IP Solutions at [getentity id="22242" e_name="eSilicon"]; Brandon Wang, engineering group director at [getentity id="22032" e_name="Cadenc... » read more

Tech Talk: IP Integration


Sonics CTO Drew Wingard talks about the challenges of integrating IP into SoCs and what typically goes wrong. [youtube vid=T1FAPDqIJK8] » read more

The Real Numbers: Redefining NRE


Developing ICs at the most advanced nodes is getting more expensive, but exactly how much more expensive is the subject of debate across the semiconductor industry. There are a number of reasons for this discrepancy. Among them: As design flows shift from serial to parallel, it's hard to determine which groups within companies should be saddled with different portions of the bill. The re... » read more

Challenges Increase for IP At Advanced Nodes


At advanced process nodes such as 16/14/10nm, designing [getkc id="43" comment="IP"] is a much tougher nut to crack due to complexity and other considerations, not to mention then trying to migrate and/or re-use that IP. Still, engineering teams are looking for leverage wherever they can find it in their designs amid the technical challenges to overcome. Tomasz Wojcicki, vice president of c... » read more

Evaluation Platforms Key To Complex IP Integration


Just because a chip is complex to build doesn’t mean it has to take a long time. Runaway complexity in SoC and ASIC design is forcing chip companies to consider different methodologies and approaches that could actually simplify and speed up the whole process. The first step in this process was commercial IP, and its growing popularity attests to the fact that chipmakers are looking for... » read more

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