Which IP Is Better?


As the amount of third-party and re-used IP in a semiconductor increases, so do the number of questions about which possible IP choices perform better, use the least power, or work best with other components. So far, there is no simple way to make that choice. In most cases, this is simply splitting hairs. For all the IP that goes into designs, the bulk of it is chosen based on how often has... » read more

Mostly Accurate Computing


“Approximate computing” is a new concept in computers, allowing them to perform calculations for certain tasks that don’t require perfect accuracy with the goal of improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. But do the concepts apply when it comes to managing power? And is there a philosophical approach when it comes to thinking about power management? To a large extent, that... » read more

Performance Still Trumps Power


When it comes to technology, the past was always simpler than the present and the future looks daunting. In part, this is because finding a solution to a problem allows us to discover the next problem. Over time, the previous problem becomes more understood and solutions improve to the point where it is no longer considered a problem. It was a fairly easy choice about how to implement functiona... » read more

Power’s Impact On Hierarchy Modification


RTL restructuring in which the logical hierarchy of a design is modified is usually done to manage complex designs. When power management is added to this task, new challenges crop up. Consider switchable power or voltage domains, which are a common way to manage power is to use switchable power or voltage domains. When implementing this technique, all the logic in such a domain must hang of... » read more

The Road Ahead For 2014


Semiconductor Engineering asked several thought leaders in the industry about the market drivers that are affecting their product planning operations for 2014. While almost everyone sees mobile devices continuing to be the major driver during 2014, there are some emerging areas that may start to have a larger impact. This article takes a look at some of those and the impacts they could have on ... » read more

Power Resolutions For 2014


As the ball dropped at midnight in New York’s Time Square, signifying the beginning of 2014, many had already decided on their resolutions for the New Year. Others decide during the first few days of the New Year. Undoubtedly, consideration involves common resolutions that we fall back on year after year. Individuals might think about health, losing weight and becoming more fit. Others think ... » read more

How to Achieve Estimation, Reduction, And Verification Of Power In RTL Designs


Maintaining power dissipation at low levels is a major concern in modern day IC designs. For wireless electronic appliances, battery life is one of the major influencers of the purchase decision and is an effective differentiator. Mobile phones, digital cameras and personal MP3 players are increasingly being sold based on their battery lives. In wired applications, power consumption determines ... » read more

The Next Big Threat


In just the past year, tens of millions of Target store customers had their customer and credit card records stolen, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were hacked, Adobe software had a security breach, Yahoo! was infected with malware, and Snapchat was hit with a bug that exposed user phone numbers. And this was just what was reported in the mainstream media. The threat, it turns o... » read more

Experts At The Table: What’s Next?


Semiconductor Engineering sat down with Sumit DasGupta, Si2; Simon Bloch, Samsung; Jim Hogan; Mike Gianfagna, vice president of marketing at eSilicon (VP of corporate marketing at Atrenta when this roundtable was held). What follows are excerpts of that discussion. SE: The future of technology isn’t just about technology. It’s about people and regulations, as well. Where are the hurdles ... » read more

Executive Viewpoint: Bootstrapping A Startup


This story begins as many new developments have in the EDA industry. A designer, or verification person in this case, by the name of Yuan Lu, was working in a semiconductor company. He manually developed a lot of assertions for use in formal verification. He found they also were useful in a simulation environment, but he had great trouble convincing his fellow workers to develop similar ass... » read more

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