MRAM Getting More Attention At Smallest Nodes


Magneto-resistive RAM (MRAM) appears to be gaining traction at the most advanced nodes, in part because of recent improvements in the memory itself and in part because new markets require solutions for which MRAM may be uniquely qualified. There are still plenty of skeptics when it comes to MRAM, and lots of potential competitors. That has limited MRAM to a niche role over the past couple de... » read more

SiC Growth For EVs Is Stressing Manufacturing


The electrification of vehicles is fueling demand for silicon carbide power ICs, but it also is creating challenges in finding and identifying defects in those chips. Coinciding with this is a growing awareness about just how immature SiC technology is and how much work still needs to be done — and how quickly that has to happen. Automakers are pushing heavily into electric vehicles, and t... » read more

Using Generative AI To Connect Lab To Fab Test


Executive Insight: Thomas Benjamin, CTO at National Instruments, sat down with Semiconductor Engineering to discuss a new way of looking at test, using data as a starting point and generative AI as a bridge between different capabilities. SE: What are the big changes you're seeing and how is that affecting movement of critical data from the lab to the fab? Benjamin: If you walk into any m... » read more

FMEDA Powered Safety Verification Methodology For Semiconductors


Today’s automobiles require increasingly complex systems and chips, adherence to functional safety processes has become essential during the design development phase. The intricate nature of  semiconductors used in automotive applications is driving the need for functional safety throughout the entire supply chain, reaching not just the automobile manufacturers but also the semiconductor des... » read more

Predictive And Prescriptive Maintenance In The Context Of Automotive Functional Safety


The ever-changing landscape of advanced SOCs reshape traditional approaches of automotive functional safety (FuSa). Electrification (EV), connectivity, driver-assistance (ADAS), and software-defined vehicles (SDV) have ushered in the era of mega-functionality and scale. This paper discusses the paradigm shifts and required methodologies to navigate the surge of innovation and ensure the utmost ... » read more

Virtualization: A Must-Have For Embedded AI In Automotive SoCs


Virtualization, the process of abstracting physical hardware by creating multiple virtual machines (VMs) with independent operating systems and tasks, has been in computing since the 1960s. Now, with the need to optimize the utilization of large AI and DSP blocks in automotive SoCs, along with the need for increased functional safety in autonomous driving, virtualization is coming to power- an... » read more

AI Transformer Models Enable Machine Vision Object Detection


The object detection required for machine vision applications such as autonomous driving, smart manufacturing, and surveillance applications depends on AI modeling. The goal now is to improve the models and simplify their development. Over the years, many AI models have been introduced, including YOLO, Faster R-CNN, Mask R-CNN, RetinaNet, and others, to detect images or video signals, interp... » read more

Creating IP In The Shadow Of ISO 26262


On many levels, designing IP for the automotive sector is similar to targeting aerospace or medical devices — human lives are at risk if something goes wrong, and the list of regulations is significant. In practice, it can turn an interesting chip design project into a complex and often frustrating checklist exercise. In the case of ISO 26262, that includes a 12-part standard for automotiv... » read more

Flash Memory Market Ushered In Fierce Competition With The Digitalization Of Electric Vehicles


By Craig Huang and Yulia Lee Governments worldwide have been paying close attention to alternative energy vehicles recently. Many have launched related electric vehicle subsidy policies, accelerating global sales over recent years. In 2021 at IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, many major car manufacturers, including Porsche, showcased their all-electric or related concept cars. In addition ... » read more

Multiple Hurdles In The Race To 6G


The rollout of 6G will open the door to significant changes and possibilities, but whether this technology lives up to the hype will require massive collaborative efforts, huge investments in infrastructure, and solving some problems for which there are no precedents. Multiple companies are already working on 6G technology, aiming for a maximum download speed of one terabit per second (Tb/s)... » read more

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