The Demise Of Static Timing Verification?


The chip industry traditionally has relied on margins to help them mitigate timing problems, but an increasing array of factors are now influencing timing. Can static timing analysis evolve to address these problems? Static timing verification (STA) was a cornerstone technology for the acceptance of the register transfer level (RTL) abstraction. It showed that functionality would not be impa... » read more

Blog Review: Sept. 10


Cadence's Satish Kumar C explains Port-Based Routing, a feature in in CXL 3.0 and 3.1 that changes how CXL switches operate within a CXL fabric to enable the creation of much larger, more flexible, and more efficient topologies. Siemens' Bill Hargin demystifies copper foil thickness and weight measurements and why being precise has an impact on signal integrity and crosstalk simulations.... » read more

A Lens Designer’s View Of Metaoptics: Aberration Theory For Flat Optics


By Dr. John R. Rogers and Dr. Yijin Ding. This paper covers a discussion of the Abbe Sine Condition and its implication for Flat Optics, including the effects of stop shift and substrate curvature. Following that, we apply Sweatt’s high index model of diffractive effects to develop a third-order aberration theory for diffractive, meta-, and hybrid optical systems, including the pos... » read more

Making The Most of Test Resources


Semiconductor testing is undergoing multiple paradigm changes at once with the common goals of producing more known good die per month with low test cost. Achieving these goals requires a delicate balance between yield, quality, and test times. There are multiple ways to go about making better use of existing resources, many of which involve an increasing use of design for test (DFT) methods... » read more

Monitor, Test, And Repair For Multi-Die Health And Reliability


Ever since the earliest semiconductor devices, silicon health has been a concern. Systems manufacturers wanted to be sure that their chips worked properly before being soldered onto printed circuit boards (PCBs). They put pressure on semiconductor suppliers to test wafers, individual dies, and assembled parts before they were shipped. A wide range of design-for-test (DFT) approaches were develo... » read more

Infusing Trust Into The Supply Chain


An expanding supply chain of dies feeding multi-die products is prompting chipmakers to reassess and expand on ways to instill trust from end to end. This reaches deeper than just connecting disparate data. It requires integrating complex systems across vendors and protecting vendor data while instilling confidence in their customers and partners. Yet despite the time and effort that has bee... » read more

Chip Industry Week in Review


Cadence plans to buy Hexagon AB's design and engineering business to accelerate expansion in physical AI and system design and analysis. Cadence will pay ~US$3.1 billion in cash and issue stock, with the deal expected to close in early 2026. PWC issued a 104-page in-depth analysis of semiconductor technology and markets, highlighting a broad swath of changes: $1T in annual revenue by 2030, ... » read more

Agile Development Of Software-Defined Vehicles Using Cloud-Based Virtual Prototypes


By Gunnar Braun and Stewart Williams Automotive software is becoming more expensive and central to a car’s identity. Infotainment, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), traction control, and even powertrain management are all shaped by lines of code. Vehicular codebases can now exceed those of commercial aircraft! The growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the push toward ful... » read more

6G Line-Of-Sight Repeaters, Dots, And Reflections


6G will open the door to ultra-reliable, low-latency communications, extended broadband, and machine communications, but its rapid signal attenuation places some sharp limits on where and how it can be used, and requires some expensive options to overcome those limitations. Applications include lifelike virtual reality for home and work use, highly interactive smart homes and cities, and aut... » read more

Cloud vs. Edge Gaming: Performance Gap Is Shrinking


Chip designers and gaming companies are scrambling to figure out whether the gaming market will tilt toward the cloud, the edge, or some combination of both. Multi-gigabit internet allows more people to play high-end games in the cloud, but edge-based gaming consoles and devices remain well-rooted, more secure, and private. Which one wins? So far, there are more questions than answers. Handh... » read more

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