The Changing IP Ecosystem


Is a larger [getkc id="43" kc_name="IP"] company better suited to deliver what users need – from hardware to software to PDKs and reference designs – with larger and more diverse teams to draw upon, as well as deep foundry relationships? Or does it pay to small, quick and nimble? The answer to that question appears to be playing out in real time. As design complexity has increased, so ha... » 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 Open-Silicon; Patrick Soheili, vice president and general manager of IP Solutions at eSilicon; Brandon Wang, engineering group director at Cadence; John Ferguson, product manager for DRC applications at Mentor Graphics; and Kevin Kranen, d... » read more

IP Subsystems: What Works, What Doesn’t


The [getkc id="81" kc_name="SoC"] landscape has changed substantially over the past decade and so have some of the definitions for aspects of the system—particularly the [getkc id="43" kc_name="IP"] subsystem. “We’ve been at the point for some time for large SoCs that what we thought about as a building block 10 years ago is now too small,” said [getperson id="11489" p_name="Drew Win... » read more

EDA Suffering Funding Crisis


The EDA industry has been built on venture funding ever since its inception in the early eighties and it is no secret that the big three have relied on a steady stream of startup companies to provide some of the new ideas, to test out new technologies and expand the industry. While there is a lot of research and development that goes on inside the large companies, most of this is related to ... » read more

Transaction Debug


SoC design is complex. It involves both software and hardware design that calls for a higher level of abstraction to ensure accurate verification. Transaction-level verification and debug offers this higher abstraction, while staying close to actual hardware signals. Traditionally, its use has been limited by the lack of a better mechanism and database to capture the critical information needed... » read more

Just About Enough Virtual Prototyping


While traveling back to California from the U.K., I had a layover in Chicago, which is probably all too familiar to most United Airlines frequent flyer members. Everything went according to schedule until everyone boarded and the plane still didn’t take off. The pilot explained to us that there was a problem with the hatch for the refueling of the aircraft. We were stuck in the plane for ... » read more

Blog Review: Aug. 20


Ansys’ Bill Vandermark highlights the top five engineering articles of the week. Check out the “Sprouting Baby Monitor.” This may be a sign of what the IoT is really good for. You can also use your cat (or dog or even your kids) to hack your neighbor’s Wi-Fi. Cadence’s Richard Goering says gaps may be narrowing between available tools and what’s needed for 3D-IC design. Now all w... » read more

Week 10: Tallying It Up


I’m sticking with the theme of financial housekeeping given the DAC-related meeting I’m off to this week. Several of us on the executive committee are getting together to audit the 2014 conference and begin budget planning for the 52nd DAC. Prosaic stuff, I know, though it’s an important part of being good stewards to our main sponsors, who I blogged about two weeks ago. Of course we’re... » read more

Blog Review: Aug. 13


Cadence’s Richard Goering interviews Kathryn Kranen about the acquisition of her company, along with the business of formal verification. Interesting tidbit: The combined company has more than 50% market share in formal. Mentor’s John Day looks at Volkswagen’s upcoming all-electric Golf that will go on sale later this year in the United States. The new twist: VW has struck a deal with ... » read more

IP Reaches Back To Established Nodes


Driven by the [getkc id="76" kc_name="IoT"] and wearable market opportunity, [getkc id="81" kc_name="SoC"] developers are shifting backward to established nodes, and what is learned at the leading-edge nodes is being leveraged in reverse as IP is ported backward to improve functionality. [getkc id="43" kc_name="IP"] certainly can be improved to work faster at older geometries, stressed Krish... » read more

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