Week In Review: Design, Low Power

Tools & IP
Codasip unveiled its Codasip SweRV Core EH1 Support Package, which provides support for Western Digital’s open source RISC-V-based core. The support package provides a comprehensive set of tools and components needed to design, implement, test, and write software for a SweRV Core-based SoC with support for leading EDA open and commercial flows. A free basic version is available from GitHub, while the Pro version offers integration with commercial EDA tools and additional services.

Faraday Technology uncorked Gigabit Ethernet PHY IP for UMC’s 40LP process. The PHY is built upon a DSP-based transceiver architecture, and the company says it provides immunity to noise and inter-symbol interference for both single-port and multi-port networking applications, such as set-top box, IP camera, network switch, and smart home gateway.

Chips&Media debuted c.WAVE120 IP that upscales low-resolution image or video data into high-resolution 8K in real-time. The IP uses a massive set of training datasets processed through a deep learning neural network to extract the feature points of a low resolution image or video, split them pixel by pixel, apply the appropriate pixels to fill in the missing parts of the data, and then reproduce in sharper high-resolution image or video. The company hopes to address the lack of 8K content for the newest displays.

Deals
The Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will use Arm’s Flexible Access program to provide ten selected startups with access to Arm IP to aid in development of SoCs. The offerings include Cortex CPUs, Mali GPUs, System IP, Security IP, Physical IP, and software tools and models. Arm will also provide technical support to the startups.

SiPearl licensed Arm’s Neoverse “Zeus” platform, including related POP IP, for use in the development of its high-performance, low-power microprocessor for exascale supercomputers. SiPearl launched at the beginning of the year as part of the European Processor Initiative.

Numbers
Cadence reported first quarter financial results for 2020 with revenue of $618 million, up 7.1% from the same quarter last year. On a GAAP basis, income per share for the quarter was $0.44, up 2.3% from $0.43 in Q1 2019. Non-GAAP income was $0.60 per share for Q1 2020, up 11.1% from $0.54 per share in the same quarter last year. The company reaffirmed its guidance of 10% revenue growth for the year.

Market research firm IC Insights warns that its latest forecast sees IC market growth contracting by 4% in 2020, with shipments declining by 3%. If the prediction is correct, it would be the only back-to-back annual IC unit shipment decline in the history of the IC industry, the firm says. Earlier this month, Gartner indicated a 0.9% decline in semiconductor revenue for 2020, buoyed somewhat by high memory revenue growth.

Events
Many conferences have now been cancelled, postposed, or moved online. Find out what’s happening with each at our events page. How about checking out a webinar instead?

If you have an event planned but not sure how to start moving it online, ACM published a report detailing some best practices for virtual conferences. It discusses the tasks required of organizers, specific platforms that can be used, and financial considerations, alongside examples of conferences that have gone virtual and lessons learned from their experiences.

Synopsys announced winners of the best paper awards for SNUG Silicon Valley 2020 and the online availability of content through SNUG on Demand.

Plus, on May 1 at 11:00 a.m. PST, the ESD Alliance will host a webcast with Jim Hogan and Methodics’ Simon Butler, who will discuss bootstrapping a startup and successfully creating a new market segment. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A.

And from our latest videos, find out why keeping DRAM in sync with changing product specs and market shifts is important, in DDR PHY Training.