Editors' Blog

TSVs: Like Vias, Only 1000X Deeper

We recently looked at Applied Materials’ solution to the challenges of lining small vias: using cobalt. But those are through-dielectric vias. What about through-silicon vias (TSVs)? After all, they can be a thousand times deeper than a standard via, so if a standard via is hard to cover, imagine how hard it must be for a TSV.

Of course, we’re talking a wider via, but AMAT says that standard physical vapor deposition (PVD) tools do an inadequate job of coating the … Read More → "TSVs: Like Vias, Only 1000X Deeper"

Synopsys’s IP Initiative

by Kevin Morris

IP used to refer to hardware designs that could be purchased off the shelf. Actually, at first they were designs that wouldn’t really work for any real application without a consulting contract to adapt them. But, over time, “shrink wrapped” became more viable. The idea was to save design time.

That idea still holds, but we’ve replaced one problem – design of individual blocks – with another: assembling all of the IP blocks into a complete system. And these IP blocks are more than your grampa’s simple fast Fourier … Read More → "Synopsys’s IP Initiative"

What is a technology company?

by Bryon Moyer

Am I being picky or over-sensitive? A recent report talks about how Europe has produced 30 technology companies worth more than $1bn. They include “Clothing retailer Asos, games studio King Digital, property portfolio Zoopla and music service Spotify.” Are these technology companies? Zoopla’s core business is pulling together into a single web site, property listings from a wide range of sources. They do have other service for the estate agents whose properties they advertise using sites similar to the top Realcomp websites, actually only two are for technologists (Perl and Python … Read More → "What is a technology company?"

Sensor or Switch?

by Kevin Morris

Honeywell recently released a new AMR (anisotropic magneto-resistive) sensor. We looked at this basic technology some time back, but there was another aspect of the release that confused me: the sensor was compared to a reed switch. And, at first glance, I don’t see a switch (=actuator) and a sensor as being the same thing.

For those of you steeped in this technology, what follows may seem rather basic and even obvious. But if you’re new to the space, then … Read More → "Sensor or Switch?"

Accelerometer Fingerprints

by Kevin Morris

An interesting paper was published earlier this year by a team from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of South Carolina, and Zhejiang University. In short, it says that the accelerometer in your phone could give you away even if you’ve locked all your privacy settings down tight.

The idea is based on the fact that each accelerometer is unique at the lowest level, having minor but detectable differences in waveform or harmonic content. To the extent that the characteristic resonance of an accelerometer can identify it uniquely (or nearly so), it acts as a … Read More → "Accelerometer Fingerprints"

KLA-Tencor’s New Reticle Inspector

by Jim Turley

Seems like no aspect of IC design and production escapes the need for All Things to Get Harder and Harder, requiring ever-better solutions. Today we look at reticle inspection, and, in particular, at KLA-Tencor efforts to adapt their Teron system, originally intended for mask shop use, to the needs of production fabs. The idea is that, when new reticles come into the fab, they need to be inspected as a basic QC step. And, after 300-600 or so uses, they need to be re-qualified to make sure that acquired defects aren’t reducing die yield.

Wireless Power and Heating

by KarenSimon

We covered wireless power before, and one of the points of differentiation was that of inadvertent heating of nearby items. With systems using the lower 200-kHz frequency range, nearby largish metal items like coins and keys can heat up. The systems themselves are designed to detect this and shut the charger down, which addresses the safety issue. It’s just a bother if you think your phone is being charged when in fact it isn’t due to something else around there.

But then it was pointed out that heating can theoretically be an issue … Read More → "Wireless Power and Heating"

Who Uses Power-Over-Ethernet?

by KarenSimon

Maxim recently released a reference board (called Pasadena) that implements power-over-Ethernet (PoE). As we were discussing it, I inquired about who is really using PoE. I mean, I’m familiar with it, and yet I hardly ever hear anything about it actually being used.

(Image courtesy Maxim)

They pointed out three specific target markets:

Wireless routers
Cameras
Point-of-sale (PoS… no, not that PoS) terminals. Cash registers, … Read More → "Who Uses Power-Over-Ethernet?"

IoT Via WiFi

by Kevin Morris

We recently looked at levels of data communication in the Internet of Things (IoT) and established three levels:

– Formal communications protocol level (e.g., TCP/IP)

– Generic data level (e.g., Xively)

– Business objects

At the recent Internet of Things Engineering Summit, I talked with another company that illustrates some of … Read More → "IoT Via WiFi"

How Does Multicore Affect Code Coverage?

by Amelia Dalton

Multicore systems can be a b…east to verify code on, depending on how you have things constructed. Left to, say, an OS scheduler, code execution on your average computer is not deterministic because of the possibility of interruption by other programs or external interrupts. So it becomes nigh unto impossible to prove behavior for safety-critical systems.

Lesson #1 from this fact is, “Don’t do that.” Critical code for multicore must be carefully designed to guarantee provably deterministic performance. But lesson #2 is, when tools claim to analyze multicore code, you have to ask … Read More → "How Does Multicore Affect Code Coverage?"