Planet Semiconductor

Wiretap 06/24 -- Best/Worst tools of DAC

Blogs On Semiconductor - 6 min 59 sec ago

The BEST and WORST tools at DAC 2008 -- You choose!

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

The V5Z80P @ Retroleum

Blogs On Semiconductor - Wed, 09/08/2010 - 12:00

This is a cool little board designed with a Xilinx Spartan FPGA at its heart. It's meant to be a single board computer and I thought everyone would get a kick out of it. The specifications are enough to do some impressive stuff and there's even an archive of great documentation if you wanted to build your own!


PyroFactor: Read

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

The Real Value Of 3Par

Blogs On Semiconductor - Tue, 09/07/2010 - 18:06

By Ed Sperling – The bigger issue is the convergence not just of technology but of entire markets. Virtualization is little more than a slick way of time sharing on servers, something that was started rather crudely in the 1960s and perfected in the 1970s with IBM ( IBM – news – people ) mainframes. In 3Par’s case, the focus is storage servers, which are more efficient than storage-area networks.

What’s new is that convergence in technology typically means that it has matured and it’s time for something new to come along. That convergence is usually triggered by technology advances that make devices smaller, faster and cheaper, as evidenced by the migration from mainframes to minicomputers to PCs and now to mobile devices. more> http://tinyurl.com/2u6xxsc

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Psych!

Blogs On Semiconductor - Tue, 09/07/2010 - 06:00

The “Peanuts” comic strip made the situation iconic. Lucy would place the tip of the football on the ground, holding it upright with one finger (American-style football in this case - sorry international audience - bear with us, this is how one player holds the ball while another does a stationary-type of kick.) Charlie Brown is skeptical. Lucy has tricked him with this before, waiting until the last instant, then yanking the ball away, causing him to fall head over heels in a nasty tumble. She implores him to start his run. This time, it will be different. This time, she isn’t trying to trick him. This time, it’s for real. He seems to ponder the countless previous attempts with their painful outcomes and the accompanying humiliation. He understands the risk. He knows he cannot trust her. Nonetheless, the ball is just there, waiting for him, precisely poised for that perfect punt (note to American football fans: OK, it’s not actually a punt. We took some rule leeway for the sake of alliteration). Something seems different in her eyes this time too. Maybe he’s fooling himself, but he feels like she’s sorry for all those other times. She wants to make amends. She shares his vision for the perfect kick, and the joy they’ll feel together - as a team - when the ball is sailing miraculously toward its destination. Charlie Brown starts his run toward the ball - stern, determined, committed... He has visualized the outcome he wants, and he pours his entire being into the motion of the run-up and kick.....

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (ALTR, ABFS, CVLT, GDOT, JKS, LYV, MICC, MCP, OXY, PT, SNV, WAT, WERN)

Blogs On Semiconductor - Tue, 09/07/2010 - 05:31

These are some of this Tuesday’s top analyst calls with upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in Wall Street research calls:

Altera Corp. (NASDAQ: ALTR) Maintained Neutral and $32 target at Gleacher.
Arkansas Best Corp. (NASDAQ: ABFS) Raised to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
CommVault Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVLT) Cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) Started as Overweight at JPMorgan; Started as Neutral at UBS.
JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) Cut to Hold at Auriga.
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) Cut to Hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
Millicom International Cellular SA (NASDAQ: MICC) Cut to Hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
Molycorp, Inc. (NYSE: MCP) Started as Overweight at JPMorgan.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) Started as Positive at Susquehanna.
Portgual Telecom SA (NYSE: PT) Raised to Overweight at Barclays.
Synovus Financial Corporation (NYSE: SNV) Raised to Buy at Wunderlich.
Waters Corp. (NYSE: WAT) Started as Buy at Auriga.
Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) Raised to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.

You can join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about dividend trends, analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Next Generation Direct RF EdgeQAM Design

Blogs On Semiconductor - Tue, 09/07/2010 - 05:11

Abstract Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) serves as the gateway to deliver video content to the consumers by radio frequencies (RF) over coax cable. Universal Edge QAM or uEQAM residing in a transmission headend system takes a video transport stream in over Ethernet or fiber ports and modulates the video data over multiple RF frequencies. The traditional EQAM system uses low intermediate frequency (IF) interfaces and analog mixers to upconvert into RF channels. This article discusses the design and implementation of an all digital EQAM modulator using an FPGA for the direct RF DAC interface without requiring expensive and bulky analog components. Background uEQAMs have taken off in earnest starting in 2009 and will likely continue to yield strong growth over the next four years due to demand for HD video contents. uEQAMs reside at the edge of a fiber network; turning the outgoing digital information carried by the network into RF signals for distribution to individual households. ....

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

20 big semi-conductive manufacturer's ranks made in 2005

Blogs On Semiconductor - Tue, 09/07/2010 - 01:41

Released 20 big semi-conductive manufacturer’s ranks in the world of 2005 a few days ago in market survey ICInsights. Because the semi-conductive industry was whole weak and weary in 2005, the behavior of the leading firm had nothing in common with each other. Compared with 2004, on this latest billboard, Japanese semi-conductive manufacturer changes maximum. Among them auspicious Sa’s science and technology is dropped to the 7th by the 5th, NEC is dropped to the 13th by the 9th, Fujitsu is dropped to the 16th by the 14th too. Compared with 2004, NEC electronic sales amount dropped by 11%, because suffer the loss to expand constantly, the President & CEO KaoruTosaka of NEC electronics corporation has already resigned in October. However, the semi-conductive manufacturer of Japan does not lack the winner either, for example the rank of Toshiba rises to the 4th from the 7th, the sales amount has increased by 11%. And Sony is the star in 20 big semi-conductive manufacturers even more, realize 19% highest growth rate, the market ranks to rise to the 9th from the 12th. Data display of ICInsights, only 6% of overall growth of 20 big semi-conductive manufacturers of 2005, only more than 7% of growth of Sony, Intel, Samsung and Toshiba in the semi-conductive manufacturer of the top 10. Because of the depression of the whole market, the threshold entering the first 20 this year is 3 billion dollars, reduce to some extent than 3,200 million U.S. dollar of 2004. The growth of Sony’s chip sale benefits from video game machine, MP3 broadcaster, need of the digital television and other consumption electronic products. ICInsights adds, the used inside Sony in 2005 Medical semiconductor has increased by 50%. It is compared that changeable with Japan’s semi-conductive manufacturer’s destiny, the semi-conductive behavior of the manufacturer of U.S.A. listed on board is more steady, except IBM microelectronics, have realized more than 5% of the straight growth. The high pass, as the pure IC design company (fabless) that is only listed on board among them ,Rise from 20th in 2004 to the 18th, has increased by 8% compared with 2004. And the behavior of the three semi-conductive manufacturers of Europe is less than satisfactory. Philip does well, there is 4% growth, the purpose law Medical semiconductor (ST) Only increase by 1%. It was asked by DRAM business too hard this year that science and technology flies and insults in Great Britain of the scene because of DRAM market in 2004, the sales amount has dropped by 8%, the market ranks to fall from 4th to the 6th too.

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Update

Blogs On Semiconductor - Mon, 09/06/2010 - 15:49

I have been in “radio silent” over the last 12 months, but I am now glad to say that I will be making new posts that I hope you will all find interesting.

I merged my consulting business with other partners to create a boutique Investment Bank called Infinitedge – still focused in semiconductors, but covering the broader IT markets.

The industry has seen an intense period of consolidation and transformation.with a significant shift in emphasis to system solutions (from component solutions). divestiture by large cap companies in non-core product lines or business units, has created opportunities for others to acquire revenue-based businesses that complement existing products and businesses – but inevitably need further investment (typically the reason for divestiture in the first place). However, capital has been easier to source (low interest rates) and private equity firms are continuously on the prowl for new, lower leveraged investments. Even the VC community has turned its head toward investment in small cap companies that may be undervalued or stagnant in the market, stimulating an acquisitive behavior where divestments and small, struggling private companies representing a potential segue into new, adjacent markets.

Commodity products continue to be problematic as ASP erosion continues – although volume is growing, revenue and margin growth are stalling. Higher value products typically deliver solutions based on complex technologies (analog/RF/MEMs) and copious amounts of software/firmware.

Vertical market focus is becoming the mantra – play to your strength and drive to be number one.

I hope to share some observations with you in the following months, I am sure you will continue to add your own flavor!

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Safety critical FPGA design

Blogs On Semiconductor - Mon, 09/06/2010 - 08:05

If you are involved with the design of ICs that ultimately are found in systems used by military, avionics and aerospace companies, you are no doubt familiar with DO-254 (even if you are only a casual passenger on an airplane, you’ll at least be glad to know DO-254 exists!).

In a nutshell, the purpose of DO-254 is to ensure the safety of in-flight electronics. The standard is a regulation enforced by the FAA and other avionic administrative authorities as a means of compliance for the design of complex electronic hardware in airborne systems. Under that definition, complex electronic hardware includes device such as FPGAs and ASICs. With DO-254, the FAA has indicated that avionics equipment contains both hardware and software, and each is critical to safe operation of aircraft. The main regulations which must be followed are requirements capturing and tracking throughout the design and verification process.

Verification, which in a DO-254 context includes test, should be performed at all key stages of design - from conceptual analysis to in-system test. Verification tests and results should tie back to device requirements to ensure that all requirements have been thoroughly verified. The following items of substantiation are required to be provided to the FAA, or the Designated Engineering Representative (DER) representing the FAA: Plan for Hardware Aspects of Certification (PHAC), Hardware Verification Plan (HVP), Top-Level Drawing, and Hardware Accomplishment Summary (HAS).

Since GateRocket is all about verification of FPGAs (including those used as ASIC prototypes), we obviously are very aware and focused on the importance of DO-254. Our RocketDrive product enables thorough, DO-254 compliant verification that is reusable for both verifying the model and testing the actual hardware. This allows a user to quickly prove that the FPGA behaves the same as the model, and ensure that a thoroughly verified FPGA is passed along to the in-target phase of test. This is an easy-to-use, cost-effective approach that both accelerates and improves the overall verification process.

Over the coming weeks we will be talking more about DO-254 and how we support it. We will outline how we can help verify important design features and requirements such as multi-mode Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) and testing the injection of single event upsets (SEUs), to ensure the design mitigates their effect rather than switching the state machine into an unknown or unpredictable state.

Our support of DO-254 includes a partnership with Mentor Graphics, whose FPGA synthesis platform is focused on supporting the requirements of the standard and who we work with to optimize the entire FPGA development process. We are also participating in a joint webinar on September 22 with Mentor Graphics that includes a discussion on DO-254.

The combination of the Mentor and GateRocket tools provide a more efficient approach to ensure circuits implementing safety-critical, high-reliability features are working properly and can be mapped faster to the target FPGA device.

FPGAs are an important part of the development process for many mil/aero and other safety critical products, so the more you know about how to ensure the highest level of reliability, the better.

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

GlobalFoundries Exposed!

Blogs On Semiconductor - Mon, 09/06/2010 - 04:06

The GlobalFoundries Technical Conference last week was one of the best I’ve seen. The theme of

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

GlobalFoundries Exposed!

Blogs On Semiconductor - Mon, 09/06/2010 - 04:06

The GlobalFoundries Technical Conference last week was one of the best I’ve seen. The theme of

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Lyric Probability Processing

Blogs On Semiconductor - Sat, 09/04/2010 - 04:15

Lyric Probability Processing

A new type of processing…

More on Lyric’s site.

• Probability processing explained (abhishek-tiwari.com)
• Lyric Semiconductor aims for world’s first probability processor (v3.co.uk)
• DARPA funds Kendall Square startup to develop probability chip (insidehpc.com)
• Probability-processing hardware (stat.columbia.edu)
• DARPA funds Mr Spock on a Chip (go.theregister.com)
• Lyric Semiconductor Develops a Probability Chip (nytimes.com)
• Forget 1′s and 0′s – The Microchip Gets Rethunk Using Probability [Microchip] (gizmodo.com)
• New Chip Calculates with Probabilities in Hardware (adafruit.com)
• Lyric’s Chips Probably Interest Spooks, Shoppers (blogs.wsj.com)
• A Chip That Digests Data and Calculates the Odds (nytimes.com)

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Austin-based startup and Rice University create a ReRAM prototype that packs only 1-kbit

Blogs On Semiconductor - Fri, 09/03/2010 - 07:52

Researchers at Rice University in collaboration with Austin-based startup chip design house PrivaTra

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Apple never ceases to amaze!

Blogs On Semiconductor - Fri, 09/03/2010 - 06:55

Am certain that most of you out there are either followers or lovers of Apple! And why not! Apple, a

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

GE132-Organic Germanium

Blogs On Semiconductor - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 22:28

Image via Wikipedia

Now here is something that could improve, enhance, and possibly save many lives if only people knew about it. It is an element, a semi-conductor, which in an organic form performs ever so many magic tricks inside the body. It has four electrons, but one of them is weak and easily dislodged from its orbit. This leaves a vacant spot which it fills by capturing a free radical. This boy takes prisoners, forces particles to behave, then escorts them harmlessly out of the body. Ir is excellent for clearing the body of heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

Organic germanium is a grayish-white powder which in its inorganic state must never be consumed because over time, it is lethal. In the element or inorganic state it can not be processed by the body so it collects in the kidneys, turning them to stone.

The best way to take it is by placing it under the tongue and holding it there for as long as possible. What remains may be swallowed, but most of whatever is swallowed will never make it into the bloodstream. The cells of the stomach will absorb it and use it. That is why it needs to go under the tongue. From there, it can directly enter the bloodstream and perform scavenge maneuvers. It is awesome stuff.

Following WWII, a Japanese scientist, Dr. Asai, developed a complex method for converting the inorganic element into an organic form. He was actually studying coal for the Japanese government trying to find a way to make coal yield more energy. Instead, he discovered a myriad of medical uses for organic germanium. He noticed that there was a lot of germanium in coal and he found himself wondering what it was doing there. On a hunch, he tested the waters of Lourdes and he found it there as well.

There is a patent on organic germanium for being an inducer of the production of interferon in the body. Tests have demonstrated that there is no lethal dose of organic Germanium. Massive quantities were fed to rats with no damage to them.

I have found that a trusted source to be Nutricology in San Leandro, Ca. As for dosage, it really depends upon what condition you are treating but 100 mgs daily is a good, overall dosage. It is not a drug and no prescription is needed. And it is so eclectic that you will be challenged to find anyone who had heard of it.

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

The global semi-conductive apparatus outloading volume reached 10,560 million dollars in the first quarter of 08 years

Blogs On Semiconductor - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 21:25

Global semi-conductive the intersection of apparatus and the intersection of outloading and amount of money reach 10,560 million will it be first quarter 2008, increase than will it be four seasons 2007 by 7%, also increase by 2% compared with the same period of last year. And the amount of money of semi-conductive three monthly average orders of apparatus manufacturer of North America will be 1,030 million dollars in May of 2008, outloading of order to (B/B Ratio, Book-to-Bill Ratio) It is 0.79.

This report points out, the amount of money of the global semi-conductive apparatus order will reach 8,080 million dollars in the first quarter of 2008, reduce than will it be four seasons 2007 by 11%, reduce by 23% compared with the same period of last year too. The semi-conductive estimated amount of global order of three pieces of monthly average of May of apparatus manufacturer in North America is 1,030 million dollars, 1,090 million dollars of amount of money of final order are reduced by 5% than April, glide 37% more than 1,640 million dollars in the same period of 2007.

Display the part in outloading, the amount of money of three monthly average outloading of May is 1,310 million dollars, change 2% 1,340 million dollars smaller than April’s, reduce by 21% compared with the same period of last year.

SEMI global president and executive chairman Stanley T. Myers points out: “Went through the semi-conductive decline phase in 2005, the amount of money of semi-conductive apparatus order of this year was made and slipped to the level in 2005 again. By the look of data, such a state will last until the next season. ”

B/B Ratio that SEMI announces is according to manufacturer’s amount of money of average order in the past three months of semi-conductive apparatus of North America, divided by the amount of money of apparatus outloading of three pieces of monthly average in the past, ratios obtained.

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Chip Makers Moving Toward All Things Wireless

Blogs On Semiconductor - Thu, 09/02/2010 - 14:10

Much was made of Intel’s results report last week, particularly its warning of weak sales in the third quarter. When the prospects of the world’s largest chipmaker decline–Intel stock dropped to $17.60 this week, a 52-week low–it can bring a lot of smaller chip companies down with it.

Lagging demand for personal computers and a choppy, lackluster economy are the major culprits cited by Intel management. While global chip sales are rising, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (http://www.sia-online.org/cs/papers_publications/press_release_detail?essrelease.id=1805), the conventional wisdom is the economy is not growing fast enough to buoy the chip making industry.

But Intel watchers and investors in the semiconductor industry are seeing a shift in chip making beyond the PC toward all things wireless. Baseband chips help mobile phones connect to cellular networks and chips that deliver wireless internet connections to a host of consumer electronics projects seem to be the wave of the chip future (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703618504575460721131232894.html?KEYWORDS=don+clark+intel). Cloud computing, netbook and video game markets are also key areas for growth.

The types of chips required for these other applications tend to be much smaller and more power efficient than those used in computers. And several smallcaps are toiling in this new space, perhaps poised for an upswing as the market turns. Here are a few, including Beta’s (a measure of the volatility of the stock, 1 being the same volatility of the market, higher numbers meaning higher volatility):

Hilssboro, OR-based Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq: LSCC, http://www.latticesemi.com) designs, develops and markets programmable logic products and related software. It sells its products directly to end customers and through distributors, and primarily servies OEMs in the communications, computing, consumer, industrial, automotive, medical and military end markets. Its stock trades more than 1 million shares a day with a market cap north of $500 million. It has traded in the $1.87–$6 range for the year, now trades near its moving averages for the year at $4.42. Its Beta is near 2.

Newark, CA-based Smart Modular Technologies (NYSE: WWH, http://www.smartm.com) designs, manufactures and supplies value added subsystems to OEMs worldwide. Its subsystem products include memory modules, solid state drives, embedded computing and thin film transistor-liquid crystal display products. Their products target defense, aerospace, industrial automation, medical, transportation and enterprise industries. With a $300 million market cap and low P/E, the stock has a Beta near 2 and is trading around its moving average near $5.

Irvine, CA-based Netlist * (Nasdaq: NLST, http://www.netlist.com) is a leading provider of high performance modular memory subsystems to the world’s premier OEMs. In November 2009 Netlist launched HyperCloud, the world’s first 16GB, 2 virtual rank memory modules for servers. HyperCloud is designed to eliminate memory bottlenecks in datacenter applications. In datacenters servers are typically under-used due to these memory bottlenecs and Netlist says the HyperCloud chip “fills the datacenter memory gap,” and by breaking memory barriers HyperCoud successfully supports virtualization and cloud computing applications. Netlist already has established good customer relationships and HyperCloud is being qualified by many of the OEMs. The stock averages about 1 million shares in trading a day, a year high near $8 and low of $0.50 and at $2.63 on Sept. 1 is below its 50- and 200-day moving averages. Beta is very high near 7.

Santa Ana, CA-based Stec Inc (Nasdaq: STEC, http://www.stec-inc.com) received a recent upgrade from analysts at Think Equity. The company designs, manufactures and markets enterprise-class flash solid state drives for use in high performance storage and server systems. It also offers dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products. STEC has a market cap near $600 million, trades nearly 2 million shares a day, has a 52-week range of $43–$9.50 with a current price of $11.61 and a Beta near 2.

Mountain View, CA-based Actel Corp. (Nasdaq: ACTL, http://www.actel.com) engages in the design, development and marketing of flash- and antifuse-based field programmable gate arrays. It offers a range of single chip, flash-based solutions in the aerospace, automotive, avionics, communications, consumer, industrial and medical markets. ACTL trades less than 100,000 shares a day with a 52-week range of $17-$10.25. It is trading just above its moving averages near $15 and has the lowest Beta of the stocks highlighted here–just above 1.

* Denotes Allen & Caron client

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

VERISILICON joins " Forward proposes the power consumption " Accelerate advanced low power consumption to design

Blogs On Semiconductor - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 22:34

World-class ASIC designs the wafer factory and customizes the supplier VeriSilicon Holdings Co. of the solution, Ltd. (VeriSilicon) ” Have already joined a power consumption forward to propose ” ( Power Forward Initiative, PFI) ,Plan to offer it to its ASIC customer because of the common power form (Common Power Format, CPF) Design solution.

VeriSilicon adopts Cadence low power consumption solution, it is the intact design procedure that the industry leads, based on Si2 canonial CPF, run through technology such as logic design, proving, realizing. This kind is directed against design procedure after integration for low power consumption, can improve and design the productivity, reduce and design the risk, and reach the best sequence, power consumption and size.

VeriSilicon uses Cadence® Design system company (NASDAQ: CDNS) Low power consumption solution,complicate and shortening by time listing without being designed when lasting productivity, management.

” It is essential for multimedia, wireless and communication to employ the Apparatus that low power consumption is designed, ” VeriSilicon design methodology executive vice president Li NianFeng says. ” We have already joined ” Forward proposes the power consumption ” ,The ones that use our low power consumption professional technique for supporting the whole industry to be designed to the low power consumption electron are overall to march towards. VeriSilicon has already cooperated with Cadence to dispose such advanced low power consumption solution for our ASIC customer. We are expecting CPF will simplify the whole low power consumption and design the craft, will help the customer to meet what he is listed immediately’s needs. ”

” VeriSilicon is absorbed in the market that China develops at full speed, it is ” Forward proposes the power consumption ” Have brought the unique visual angle. Their participation will contribute to the technical adoption of low power consumption of bound pair of accelerating industry, ” Cadence Business Enablement department in charge of Pankaj Mayor and says. ” We put resources into supporting to VeriSilicon ” Forward proposes the power consumption ” Representing appreciation, we are looking forward to their participation. ”

CPF passes Si2 approved model form, is used for standardizing electric-saving technological & mdash on the initial stage of designing the procedure; — It can impel intelligence of low power consumption in the whole design process to share and put in an position. Cadence low power consumption solution is the first set of intact procedure of industry, will use Si2 canonial common power form and logic design, prove, and realize integration.

Categories: Planet Semiconductor

Study of Electron Orbits in Multilayer Graphene Finds Unexpected Energy Gaps

Blogs On Semiconductor - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 18:06

By John Toon – Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) describe for the first time how the orbits of electrons are distributed spatially by magnetic fields applied to layers of epitaxial graphene.

The research team also found that these electron orbits can interact with the substrate on which the graphene is grown, creating energy gaps that affect how electron waves move through the multilayer material. more> http://bwbx.io/g4XA

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Cowan's LRA model: Actual July 2010 global semicon sales $24.57bn; down 9.5 percent from last month (June)

Blogs On Semiconductor - Wed, 09/01/2010 - 15:15

This is a continuation of my coverage of the fortunes of the global semiconductor industry. I would

Categories: Planet Semiconductor