EDA Topics

September 1, 2008

Modeling embedded systems using SystemC extensions

SystemC AMS extensions introduce new language constructs for the design of embedded analog/mixed-signal systems. This paper presents the novel modeling language for analog and mixed-signal functions that supports design and modeling of telecommunications, automotive and imaging sensor applications at various levels of abstraction. A simple example illustrates how new features facilitate a design refinement methodology […]

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September 1, 2008

Now this is a tough one

For the sake of clarity and sanity, let me first point out that you are reading an article written in the fall of 2008. The importance of this will become obvious when I reveal my topic: parallel programming for the multicore age. You thought I was about to claim first-past-the-post on a new technological challenge […]

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September 1, 2008

Rapid prototyping for the 802.11 era

The 802.11 family of wireless local area network (WLAN) standards is becoming ubiquitous. Products for its various fl avors – up to and including its latest 802.11n incarnation – must reach the market as quickly as possible. This implies a need for rapid prototyping, typically on an FPGA platform. This article describes how the design […]

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September 1, 2008

The state we’re in

UK-based analyst group Future Horizons has been organizing its international electronics forums for 17 years and they continue to provide an invaluable look into what the industry’s top tier of managers is thinking. It is one thing to get your own wise analysts to pronounce on tomorrow’s market, but it is something else entirely to […]

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June 1, 2008

Systems design automation for real

The Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) conference is a comparatively young event—it reached only its 11th edition this March. Nevertheless, it has now firmly established itself on the EDA calendar and this year significantly extended its scope to become the world’s most important electronic systems design automation conference. At the same time, it […]

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June 1, 2008

VHDL moves toward 4.0

Version 4.0 of the VHSIC Hardware Design Language was approved by Accellera and passed to the IEEE to begin its formal standards balloting process earlier this year. The article previews some of the key additions and extensions that form part of VHDL in the following areas: Property Specification Language Intellectual Property Protection Hierarchical names Extensions […]

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June 1, 2008

Accentuate the practical

When engineers discuss the status and value of the Design Automation Conference (DAC), one topic tends to recur. Fairly or unfairly, the claim is that there has long been an inherent tension between DAC the technical conference and DAC the exhibition. In short, the technical conference has been seen as biased toward tool developers; the […]

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June 1, 2008

Implementing an intelligent solar tracking control system on an FPGA

Given present-day demands for environmentally friendly, renewable energy sources, solar energy is becoming increasingly attractive. However, while solar energy is free, non-polluting and, in practical terms, inexhaustible, there remain significant inefficiencies in capturing it. For example, solar panels are traditionally fixed and in this configuration cannot capture the maximum amount of sunlight during changing weather […]

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June 1, 2008

Intel takes a new path from A to D

Justin Rattner will this year mark 35 years with Intel. His career with the technology giant has seen him collect numerous accolades, particularly for work in areas such as high performance computing (HPC). He was Intel’s first principal engineer and was its fourth member of staff to be named a fellow (he is today a […]

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June 1, 2008

Making the move to ESL hardware design

Electronic system level (ESL) is typically defined as design above the register transfer level (RTL). When applied to hardware design, ESL is the process of describing hardware functionality at higher levels of abstraction to increase designer productivity and enable greater degrees of exploration. With ESL, hardware designers no longer spend most of their time designing […]

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