Ed Sperling of Semiconductor Engineering recently noted that adding more cores to a processor doesn’t necessarily improve system performance. In fact, designing the wrong size or type of core may actually waste power. “This has set the stage for a couple of broad shifts in the semiconductor industry,” Sperling explained. “Memory architectures can play an important role here. Most of the current approaches use on-chip SRAM and off-chip DRAM. But different packaging options, coupled with different memory architectures, can change the formula.”
Architecting new memory for the IoT
The once indefatigable Moore’s Law is beginning to slow, even as data, driven by a burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT), continues to increase exponentially. Consequently, a slew of new memory architectures, including those utilizing 2.5D and 3D packaging, are evolving to meet the demands of a new digital age.
These are the invisible cameras of the future
Hidden cameras are getting harder to spot: old, hefty spy gadgets you had to hide under a thick coat have been replaced tiny devices in the tips of pens that live stream HD video. Soon, thanks to new tech, spycams could even be entirely invisible.
CryptoMedia Content Protection Core Product Brief
Designed to meet the growing demand for secure content delivery to a range of devices, such as Set Top Boxes (STBs) and smart TVs, our CryptoMedia Content Protection Core provides Operators and over-the-top (OTT) services with robust protection combined with ability to save costs by replacing the smart card with a hardware root-of-trust embedded within the chipset. The core and associated services are compatible with a variety of conditional access systems (CAS) and digital rights management (DRM) providers to provide robust security against piracy while driving down design, operational and manufacturing costs.
Genode OS adds RISC-V support
The open source instruction set architecture known as RISC-V has gained significant momentum over the past year. To be sure, the ISA is now backed by a number of industry heavyweights, including Google, LG and BAE Systems.
New monetization opportunities for the IoT
Steven Woo, VP of Solutions Marketing at Rambus, recently participated in an Internet of Things (IoT) Summit panel discussion about the creation of new monetization opportunities in the burgeoning space. As Woo noted, chip design projects that once cost a few tens of millions of dollars a decade ago have jumped to $200 million or more. In addition, a significant increase in the number of IP blocks, use cases and configurations have created complex schedule risks and logistics challenges for chipmakers.
