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You Must Remember This: A Bit is Just a Bit, A Byte is Just a Byte – Part 1

One simplistic way to think about FPGA anatomy is to split everything inside of the FPGA into two categories: resources that do stuff (process bits) and resources that remember stuff (store bits). The resources that do stuff include the programmable logic, the DSP slices, embedded math blocks, and even the serial transceiver ports. The resources that store stuff include the flip-flops embedded in the programmable logic blocks, LUT RAM, big and little embedded SRAM blocks, and on-chip HBM DRAM. There’s also the special case of the extra memory chips you attach to the FPGA, which … Read More → "You Must Remember This: A Bit is Just a Bit, A Byte is Just a Byte – Part 1"

Using USB4? Require ReTiming? Kandou Can-Do!

OMG! I only just got used to the idea of USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2, and now I find that something called USB4 is barreling our way like a runaway freight train. USB4 supports signals with such high speeds that they need a special form of conditioning called ReTiming. Fortunately, the folks at Kandou have us covered.

Sometimes I like to play a little game in which I do my best to delude myself that I have a clue … Read More → "Using USB4? Require ReTiming? Kandou Can-Do!"

Is a $6.99, Tilswall 6000-count Multimeter from Amazon a Tool or a Toy?

For someone who really believes in using quality tools, I buy far too many cheap ones. Case in point: I just bought a 6000-count Tilswall FY8233X multimeter from Amazon for the amazingly low price of $6.99. That’s right, I bought a multimeter with test leads, a carrying case, and batteries for less than the cost of a Burger King Whopper Meal Combo for two deal. Unlike the Whopper Meals, the multimeter has a 90-day replacement warranty.

It’s not like I needed another multimeter. My old standby is a … Read More → "Is a $6.99, Tilswall 6000-count Multimeter from Amazon a Tool or a Toy?"

Intel’s Blue Genie Pat Gelsinger Wants to Bring Andy Grove’s Spirit Back from the Dead

Pat Gelsinger officially became the new Intel CEO on February 15, 2021. He arrives at a time when Intel is facing numerous monumental challenges from multiple competitors in several markets. The world is watching to see how Gelsinger plans to guide Intel, and he’s been very direct about his plans, saying that he intends to bring “Grovian Culture” back to Intel. That’s a reference to Intel’s former CEO Andy Grove, who led Intel to great technical and business achievements over more than three decades. There’s a lot of meaning and Intel history packed into … Read More → "Intel’s Blue Genie Pat Gelsinger Wants to Bring Andy Grove’s Spirit Back from the Dead"

Two Decades in Silicon Valley: Hats I’ve Worn, Jobs I’ve Had, Lessons Learned

Two and a half decades after deciding that I wanted to live in Silicon Valley, the opportunity to move there finally presented itself. I’d been visiting the area since joining HP in 1975, and Silicon Valley was clearly the epicenter of electronics innovation during the last quarter of the 20th century. When the opportunity came in 1999, my family was living in Boston. We uprooted and moved 3000 miles from the Right Coast to the Left Coast.

Although never my intention, I’ve now … Read More → "Two Decades in Silicon Valley: Hats I’ve Worn, Jobs I’ve Had, Lessons Learned"

Dropping the Ball and Casting Aspersions

In my previous column, Metrology Maketh the Man (and Woman, and Silicon Chip), I made mention of the fact that the human race has occasionally dropped the metaphorical ball on the technology front. The example I used was of Hero of Alexandria, who failed to invent the steam engine 2,000 years ago. Now, you might argue that lots of other people failed to invent the steam engine at the same time — including all of … Read More → "Dropping the Ball and Casting Aspersions"

Metrology Maketh the Man (and Woman, and Silicon Chip)

Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. The ability to measure things helps in locating and identifying problems and weak spots in production lines and processes. I was just introduced to a new molecular sensor for semiconductor metrology that may be poised to take the chip fabrication process by storm, but first…

When we look around, it’s easy to be awed by all of the amazing technology that surrounds us. I know I am. But I also know that we are prone to making errors (when I say “we,” … Read More → "Metrology Maketh the Man (and Woman, and Silicon Chip)"

Xilinx Launches Versal HBM

It’s no secret that we are drowning in data. Today’s applications and algorithms require almost incomprehensible amounts of data, and that means the bandwidth requirements are exploding faster than networking and memory technologies can handle. Even with the most advanced accelerators we can build with our FPGAs, we can be choked trying to get data on and off the chip and finding places to store information as we are processing. 

Even though memory bandwidth has been increasing rapidly, the demand is growing faster. Pushing around zettabytes of information … Read More → "Xilinx Launches Versal HBM"

Quadric CPU Combines AI with Conventional Code

Another day, another new microprocessor architecture. There was a time in the Nineties when everyone and his dog was designing a new processor. They were all going to revolutionize the world, crush Intel, enable new cutting-edge devices, and show us how it’s really supposed to be done. The nerd journals were filled with new CPU acronyms like RISC, VLIW, IPC, EPIC, ROB, ILP, SSE2, TLB, BTB, AES-NI, SIMD, and more. And, of course, IPO. 

Fortunately for us, those days of revolution are over. The majority of those new processor … Read More → "Quadric CPU Combines AI with Conventional Code"

featured blogs
Jan 29, 2026
Most of the materials you read and see about gyroscopic precession explain WHAT happens, not WHY it happens....