Articles – Page 7

Multiplying the Power of Artificial Intelligence with Artificial Bodies

February 18, 2025

So many things are currently going on in the artificial intelligence and artificial body spaces that my head is spinning like a top. For example, AIs are being used to design chips and systems for other AIs to run on, and an AI running on one of those systems can generate synthetic data that can be used to train another AI, and… then things start to get complicated.

Now, before we jump into the fray with gusto and abandon (and aplomb, of course), I have exciting news. This news … Read More → "Multiplying the Power of Artificial Intelligence with Artificial Bodies"

New Memory Architectures for SoCs and Multi-Die Systems

by Max Maxfield

February 13, 2025

Before we dive headfirst into the fray with gusto and abandon (and aplomb, of course), let’s briefly remind ourselves as to the current state-of-play on the chiplet and multi-die systems front. Let’s start with the fact that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are becoming pervasive and ubiquitous. Let’s also remind ourselves that we create our systems using a variety of processing elements, including CPUs, GPUs, NPUs, TPUs, and other hardware accelerators.

The way we design devices like ASICs, ASSPs, and SoCs today is that we purchase intellectual property ( … Read More → "New Memory Architectures for SoCs and Multi-Die Systems"

“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 4 – The 1980s, 1990s, and the end

by Steven Leibson

February 12, 2025

The 1980s presented many significant challenges to the Heath Company’s kit business. Commercial electronic equipment had become abundant, and automated assembly, especially with the advent of surface-mount technology, drove down the labor costs in many consumer products including stereo receivers, televisions, and Ham gear. Microcomputers and PCs became the main focus of attention. While Heath continued to develop new, more advanced products for the amateur radio market, Heath’s radio kits faced significant economic challenges from Asian amateur radio equipment manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Heath had a new owner. Zenith bought the company from … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 4 – The 1980s, 1990s, and the end"

“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 3 – The 1970s

by Steven Leibson

February 10, 2025

Part 3 of this article series covers a period of sustained growth for the Heath Company. The company’s amateur radio equipment kits continued to sell well, but by the end of the 1970s, its most advanced radio kits were already becoming too difficult to build for less advanced kit builders. Meanwhile, the company’s early microcomputer kits quickly started to dominate Heath’s product portfolio.

This article series is based on a presentation by Chas Gilmore (W8IAI), a life-long Ham who joined the Heath Company in 1966 as a design engineer and worked … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 3 – The 1970s"

Next-Generation Power Technology for Data Center Accelerator Cards

by Max Maxfield

February 6, 2025

I want you to put your “imagining hat” on. If you don’t own an “imagining hat,” you’ll just have to imagine that you have one proudly perched on the top of your head. Let’s start by imagining an accelerator card whose core processing device demands 2,000 amps (my eyes are already watering).

Now imagine multiple accelerator cards on a motherboard in a cabinet or server tray, multiple cabinets or trays in a rack, and tens of thousands of these racks in a data center (a large data center can have 10,000 racks … Read More → "Next-Generation Power Technology for Data Center Accelerator Cards"

“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 2 – The 1960s

by Steven Leibson

February 5, 2025

Part 2 of this article series covers a period of explosive growth for the Heath Company as its amateur radio equipment kits captured a larger and larger share of the market. This article series is based on a presentation by Chas Gilmore (W8IAI), a life-long Ham who joined the Heath Company in 1966 as a design engineer and worked at the Heath Company for more than two decades, eventually becoming EVP and General Manager.

Chas Gilmore: In 1962, the Heath Company transitioned to a new era. Schlumberger, the oil field testing company, acquired … Read More → "“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 2 – The 1960s"

Predictions for Multi-Die System Designs in 2025

by Max Maxfield

February 4, 2025

There’s a famous saying along the lines of, “Predicting things is difficult, especially about the future.” This quote has been attributed to many people, including Mark Twain, Niels Bohr, and Yogi Berra. In Yogi’s case, however, it’s usually phrased as, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”

I know that when I staggered into the current millennium, buoyed by the Y2K celebrations, I would never have predicted the current surge into multi-die system space (where no one can hear you scream).

“H” is for Heathkits and Hams: Part 1 – Early Days through the 1950s

by Steven Leibson

February 3, 2025

Late last year, I published a 6-part article series that recounted the history of the Heath Company and its world-famous Heathkits. The series was based on an interview with Chas Gilmore, who joined the Heath Company in 1966 as a design engineer and worked at the Heath Company for more than two decades, eventually becoming VP of product development, marketing, and sales and finally EVP and General Manager. After that initial article series ran, I received several requests for more in-depth information about Heathkits for amateur radio enthusiasts. Hams, your wish is my command.

Rust Rules! (Programming Language-Wise)

by Max Maxfield

January 30, 2025

Have you heard tell of the Rust programming language and how it is growing to be a serious contender in embedded space (where no one can hear you scream)? If not, then make yourself comfortable, “O my Best Beloved,” and I shall babble, blabber, and blather on this topic, as is my wont, but first…

If you are a non-programmer (or even if you are a programmer, now that I come to think about it), when you hear the word “rust” spoken in a conversation, your knee-jerk reaction is probably to think about … Read More → "Rust Rules! (Programming Language-Wise)"

In Memoriam: James Boddie, DSP Pioneer

by Steven Leibson

January 29, 2025

Starting with the development of the world’s first single-chip DSP, the Bell Labs DSP1, Jim Boddie devoted his long career to expanding the world of digital signal processing. His early work in developing signal-processing algorithms on minicomputers with attached array processors led him to cutting-edge signal-processing research at Bell Labs. That work resulted in the development of the DSP1, which AT&T successfully deployed in the 5ESS electronic switch. After the DSP1 project, Boddie held a variety of positions at Bell Labs, AT&T Microelectronics, Lucent Technologies, Agere Systems, and finally StarCore, where he … Read More → "In Memoriam: James Boddie, DSP Pioneer"