Amelia Dalton

How Does Multicore Affect Code Coverage?

May 7, 2014

Multicore systems can be a b…east to verify code on, depending on how you have things constructed. Left to, say, an OS scheduler, code execution on your average computer is not deterministic because of the possibility of interruption by other programs or external interrupts. So it becomes nigh unto impossible to prove behavior for safety-critical systems.

Lesson #1 from this fact is, “Don’t do that.” Critical code for multicore must be carefully designed to guarantee provably deterministic performance. But lesson #2 is, when tools claim to analyze multicore code, you have to ask … Read More → "How Does Multicore Affect Code Coverage?"

Mentor Unifies Verification

by Amelia Dalton

April 24, 2014

Seems like verification unification is in the air. We saw it recently with Synopsys, and now we have a move from Mentor.

While Synopsys’ version looked like an effort to unify acquired technology, Mentor’s efforts seem more internal. The big picture involves the unification of simulation, formal, emulation, and virtual prototyping under one umbrella, one interface. In that scheme, Mentor presents each of the technologies as an engine serving the higher-level verification goal; no longer is each one of these things a … Read More → "Mentor Unifies Verification"

Cleaning Up the Verification Shop

by Amelia Dalton

March 27, 2014

It’s one thing if different tools from different divisions of the same company don’t talk seamlessly together. Generally considered poor form. While that used to be common, EDA folks have cleaned that up a lot over the years.

It’s generally better accepted when tools from one company don’t necessarily integrate well with tools from another company. If there are good strategic reasons, it will happen. If not, then, as a designer or EDA manager, you’re on your own for patching the tools together.

But what about when, as a company, … Read More → "Cleaning Up the Verification Shop"

“Always On” is for Extroverts

by Amelia Dalton

February 21, 2014

In one of the early presentations at the Interactive Technology Summit last fall, Sensor Platforms’ Kevin Shaw gave a compelling presentation that wove together the concepts of always-on technology, context, and the disappearance of the interface: it should all happen transparently.

He painted a compelling picture of intelligent, benevolent always-on electronic eyes that watch us and learn who we are, what we want, and, critically, anticipate our next moves, practically laying out our suits for us before we even realize that we need one for an upcoming engagement.

I’ve heard this sort … Read More → "“Always On” is for Extroverts"

The Case for Zigbee

by Amelia Dalton

February 13, 2014

Not long ago I did a piece on wireless technologies. It was stimulated by the fact that BlueTooth Low Energy (BT-LE) seems to be on everyone’s “new support” list. While I didn’t pan Zigbee per se, it also didn’t figure in my analysis, and, frankly, it came up only with respect to complaints some folks had had about how hard it was to use.

Since then, I’ve had some discussion with the good … Read More → "The Case for Zigbee"

New Hall Effect Sensors Sans Choppers

by Amelia Dalton

February 6, 2014

My first exposure to the details of sensor design came at ISSCC several years ago. I watched a series of presentations that were, in reality, over my head. I did a series of articles on them, but it took a lot of study afterwards for me to figure out all the things that were going on, and amongst those things, which were most important.

Much of that was due to the circuitry used to amplify, filter, linearize, and stabilize the sensor … Read More → "New Hall Effect Sensors Sans Choppers"

Ten years and rolling

by Amelia Dalton

January 24, 2014

Ten years ago today the Mars Rover Opportunity bounced its way on to the surface of Mars, at the start of a three month mission. In that time, as well as driving 24 miles, the little machine has added enormously to our understanding of the history of the planet. If your kids are big science and space fans they’ll love the Best Home Planetarium in 2020 to learn some more.

And this is a huge endorsement of the team who put together the electronics. The development process started nearly twenty years ago, … Read More → "Ten years and rolling"

Mysterious IR Array

by Amelia Dalton

December 19, 2013

Our bodies have evolved on practical, not principled, grounds. So we have one sensor for photons in the visible spectrum, and we have a completely different sense for photons at wavelengths just longer those in the visible range. One we perceive as light; the other as heat.

But in fact, we now know, intellectually, that they’re just different frequencies of the same thing. It just doesn’t feel that way.

Well, Bosch has taken a page out of the physiology book with its recent infrared detector array. Instead of detecting photons, it … Read More → "Mysterious IR Array"

Supreme Court to Take On Software Patents

by Amelia Dalton

December 6, 2013

One of the big bugaboos in the software world over the years has been the question over whether or not software can be patented. It’s generally thought that algorithms in the abstract can’t be patented. Software can be copyrighted, but that’s no help if someone can just take your basic brainstorm and rewrite the code so it’s not a copy. They’ve still taken your intellectual property, learn more by taking one of this copywriting courses.

Patents were “invented” in the era of mechanical contraptions. … Read More → "Supreme Court to Take On Software Patents"

A Quality Rant

by Amelia Dalton

November 22, 2013

This year I’ve gone through a couple of electronics upgrades: phone and computer. Actually, the phone was supposed to be an upgrade since I wasn’t happy with the prior one. The laptop? Well, my old one was giving out (why is it always the graphics that go first?). So I needed a replacement – a hardware upgrade, not a software upgrade. A new computer with Windows 7 would have been ideal.

Let’s just say that I’ve been disappointed with both purchases. Actually, “disappointed” only works for the phone. … Read More → "A Quality Rant"