Fish Fry – Page 55

June 7, 2013

Maybe it was the heat, maybe was the sheer number of processor guys strolling in from the greater Austin area, or maybe it was the BBQ. I’m not exactly sure what it was, but this year’s Design Automation Conference and Expo was livelier and more energetic than we’ve seen in years, and Fish Fry is taking you straight to center of the serious (and not so serious) design automation action. First, we talk about DAC with Tom Anderson (Breker) and ask him about SoC verification and more importantly, what set the Breker booth apart … Read More → "Let’s Get This DAC Party Started"

(Fish) Fryin’ The Senses

Artificial Compound Eyes, Touchscreens, and Scented SMS

by Amelia Dalton

May 31, 2013

We’re attacking your senses this week. Yep, we’re coming on like last week’s cold and we’re taking no prisoners. OK, that’s not really true… but this week’s Fish Fry is exploring several recent sensory-related technological breakthroughs in the world of electronic design. First, we’re talking about one of the newest advances in artificial compound eye technology and explaining how it could kick up the vision performance on your next robot project. Next, we’re checking out the newest advances in low-power touchscreen microcontrollers, and finally we are investigating how one … Read More → "(Fish) Fryin’ The Senses"

Tools, Airplanes, and Smart Watches

Embedded Design Makes The World Go Round

by Amelia Dalton

May 24, 2013

In this week’s Fish Fry – we’re talking tools, we’re talking airplanes, and we’re talking watches. First, I’m chatting with Jim McElroy (Vice President of Marketing – LDRA) about where LDRA fits in the embedded tool landscape, what their compliance management system is all about, and how this compliance management system may help you get your next Mil/Aero design off the ground. Also this week, I’m checking out how Aldec’s new Spec-TRACER tool suite can help you navigate the twists and turns of your next DO-254 design and … Read More → "Tools, Airplanes, and Smart Watches"

ASIC is a Four Letter Word, Napalm Bats, and The GertBoard

by Amelia Dalton

May 17, 2013

Fish Fry is treading on scary ground this week. Guard your children, hold your RTL close and your soldering gun even closer. We’re talking ASIC design costs. I know many of you are cowering in fear at the slight mention of custom chip NRE costs, but my guest is Reid Wender (Triad Semiconductor) and we’re chatting about how you can relinquish your mixed-signal ASIC design cost fears once and for all. Think of it as an NRE exorcism, sorta.

Also this week, we’re checking out a … Read More → "ASIC is a Four Letter Word, Napalm Bats, and The GertBoard"

(Raspberry) Pi in the Sky

Hackers, Makers, and Gert van Loo

by Amelia Dalton

May 10, 2013

Fish Fry is going raspberry this week, Raspberry Pi that is! My special guest is none other than the co-creator of the Raspberry Pi board Gert van Loo. Gert and I are chatting about how the Raspberry Pi board was created, how Gert built upon Raspberry Pi to create the Gertboard, and why he thinks IO education is important for the next wave of engineers. Also this week, I’m chatting with Cliff Ortmeyer (newark element14) about the interesting intersection of hackers, makers, and engineers.

In keeping with this week’s theme, I … Read More → "(Raspberry) Pi in the Sky"

Ultra-Low Power Strikes Again

by Amelia Dalton

May 3, 2013

Show me an engineer that isn’t worried about power consumption and I’ll show you a bridge I’d love to sell you. Getting the power consumption down in your designs can be a tricky dance. From the semiconductor process, to the components you choose, to the embedded software you use, just about every decision you make affects your system power. In this episode of Fish Fry, we’re talking to Gordon Hands (Director of Marketing – Lattice Semiconductor). Gordon and I chat about the world’s smallest FPGAs and what ultra-low power devices can … Read More → "Ultra-Low Power Strikes Again"

Westward Ho!

Design West or Bust

by Amelia Dalton

April 26, 2013

Pack up your soldering gun, your API handbook and your slide rule, we’re heading to Design West 2013 – where the sun is high, the booth babes look bored, and the tumbleweeds are plentiful. This week I’m chatting with Joerg Bertholdt (Director of Marketing, MCU Tools and Software – Atmel) about embedded design tools and how the right tools just might make your next embedded design a whole lot easier. Also this week, I’m breaking down my Design West swag count and investigating what the heck the semi truck on this year’s expo show … Read More → "Westward Ho!"

FPGA Tools, Marketing Malarkey Goggles, and More

by Amelia Dalton

April 19, 2013

FPGA Tools – can’t live with them, can’t design without them. This week’s Fish Fry is about ending the first part of that meme and how Xilinx is hoping to make our design tool experience a whole bunch easier. My guest is Tim Vanevenhoven (Senior Marketing Manager – Xilinx) and we’re going to chat about design abstraction, IP integration, and how the FPGA tool community is working together to provide more powerful, easier to use solutions. Also this week, I give a sneak preview of my previously top-secret, special-purpose augmented reality glasses – and … Read More → "FPGA Tools, Marketing Malarkey Goggles, and More"

My Substrate or Yours?

by Amelia Dalton

April 12, 2013

Fish Fry is getting down to bare metal. We’re talking the who, what, where, and how of multi-substrate technology and checking out why the tools of today may not be up to snuff for tomorrow’s 3D IC packaging. Also this week, we look at the challenges of 100G designs and investigate why Portland, Oregon was ranked the second nerdiest city in the United States.

I’ve got a Microchip TCHIP003 chipKIT™ Starter Pak – courtesy of Mouser and Microchip Technology to give … Read More → "My Substrate or Yours?"

Sensors on the Brain and FinFETs in the Game

by Amelia Dalton

April 2, 2013

Fish Fry is headed to the Land of Next this week – the next process nodes, the next big breakthrough in brain sensor technology, and the next Kickstarter investment you should consider. My guest is Wilbur Luo (Cadence) and we’re talking 16, 14, and 10nm, what’s in store for these next process nodes, and how the design challenges associated with FinFETs are going to keep us on our toes.

Also this week, I’ve got a brand new nerdy giveaway – the Microchip TCHIP003 chipKIT™ Starter Pak – </ … Read More → "Sensors on the Brain and FinFETs in the Game"