============================== Wireless Chip Designer Oct XX, 2006 Theme: Wireless-RF Testing www.chipdesignmag.com/wirelesschipdesigner ============================== Please see below for address-change or subscribe/unsubscribe instructions. Today's Table of Contents: 1. XXX 2. 4G Wireless Broadband Initiative Announced 3. Turnkey Development And Test Solution Delivered 4. Test Solution Enables Faster Time-to-Yield 5. Agilent And Peregrine Team To Provide RFIC Design Tools 6. Jazz Semiconductor To Merge With Acquicor 7. ESL Platform Selected For SoC Design Challenge 8. Partnership Focuses On Advanced Noise Modeling 9. In-Depth Coverage Links > Semiconductor Fabrics Need New Tools Approach > Be Early With Power 10. New Books 11. Happenings -- Conferences ******************** 1. Viewpoint - Exclusive ******************** Insert Editorial Here (Supplied by John Blyler) Comments about this article? Share your thoughts by writing our editorial director: jblyler@extensionmedia.com ******** 2. News ******** 4G Wireless Broadband Initiative Announced Sprint Nextel Corporation is developing the first fourth generation (4G) nationwide broadband mobile network based on the mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) IEEE 802.16e-2005 technology standard. Working together with Intel, Motorola and Samsung to incorporate WiMAX technology for advanced wireless communications into consumer electronics devices, Sprint Nextel will develop not only the nationwide network infrastructure, but mobile WiMAX-enabled chipsets as well. The infrastructure and chipsets will be designed to support advanced wireless broadband services for computing, portable multimedia, interactive and other consumer electronic devices. The network will use Sprint Nextel's extensive 2.5-GHz spectrum holdings, which currently covers 85 percent of the households in the top 100 U.S. markets. Intel Corporation >> http://www.intel.com Motorola >> http://www.motorola.com Samsung >> http://www.samsung.com Sprint Nextel Corporation >> http://www.sprint.com ******** 3. News ******** Turnkey Development And Test Solution Delivered Credence Systems Corporation has partnered with Integra Technologies to offer mixedsignal and RF application development support for design houses located in North America. Integra is also expanding its RF and mixed-signal test capabilities with the purchase of an additional Credence ASL 3000RF test system. According to Integra, the rapid proliferation of wireless and RF capabilities in today's computing and consumer electronics markets has created numerous opportunities for emerging design houses with the right expertise. Many of these start-ups, however, lack dedicated test resources and are not able to work with the larger test houses until product demand reaches sufficiently high production volumes. The Credence/Integra partnership is intended to provide such customers with a turnkey test solution to meet their needs from design to low-volume production. Once a customer transitions to high-volume production, Integra will then help facilitate the transfer of product testing to a test house where they can still leverage the performance and cost advantages of Credence's systems. Credence Systems Corporation >> http://www.credence.com Integra Technologies >> http://www.integratechnologies.com ******** 4. News ******* Test Solution Enables Faster Time-to-Yield LogicVision’s SiVision Yield Analysis application – a test solution which enables faster time-to-yield and improved end-product quality – has been adopted by Sequoia Communications. SiVision is an automated, easy-to-use Yield Analysis environment that provides second-generation data management, analysis and reporting capabilities. SiVision's unique SmartPE infrastructure allows semiconductor companies to automate their yield procedures and define data mining rules which automatically identify yield limiters. The solution was selected by Sequoia Communications because of its powerful automated data analysis and reporting capabilities, as well as its ease-of-use in identifying and debugging yield issues. It will be used to automatically upload test and foundry data as soon as it becomes available, and to automate data analysis during the characterization, pre-production and volume production phases. LogicVision >> http://www.logicvision.com Sequoia Communications >> http://www.sequoiacommunications.com ******** 5. News ******** Agilent And Peregrine Team To Provide RFIC Design Tools Agilent Technologies today announced a multi-year, multi-site agreement in which Peregrine Semiconductor has expanded its investment in Agilent Technologies' RFIC design tools, designed to boost productivity and production yields. Peregrine has been using a range of Agilent's RFIC tools, including Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS) Dynamic Link and RF Design Environment (RFDE) circuit simulation tools, Ptolemy system design simulator, wireless test benches, and electromagnetic simulation tools to successfully tape out advanced RFIC designs such as RF digital step attenuators, PLL frequency synthesizers, passive mixers and prescalers. This core investment in Agilent’s RF EDA technology will help make RFIC design more efficient and predictive, resulting in decreased design spins, increased manufacturability and decreased overall risk. Agilent Technologies >> http://www.agilent.com Peregrine Semiconductor >> http://www.peregrine-semi.com ******* 6. News ******* Jazz Semiconductor To Merge With Acquicor Jazz Semiconductor, an independent wafer foundry offering process technologies for the manufacture of highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductor devices for end markets like wireless communications, has entered into a merger agreement with Acquicor Technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Jazz will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquicor in an all-cash transaction valued at $260 million, subject to adjustment based on Jazz's working capital and for possible future contingent payments. Following the merger, Jazz will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquicor and will continue to operate as Jazz Semiconductor. Completion of the merger is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2007. Acquicor Technology >> http://www.acquicor.com Jazz Semiconductor >> http://www.jazzsemiconductor.com ***************** 7. International News ***************** ESL Platform Selected For SoC Design Challenge Celoxica announced that its Toshiba MeP (Media Embedded Processor) Development Kit has been selected by the Japanese VLSI Design and Education Center (VDEC) as the design platform and environment for a nationwide digital media SoC design challenge. This announcement is the result of years of collaboration and investment made by Celoxica, Toshiba and VDEC into semiconductor solutions and system level design for very complex System-on-Chip (SoC) design. Celoxica’s Development Kit provides a comprehensive package of Embedded System Level (ESL) design tools, programmable hardware platforms and utilities to help designers develop high performance SoC designs. As well as offering MeP processor Intellectual Property (IP), the kit is fully integrated into Toshiba’s MeP design flow to enable the rapid creation and validation of complex designs from algorithmic models. As part of VDEC’s design challenge, it will be used by teams of specialist SoC developers to create award winning designs around Toshiba’s MeP architecture. After completion of the challenge, VDEC expects to roll out the platform solution to over 150 Japanese universities and 640 research groups who are part of the VDEC network. Celoxica >> http://www.celoxica.com Toshiba >> http://www.toshiba.com VLSI Design and Education Center >> http://www.vdec.u-tokyo.ac.jp/English ***************** 8. International News ***************** Partnership Focuses On Advanced Noise Modeling The semiconductor foundry UMC, and Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics (IME), have sealed a partnership to jointly develop RF modeling solutions for 90-nm technologies. The newly formed joint development program encompasses two areas of research: high frequency noise characterization and modeling for RF applications at nanometer process technologies, as well as circuit modeling verification and validation flow development based on IME's RF circuits and tests. Progress in these areas will help facilitate the development of a Mixed Mode (MM)/RF circuit and modeling validation methodology for advanced system-on-chip (SoC) applications. These resources will help accelerate design-in and reduce risk for customers developing SoCs that incorporate RF applications for wireless segments such as 3G, WLAN and Bluetooth. Institute of Microelectronics >> http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg UMC >> http://www.umc.com **************************** 9. In-Depth Coverage Links **************************** Innovation - the growth engine of the semiconductor industry - is showing a new trend line in the fabric space. At one time in the mid-'80s, industry tracked custom design, gate arrays, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). ASICs became the fabric of choice throughout the '90s. Nevertheless - new-generation semiconductor fabrics need new tools approach. To learn more, read: “Semiconductor Fabrics Need New Tools Approach.” Chip Design Editorial Feature >> http://www.chipdesignmag.com/display.php?articleId=567&issueId=17 Traditionally, costs associated with packaging and cooling have been the key drivers for pulling power within an acceptable range. However, several other considerations are driving the need for low power devices today. To learn more, read: “Be Early With Power.” iDesign Editorial Feature >> http://www.chipdesignmag.com/display.php?articleId=613 ****************** 10. New Books ****************** Design and Characterization of Integrated Varactors for RF Applications By Inigo Gutierrez, Juan Meléndez and Erik Hernández ISBN: 0-470-02587-5 Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press Varactors are passive semiconductor devices used in electronic circuits, as a voltagecontrolled way of storing energy in order to boost the amount of electric charge produced. In the past, the use of low-cost fabrication processes such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and silicon germanium (SiGe) were kept for integrated circuits working in frequency ranges below the GHz. Now, the increased working frequency of radio frequency integrated circuits (RF ICs) for communication devices, and the trend of system-on-chip technology, has pushed the requirements of varactors to the limit. As the frequency of RF applications continues to rise, it is essential that passive devices such as varactors are of optimum quality, making this a critical design issue. This book describes the physical phenomena that occur in passive devices within standard IC fabrication processes. It presents information on the design of wide band electrical varactor models (up to 5 GHz) which enable the accurate prediction of device performance, proposes a specific methodology for the measurement of integrated varactors, explains de-embedding techniques, and analyzes the confidence level and uncertainty linked to the test set-up. It also examines the design of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit as a practical example of the employment of methods discussed in the book. Wiley-IEEE Press >> http://www.wiley.com/ ************************ 11. Happenings - Conferences ************************ GSPx Conference and Expo October 30 - November 2, 2006 Santa Clara, CA www.gspx.com/index.php/ 4th International System-on-Chip November 1-2, 2006 Newport Beach, CA www.savantcompany.com/SoC4-Fall2006/main.htm 2006 ICCAD Conference November 5-9, 2006 San Jose, CA www.iccad.com 2006 Software Defined Radio Technical Conference and Product Exposition November 13-17, 2006 Orlando, FL www.sdforum.org Electronica November 14-16, 2006 Munich, Germany www.global-electronics.net WAMICON 2006 - IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference December 4-5, 2006 Clearwater, FL www.ee.eng.usf.edu/WAMI/conferences/2006 2006 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting December 11-13, 2006 San Francisco, CA www.his.com/~iedm 2007 International CES January 8-11, 2007 Las Vegas, NA www.cesweb.org Electronic Design and Solution Fair 2007 with FPGA/PLD Conference January 25-26, 2007 Pacifico Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan www.edsfair.com DesignCon 2007 January 29 – February 1 Santa Clara, California www.designcon.com Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) April 16-20, 2007 Acropolis, Nice, France www.date-conference.com Read past issues of Chip Designer, FPGA Developer and Wireless Chip Designer eNewsletter: http://www.chipdesignmag.com WIRELESS CHIP DESIGNER e-NEWSLETTER CONTACTS ==================================================== Editor: Cheryl Ajluni mailto:cajluni@extensionmedia.com Editorial Director: John Blyler mailto:jblyler@extensionmedia.com Advertising/Sponsorship Opportunities: Karen Popp, mailto:kpopp@extensionmedia.com ==================================================== To subscribe send a blank email to: To unsubscribe send a blank email to: ExtensionMedia’s homepage: http://www.extensionmedia.com/ ==================================== Copyright 2006 ExtensionMedia, Inc. 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