What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3 MARCH 2001

CONTENTS:
1. Virtual components fuel systems-on-chip
2. Not-Made-Here: Foundries flourish as semiconductor manufacturing is outsourced
3. IEEE-USA congressional fellows begin 2001 assignments
4. New Release - 2000 IEDM helps you explore the world of microelectronics
5. VITAL-2000 approved as IEEE standard
6. Embedded Linux
7. Next generation microprocessors investigated
8. New IEEE insurance web site makes it easy
9. First time advances presented at Custom Integrated Circuits Conference (CICC)
10. New circuits and devices course available from ISSCC conference
11. CMOS circuit design explained
12. What's New Special - 20% off select IEEE products listed in this issue!

WHAT'S NEW SPECIAL - 20% OFF SELECT IEEE PRODUCTS LISTED IN THIS ISSUE!
Look for the What's New Specials and order instructions below.

1. VIRTUAL COMPONENTS FUEL SYSTEMS-ON-CHIP
Reusable cores of intellectual property, blocks of circuit designs that can be interconnected rather than starting from scratch, reduce the time to market of complex semiconductor systems. The result is that systems-on-chip have more and more blocks of circuits not invented here. Terms like virtual components, Silicon IP, macrocells, cores, and embedded functions all describe this practice. Users download and integrate these designs with their circuit development software, analyze and test virtual performance, and fabricate their own systems-on-chip. Re-programmable FPGA for ASICs have been the major segment of this industry. Visit http://www.electronicnews.com/enews/news/6305-46NewsDetail.asp

2. NOT-MADE-HERE: FOUNDRIES FLOURISH AS SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING IS OUTSOURCED
While the overall semiconductor industry grew by 36.8% in 2000, leading foundries grew even faster with the largest achieving growth rates in the 60-125% range, according to Cahners In-Stat Group. No new silicon Integrated Device Manufacturers have emerged in the last 15 years. Foundries are aggressively investing in leading-edge technologies like the new 300-mm fabs. They will account for up to half of the 40 or more 300 mm fabs-costing up to $4 billion and expected to be in production by mid-decade. Several foundries have also been aggressively adding copper interconnect capabilities to their processes. The manufacturing process is no longer the differentiator between chipmakers says Steve Cullen, director of In-Stat's semiconductor practice. IP and system knowledge are now the true battlegrounds. The semiconductor industry is experiencing the same global disintegration, consolidation and horizontal specialization trends that the automobile, petroleum and PC industries have already gone through. Visit http://www.instat.com/rh/en/si0101sf_story.htm

3. IEEE-USA CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWS BEGIN 2001 ASSIGNMENTS
The IEEE-USA Congressional Fellowship program furthers the effective use of scientific and technical knowledge in government, and helps educate the scientific and engineering community on the public policy process. Eligible IEEE members are competitively selected to serve a one-year Fellowship, consisting of an appointment to the personal staff of a U.S. Senator or Representative or to the professional staff of a Congressional Committee. Typically, only two Congressional Fellows are chosen. This year, there are three.

Dr. Peter Winokur, manager for radiation technology and assurance at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, USA, is working in the office of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada). They will collaborate on legislation to promote the development of clean, renewable energy sources. Jason Remer, a design engineering supervisor for Entergy's Nuclear One plant in Russellville, Arkansas, USA, is supporting Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas). Remer will assist Barton on national energy strategy, nuclear energy and electric power restructuring issues. Dr. Russell Lefevre, vice president of Technology Services Corporation in Los Angeles, CA, USA, is advising Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-West Virginia). Dr. Lefevre will lend his expertise to issues regarding alternate fuels, electric vehicles, frequency spectrum allocation and aviation safety.

For more information, visit http://www.ieeeusa.org/releases/012201pr.html, or email Chris McManes: c.mcmanes@ieee.org

4. NEW RELEASE - 2000 IEDM HELPS YOU EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MICROELECTRONICS
Explore the World of Microelectronics with the proceedings of the 2000 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting. IEDM is the leading forum for the presentation of research and development in the area of electron devices and their applications. Previewed in the recent NY Times article "Exploring the Microelectronic World" http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/11/technology/11CHIP.html, this conference is attended by the world's foremost experts in electron devices. Find out more at http://shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=CH37138
***What's New Special - Use Code TIJ for 20% discount - ordering instructions below***

5. VITAL-2000 APPROVED AS IEEE STANDARD
Accellera and the IEEE announced that the VITAL ASIC Modeling Specification has been approved by the IEEE-SA as a revised standard. Accellera is the EDA organization resulting from the unification of Open Verilog International (OVI) and VHDL International (VI).

VITAL or IEEE 1076.4, an ASIC library design standard for IEEE 1076-1993 or the VHDL standard, adds modeling enhancements and addresses usability issues. VITAL accelerates the development of sign-off quality ASIC macrocell simulation libraries by leveraging existing model creation methodologies. It was developed by leading EDA and semiconductor companies, and was first accepted as an IEEE standard in 1995.

"Accellera collaborated with the IEEE, a leading international standards organization to demonstrate our commitment to enhance language-based design," noted Dennis Brophy, Accellera chairman, VITAL technical committee chairman and director of strategic business development at Model Technology, a Mentor Graphics Company. "VITAL-2000 users will find that the standard ASIC memory model improves memory modeling support and allows HDL simulators to run VITAL memory models faster." Visit http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/vital.html

6. EMBEDDED LINUX
Linux, a UNIX-like operating system that was designed to provide personal computer users a free or very low-cost operating system, is poised to storm the once-closed world of embedded applications. Best known for its uses in the file and Web server markets, Linux may also be just the ticket for building smart, user-friendly devices such as Internet appliances, personal digital assistants, and set-top boxes. At the recent LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in New York, a host of vendors, ranging from small start-ups to major companies such as Sun Microsystems, were touting their support for embedded applications. The March issue of "IEEE Spectrum" explores why an operating system with roots in multi-user mainframes would be suitable for embedding into an industrial machine tool. For the answer, check out the complete report from "IEEE Spectrum": http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/resource/mar01/nlinu.html

7. NEXT GENERATION MICROPROCESSORS INVESTIGATED
The next generation microprocessors in deep submicron CMOS technologies and their design is the topic of "Design of High-Performance Microprocessor Circuits" edited by Anantha Chandrakasan, William Bowhill and Frank Fox. This volume covers all levels of system abstraction, but the emphasis rests squarely on circuit design. Examples are drawn from processors designed at AMD, Digital/Compaq, IBM, Intel, MIPS, Mitsubishi, and Motorola. Written by some of the worldâ€™s leading technologists, designers, and researchers, each topic of this invaluable reference stands alone so the chapters can be read in any order. Find out more at http://shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=PC5836
***What's New Special - Use Code TIJ for 20% discount - ordering instructions below***

8. NEW IEEE INSURANCE WEB SITE MAKES IT EASY
It's always a good time to review your finances. Consider your insurance coverage and your family's well being. Learn more about the IEEE Financial Advantage Insurance Program at http://www.ieeeinsurance.com, the new web site for IEEE member insurance plans. Now it's easy to research options, understand your needs, compare rates, and apply online. Although most programs are for members based in North America, there are also insurance programs for members worldwide.

9. FIRST TIME ADVANCES PRESENTED AT CUSTOM INTEGRATED CIRCUITS CONFERENCE (CICC)
CICC provides a unique forum for all individuals involved with IC development to meet and share information about the most recent advances in system architectures, circuit and computer aided design, and process technology. This year's conference is May 6-9 in San Diego, California. The advance program is online at http://www.ieee-cicc.org For the best rates, register before April 20.

10. NEW CIRCUITS AND DEVICES COURSE AVAILABLE FROM ISSCC CONFERENCE
Missed the ISSCC Short Course? The tutorial "Circuits and Devices for RF Wireless Networks" from the ISSCC 2000 Conference is all captured on CD-ROM. This course provides an overall perspective of competing Si-based RFIC devices and a detailed description of possible circuit designs of key RF wireless transceiver building blocks. Find out more at http://shop.ieee.org/store/product.asp?prodno=EC125
***What's New Special - Use Code TIJ for 20% discount - ordering instructions below***

11. CMOS CIRCUIT DESIGN EXPLAINED
Designers of high-speed integrated circuits face a bewildering array of choices and too often spend frustrating days tweaking gates to meet speed targets. "Logical Effort: Designing Fast CMOS Circuits" by Ivan Edward Sutherland, Robert F. Sproull and David Harris makes high speed design easier and more methodical, providing a simple and broadly applicable method for estimating the delay resulting from factors such as topology, capacitance, and gate sizes. This book begins by equipping you with a sound understanding of the method's essential procedures and concepts - so you can start using it immediately. Available through IEEE Fatbrain http://www.ieee.org/ieeefatbrain

12. WHAT'S NEW SPECIAL - 20% OFF SELECT IEEE PRODUCTS LISTED IN THIS ISSUE!
As a thank you to our WHAT'S NEW @ IEEE subscribers, the IEEE is offering a 20% discount on your purchase of any of the specially noted IEEE books, conference proceedings, videos, self-study courses, and CD-ROM tutorials listed in this newsletter. If ordering from the IEEE Online Catalog & Store http://shop.ieee.org, include the code TIJ in the special instructions field at "final checkout." Offer expires on 31 Dec. 2001. If ordering by phone, provide the code to the customer service representative.

Terms & Conditions: Discount applicable only to items noted in this newsletter and only to orders placed directly with the IEEE; orders placed through resellers are not eligible for the discount. Coupons cannot be applied to orders already placed. Coupons cannot be combined with any other offer.

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