Amelia's Weekly Fish Fry

Sending Mixed Signals

This week we’re talking mixed signals. My guest is Mladen Nizic (Cadence) and we’re talking about a brand new book published just a couple weeks ago called “Mixed-Signal Methodology Guide”.  Mladen and I chat about who this book is for, what companies collaborated to make this manual happen, and even where mixed-signal education is headed. Also this week, I check out Altera’s newly released roabmap for 20 nm and a new “magic” carpet that can not only map a person’s individual walking patterns but also predict when they are going to fall. I’ve also got a brand new nerdy giveaway this week, but you’ll have to tune in to find out what it is and how to win.

Priming The Pump

Get your motor runnin’ folks, we’re talking verification this week. In a special Fish Fry interview double-header, I chat with Brett Cline (Forte Design Systems) about what Forte’s SystemC synthesis tools look like, what’s behind their collaboration with High IP, and what his secret ingredient is for the best Bloody Mary. I also talk with Graham Bell (Real Intent) about the struggles of advanced verification, what their tool flow looks like, why Real Intent isn’t just a bug-hunting tool, and why foosball is like accelerated advanced verification signoff. Also this week, I check out the newest advances in vehicular WiFi and investigate why folks in my hometown of Portland, Oregon may need it the most.

Patently Obvious

Patent litigation - can't live with it, can't survive without it.This week we're checking out some recent rumblings in patent litigation. We're even bringing in a council person to help mediate the fight. OK, wait - that would be 'counsel'. My guest is Dontatella Scuito, the current president of the IEEE Council for EDA. Donatella and I chat about what the IEEE Council for EDA is all about, what project the council plans on attacking next, and why Donatella can call herself Sting’s sister.

Let's Get Flexible

What do you think of when I say the word "flexibility?"Yoga? Bendy straws, maybe? Perhaps a Slinky™? I’m going to guess you probably didn’t say batteries and field programmable gate arrays! This week Fish Fry is all about flexibility in electronic design - from the most recent Mars Rover software upgrade, to the newest advancements in flexible battery technology.  Then, we'll even chat a little bit about timing-driven partitioning of your next FPGA design.  In another installment of my Fish Fry executive interview series, I chat with Flexras CEO Hayder Mrbet about what FPGA partionining is all about, why Flexras claims they can make your multiple-FPGA project a whole bunch easier, and how this France-based FPGA tool company came to be. Also this week, I have another super-cool XMEGA-A3BU Xplained microcontroller development kit (courtesy of Atmel) to give away, but you'll have to listen to find out how to win.

Three Rings of EE Fun

Welcome to the Big Top of EE Fun, ladies and gentlemen! We’ve got Black Hat hackers, GPS spoofers, and in the center ring, a serious FPGA heavy hitter. This week I chat with Jeff Waters (Senior VP and General Manager at Altera) about how FPGAs can differentiate your design from the next guy’s ASSP, how FPGAs are making their way into the automotive market, and what make and model Jeff would pick as his dream car. I also have one more Altera DE0-Nano Development Kit (courtesy of Altera) to give away to one lucky listener. I'll tell you at the end of my broadcast how you can enter to win!