Software in the semiconductor industry

A transformation of the semiconductor industry is happening at present. Software is taking a more important role as customers are looking for systems (embedded systems) instead of chips. A few years ago, the semiconductor industry's customers bought chips to design systems using those chips (e.g. TV set, communication equipment). Now, they want systems instead of chips to produce faster, smaller, smarter, and cheaper products. The design of embedded systems and/or products produced by the semiconductor industry must change. It must be adapted to this new market requirement. This paper presents the most common design methodology used at present and the problems associated with this methodology. It also presents a different design methodology taking into account what the market is expecting from the semiconductor industry.

I. INTRODUCTION

Embedded systems are part of our lives. We use them in any activity we perform during the day: from the clock we use to wake up in the morning to the TV set we use to watch the news in the evening. From the washing machine we use to clean our clothes to the microwave oven we use in our kitchen. From the car we use for transportation to the PDA system we use. From medical devices used in hospitals to industrial devices used in manufactures. During a normal day we use several devices that are made from embedded systems and we use that without knowing the technology behind those devices.