One week trip in the Bay Area

In the last week of 2005, my brother and my nephew came to visit me from Macau. It is the first time my nephew came to US. I hope to give him a memorable trip. Here are the places we went to.

Day 1: they arrive SFO at 7:30pm. I brought them to Danny's, had a full dinner. Then went to downtown San Jose, and walked around the "Christmas in a Park", a San Jose holiday tradition.

Day 2: Tech company trip in the South Bay. We drove around companies such as Cisco, Intel, Yahoo, ebay, google. Stop by and took pictures with their company logo. At night, we went to local church for Christmas dinner.

Day 3: Went to Napa Valley for wine tasting. At night, family gathering for another Christmas dinner.

Day 4: Early trip to San Jose airport, they went to Las Vegas for three days.

Day 5: In Vegas

Day 6: They returned to San Jose at noon. Then we went to Stanford University. I showed my nephew, who is still in high school, how the US college system works.

Day 7: Tour in San Francisco. Golden Gate bridge, China town, Fisherman Wharf, etc. In the evening, we went to watch an NBA game in Oakland.

Day 8: Last day of the trip. I let my brother drove my car the whole day. Surprisingly he handled the traffic pretty good. We went to San Jose State U, San Jose library, Barnes & Noble, Guitar Center. In the evening, they took flight back to Macau.

Too bad the weather wasn't good, so I didn't bring them to the Mysterious Spot in Santa Cruz. Maybe next time they come in Summer, I can show them more outdoor activities.

Happy Holiday Shut down

It has been several years already. My company shut down over a week during the Christmas holiday season. It is an enforced unpaid shut down. Some people don't like this idea much. Believes it is a cheap shot of the company to save money, out of employee's benefits.

For me, I like this holiday shut down idea. There are only one main reason. It is a vacation that nobody works. My whole team take off, so I don't need to worry of missing anything. Also, after a full year hard work, it is good to take a long break and recharge for next year.

So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Monitor evolution

I bough a new PC in 1997. At that time I were struggle to buy a 15" or 17" monitor. A wise man told me: "Buy a 17" so you will never need to consider buying a bigger one." I took his advise. It was a NEC 17" CRT mon, price tag was $500. I kept using this NEC mon till 2005, the quality was so good that I never have any problem. However, flat panel monitors are everywhere now. I check craig's list, my NEC mon worth less than $50 bucks.

Early this year, I finally bought a Princeton 17" flat panel monitor, price tag is $210 after rebate. It was a good deal. However, later on I am addicted to using laptop, so I put my Princeton to storage. Recently, I saw this news in Yahoo "Plastic Logic Fabricates Largest Plastic Active-Matrix Display". In near future, plastic monitors may replace flat monitors. Then I may end up buying another 17" mon.

I have a mixed feeling when I recalled what the wise man said. Well, he was not particularly wrong ...

Pastic Logic

OLED: Technology vs Marketing example

Based on an EE Times article, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) shipments grows due to demand of MP3 players. OLED is Organic LED. Its biggest advantage is bright and low power consumption.

A friend of mine worked for a company that made OLED products a few years ago. At that time their OLED technology could only produce grey level display. Their target market was cellular phone. As usual it took a few years for technology development. But when the product was ready, most cellular phone was using color display. Their company's marketing then changed direction. My friend mentioned they changed to target for small home appliance such as shaver display. Eventually this product line didn't do very well.

A few years ago, who can foresee the huge MP3 players market? And who can foresee the usage of OLED in MP3 player display? In the Valley, Technology and Marketing live and die together.

OLED shipments grow again, says DisplaySearch

Language barrier

I used to speak poorly in English. I took me many years to practice, now I feel pretty comfortable to speak. It is funny I feel a lot easier to speak English with other foreigner such as Korean or India. But when I talk to American, it still feel a bit uneasy. Recently this problem has been improved a little. The husband of my sister-in-law is an American, I talk to him quite often, so it helps.

Long time ago when I was still in Seattle, an experienced Chinese co-worker told me that I should speak English anywhere in the company even talking to Chinese. Because it would allow other people to join the conversation and improve the PR. I took his advise and kept doing so. But when I come to the Valley, I feel most people (at least in my company) don't do that. Chinese speaks mandarin with their friends and Indian do the same. Unfotunately, my 1st language is Cantonese so I can't really join either conversation.

Perhaps I need to find a relative who speaks Mandarin or Indian.

International Conference Call

International conference call (ICC) is a matter of business life in the Valley. Companies have teams or customers in different countries. For direct communication, ICC is often required. I have many ICC experience, some of them were quite memorable.

1. ICC to India
This was a joint project with one member located in India. Due to time zone difference, I need to have conference call with him at 8:30am. This was a weekly meeting through out a six months period. At that time, I was one of the few employees who came to work earliest.

2. ICC from Shanghai
Last year I went to Shanghai office for a week. In one meeting I need to conference call back to the US site. For me, who is a Chinese working in US, then ICC from Shanghai to US and speakings English. I just feel kind of funny.

3. TV ICC to Japan
Two years ago, I have a ICC with a big customer in Japan. They were making a chip for their next generation game console. Perhaps they were big customer, we setup a Video ICC with them. The whole system was provided by Sprint, including a large TV, camera, and software interface that operated by a remote control. The TV resolution was acceptable but and there was half second delay or so. The good thing was people can drawn something on white board and both sites can see.

The art of Emilology

Like most people in the tech industry, I need to read many email at work, usually around 10~30 each day. Reading email requires some skill. For example, some Cc email, most are unrelated to me, but one line could be an action item to myself. It could been easily overlook.

Writing an email is an art. I usually don't write too long of an email, 2~3 paragraph at most. And try to summarize all the important thing in the first paragraph. It is hard to expect people to read the whole email in detail, because I don't.

Sending email is another feat. When to send, who to send, who to Cc, can all produce different outcome. For example, sending a report at 8:30am for an upcoming meeting shows you are a responsible team player. Send a data analysis results at 8:30pm shows you are a hard working employee. When I need to request something from tough-dealing people, I always Cc their boss.

BTW, when people ask you to do something, don't reply too quickly. Because it mean you have nothing to do. :)

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Job market is heating up

Two weeks ago, a head hunter called my office phone. I didn't received these type of phone call for a long time. Does it indicate the job market here is picking up. I think so. Some of my friends just fired their boss recently, of course they already found new boss. And almost all of my friends have a job now.

Although job openings are there, companies are still hiring carefully. They look for very good match for their positions. Unlike the Y2K boom time, now employers won't rush to grab good telnet and then spend a few months to train them. They want good telnet, good experience, and expect people to work on day one.

For the employee, now seems finding a job isn't that difficult. Then we starts to be unsatisfied about what we have earned. One of my co-workers always want to sneak my salary information. He likes to ask somethings like: what is the percentage range of your bonus. Then ask if you ever get bonus more than $10K ... or he will ask how much $$ you put down on your ESPP ... etc. Well, personally I don't mind to reveal how much $$ I made. I don't earn much, barely enough to support my basic living. But there are two reasons I don't want to tell:

1. It is company confidential
2. If turn out I make more than him/her, he/she will be upset. If turn out I make less, then I will be upset. Why do something that surely will make someone unhappy?

Expensive EDA tools

Nowaday, it is difficult to start a fabless IC company, because they need to invest a lot of money to buy enpensive EDA tools up front.

Synthesis, RTL simulator, P&R, layout verification, timing verification, etc. Each of these tools cost around $50~$100K a piece. A big chuck of funding is already burn upon software installation.

It is not EDA companies over charging their customers. It is due to the fact that chip design is getting more complicate, engineers indeed need more tools to solve the problem.

Some argue to build free open source EDA tools. But I doubt if this will work.

EDA tools are complicate software, and it is used to improve productivity. Perhaps someone can write a free EDA tool that works. I doubt it could ever match the accuracy and speed of a commercial tool.

Free EDA Users Group

Two palm trees

Nearby the North 1st street exit of I-237, there is a huge open area. I heard the land belongs to Cisco. But they never do anything there. The last 6 years, all I see is a wild unused land. There are two long time resident though. A tall palm tree, and a shorter one next by.

There are no other trees in this land, so these two palm trees really stand out. Everyday, they seems to enjoy their quite moment, dancing together under the slow wind, and watching the busy vehicles drive along I-237. In windy days, these two trees hold hands tightly to stay firm. In rainy days, the tall palm tree will be a gentleman and block the rain for his partner. All these days they support each other, living strong in the busy silicon valley. Although they seem to stay there alone, they are not lonely.

Recently, there are some activity starting in this land. Looks like people are going to build some construction. I hope the owner of this land will keep the palm trees there. Because everyday when we drive along I-237, we like to see these two old buddies, waving hands to us.

Housing Mania : taking profits

Recently, two of my friends sold their homes. One sold a 3 bedrooms luxury town house for $759K, which he bought in 1998 with $400K. Another sold his 3 bedrooms single family home for $749K, which he bought in 1999 in $425K. Both make very good profit in 6~7 years. But my observation is, for people who want to live in a decent 3 bedrooms house, they need to pay around $750K in the valley nowadays. It is pretty tough for 1st time home buyer actually.

One of them actually move back to an apartment. He thinks the housing price will go down. And taking his chance to shop for good deal. Well, he sold his house a few months ago. Ever since the housing price starts to go down. Perhaps he is right ...

Top Google search result on "Bay Area Housing"

For EE students

The following is a recent conversation between me and a Electrical Engineering professor in the Silicon Valley:

Professor: P
Sammy Cafe: S

P: Don't do digital/Verilog type of projects, all these jobs are going off-source fast.

S: But Anaolg design company don't hire fresh grad.
P: That's true, you need to be good. They hire good students.

S: No matter how good I'm. Investor won't pay $50K more to train me comparing to outsource.
P: Don't worry about investors. Be good to make a senior enginner wants you.

S: You area a consulant of startups. Does investor expect startups to outsource some jobs.
P: Absolutely.

S: How many EE fresh grad in this school can get into EE industry nowday.
P: Around 20%

S: Thanks professor.

So I think, if you are EE studnets. You have two choices. 1. Be good. 2. chance major.

Getting physical

I started making a living by writing Verilog modules. Shortly after, I moved to physical design, doing Place-and-Route and layout. In the layout domain, it is like playing 2D puzzle. The physic behind it, honestly, I don't need to know much and can still get the job done.

A couple years later, I am doing RC extraction. This requires me to think in cross-section domain. Now I need to think in 3D. And I start to understand how manufacturing affect a chip.

Later on, I moved to work on SPICE level analysis. This time I need to pull back my text book and recall the detail of MOSFET physic. And recently, I am doing DFM and yield analysis. So I deal with the physic on semiconductor process.

Man, it is just getting physical. I wish I had studied harder on physic when I was in high school.

Britney's Guide to Semiconductor Physics

Blogger Spam

For some reason, my recent new blogs receive SPAM comment almost right away. I sample other people's blog and I don't see this problem. Is there any SPAM filter setting for blogger somewhere. Also, how does people write a script to automaticall upload SPAM comment on new blog!?

I am putting a curse on this particular blog. Anyone who put comment on this blog will have a bad teeth in three months!! Let's see if I will see anymore SPAM comment this time.

Breakthrough on circuit simulation

SPICE simulation is a breakthrough innovation for IC industry in the 70's. This technology enables engineers to simulate circuit behavior on the computer. It accelerates the progress on semiconductor IC chip development for the next several decades. Nowadays people call this technology TRUE SPICE.

As IC chips become larger and more complex. The TRUE SPICE algorithm starts to become incapable. It take very long time (e.g. over 24 hours) for large digital circuit simulation.

In the 90s', there was another breakthrough for circuit simulation. This is the so-call FAST SPICE. Basically it sacrifices some simulation accuracy but enables 10X more run time improvement. This again accelerates the progress on large digital circuits development.

In 2005, there is another breakthrough. There is no proper name for this technology yet. But the company who own this technology is called Xoomsys. It utilizes parallel grid computing, combined with FAST SPICE and TRUE SPICE. The outcome, 10X run time improvement with 100% TRUE SPICE accuracy.

How the Xoomsys technology can help the IC design industry!? It is yet to determine. But for innovation point of view, this technology solves a years long problem and I vote it as a breakthrough on circuit simulation.

Xoomsys

Buffet Craze

Todai buffet used to be my favourite for Chinese-seafood buffet. Their Sushi and seafood are super. The price tag is around $20. During the boom time in 2000, people feel they are rich and Todai was very popular. I remember I always need to wait 10~15 minutes to get a seat in the weekend.

But recently I went to Todai again in the weekend. Half of seats are empty. I think it is simplify caused by competition. Here are a few popular chinese-seafood buffet around:

1. Chinese Buffet
2. Crazy Buffet
3. Super Buffet (coming soon)

All of these name are pretty catchy. I have other suggestion though, for example:

1. Ultra Buffet
2. Buffet R Us
3. Warren Buffet

Anyway, name isn't important, price and quality is. Most new buffet restaurants charge $7.99 for lunch. It is pretty attractive in fact.

To my friend

My good friend in Seattle will have a big surgery in two weeks. I would like to designate this blog for her successful surgery and full recovery.

Housing Mania : garage utilization

In my condo complex, many resident use their garage as a storage. Their cars never park inside. With housing price so high and average living area are getting smaller. It is understandable to use every inch of the space for better usage.

Here are some other creative garage utilization I saw before:
- remodel as a fitness room (my next door)
- make it two bedrooms (no air circulation dude)
- build it as cats playground (she is a cat lover)

This seems funny but actually quite practical. The average housing price is above $600K in the valley. Assume garage space occupies 20% of the house. This translates to $120K worth of value. Let's say you always park the car outside. Then pay full cover insurance so you don't need to worry about car stolen. It probably costs $1K more on insurance per year. Still it is peanut compared to $120k. And now you have an extra space for living.

Does this sound ridiculous!? My wife thinks so. Therefore my car still stays inside my garage!

Fab and Fabless

When I joined the industry in mid-90s, a lot of companies are making good money on semiconductors IC business. Meanwhile, fabless design house are getting started. Fabless mean they don't own a fabs. They do chip design only. Then outsource the fabrication process to independent foundries such as TSMC. The disadvantage is that they don't have control on process quality, which can affect their IC product quality directly. Therefore, the people in this industry used to say: the real guy has fab.

But nowadays. The wind has changed.

As the IC chip scales to ever smaller, the manufactory steps are getting more complicate. For the latest TSMC 65nm fab, the cost is over $6 Billion. This is not the money that any company can afford. A company got to sell A LOT of chips to make return of this investment. Let's do a quick math. Let's say a high end chip can sell $100 a piece. They need to sell 60 million of them to break even!

So in today's IC industry, even big companies like Motorola and Philip build jolt fab together. The cost of investment are just too big to do it alone. Meanwhile, fabless design houses are getting more common. Let's name a few famous one: Broadcom, Qualcom, Xilinx, etc. They are real IC chip players, but not necessary have fabs.

Soaring tool costs to delay 450-mm fabs

No tech blog today

No mood to write about tech life in the valley now. Because it seems so unimportant comparing to the situation in New Orlean. I just have one comment. For those top government officers who said the victims staying in New Orlean should share the blame, they don't have a good mentality to be excellent leaders. If only tens to several hundred people didn't follow the mandatory evacuation, we can say those people are not wise. But if you have thousands of them staying, and no meaningful rescue effort after three days, you know something must be wrong in the system.

Lunch plan

The Valley is a very diverse cities and there are all kind of restaurants. Popular one are Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Japanese, and of course American fast food. However, usually I can't make up my mind where to eat until noon. I don't want to spend more than five bucks for lunch. And I don't like to eat food with too much calories. As a result, my choice is limited.

Taco Bell is my favourite. I go there at least once a week. I go to Subway sometimes, but they are expensive. I also go to Burger King. Whooper has high calories but I like Burger King for personal reason. Sometimes I go to Chinese or Vietnamese restaurant. Their price on menu usually is cheaper than $5, but I gotta pay tips ...

Recently I got a 25% off coupon from a Vietnamese noddle house. Then even including tips, I can walk out of the door in five bucks with a full stomach. I went there three time in the last two weeks. But the discount pricing is ending this month. So now I am looking for any restaurant with special discount.

Change of blogging time

Due to the fact that I am slowing running out of topic. And I don't want to just write ordinary daily stuff. So from now on, I will post a new blog once a week on Saturday. Actually I don't know if anyone visit my blog regularly. But I still want my blog posted on a predictable schedule.

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Traffic in the Valley

The traffic in the Valley, most of time, it is JAM!. There are a lot of nice cars driving on the highways, and they drive fast and furious. But it doesn't matter, they are driving 20 mph mostly when they go to work, especially bridging from one highway to another.

There are five major high ways in the Valley, I-101, I-880, I-280, I-237, I-85. All these highways connect and form a large circle surrounding the valley. It is a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, with more highways, there are more bridging. And bridging causes all the traffic congestion.

It is particular worst in I-237, which connect I-101 (West Bay) and I-880 (East Bay). From my observation, I-237 is not originally built as a major high way. For example, I-237 is merely 10 miles long and both ends connect to local streets directly. In recent years, more people buy houses in the East Bay. So they rely on I-237 to go to work. This makes I-237 bridging as one of the worst congestion spots. And even worst, I also take I-237 to go to work.

Fortunately, now the city had built a nice bridge to connect I-237 and I-880. This helps. But unfortunately, bridge rebuild between I-237 and I-101 is still nowhere in sight.

There is one thing quite interesting for the high way traffic in the Valley. It reflects the job market pretty well. In 2005, the traffic is warming up again, and I receives more phone call from head hunters.

Traffic411.com

Yahoo! back to work

It is 10am Monday, someone is still in the bed.

"Wake up, Yahoo, Wake up"

"Who is it?" Yahoo asked.

"This is Google."

*** *** *** *** ***

I used Yahoo since 1995. First I used their search engine. Then Yahoo map, Yahoo mail, My Yahoo, Yahoo Photo, briefcase, etc ... however, there is not much new development in Yahoo in recent years. I still use My Yahoo frequently. I have to keep my Yahoo email account. But some of my friends already forward all their Yahoo mail to Gmail.

Yeah, Gmail, the Google. Other than search and mail, Google is doing a lot of good stuff that dominated by Yahoo traditionally. Ever try Google Map!? You will feel Yahoo Map is for your grandma. Google is waking up Yahoo (or shaking up ...). In fact, from the gossip in the Valley, I know Yahoo is doing a lot of tech development under table now. They are activly hiring. I won't name what exactly the stuff they hire people to do (although I know a little). Basically Yahoo is going to upgrade their existing web service.

Yahoo may not come up any brand new innovative web service. But the competition between Yahoo and Google will surely make web service (and local job market, yeah!) exciting again.

Yahoo Services
Google Services

Toyota Prius

What is the hottest car in the Valley these days. I would say Toyota Prius, the hybrids vehicle. I see Prius everywhere. And people talk about this car all the time. Discuss how Prius can saves gasoline cost. More importantly, talk about the new feeling of driving.

Last month, my sister-in-law bought a Prius. I got a chance for a free ride. Then I understand what the new driving feeling is.

When I jumped into the car, the engine was already on. I asked: where do you put the key? She said: Oh, it has a wireless sensor to the car key, so it turns on the engine itself. Mmm ... OK, that is cool.

Then she started to shift gear, by control a small joystick-like rod next to the steering wheel, by using three fingers. Mmm ... like playing video game ... that is pretty cool.

When the car started running, she controlled the satellite map, CD player, and air condition all by a touch screen display. Mmm ... that's really cool. Then the screen showed the statistic of energy storage, mile-per-gallon plot, etc ... Mmm ... that's way too cool. I started to wonder if I were sitting in a space shuttle.

So, I agree Prius gives me a new experience of driving. For around $26K, perhaps it worths a try, especially the gasoline cost is rocket high.

There is one problem though ... with so much information on the screen, will it be a distraction for driving!?

Toyota Prius

Shortage of Computer Scientists

In July, Microsoft complained there are lack of computer scientist in the US. It is also true that less students enroll in computer science or engineering degree. Microsoft's explanation: "technology field just hasn't done a good job of positioning itself as hip and exciting."

This is far from true, I think.

IMHO, a degree program's enrollment rate is decided by the ratio of "Job Opportunity vs. Study Effort".

Music and art are fun and interesting. It is not the most popular degree program. Medical school guarantee you to have a high pay job, also it isn't the most popular program.

CS/EE program is not easy. But in the old days, you get multiple offer upon graduation. And it is among the highest paid for fresh grad with 4 year degree program. But now, although pay is pretty much unchanged, you gotta be the best students to get a decent job offer.

The best way to make it hip and exciting: add more job opening in the US!

Let's see what Mr. Gate said

Acupuncture

I work in front of a computer 8 hours a days. Plus some more computer time at home (including writing this blog). One problem of mine due to long computer usage is shoulder ache and head ache, from time to time.

Shoulder ache is easier to control as long as I do light exercise in the office regularly. Head ache is a bigger problem. Pain reliever works. But it is just temporally. I prefer a more permanent solution.

One of my friend hurt her shoulder due to injury form playing tennis. Many doctors told her there is no cure and she can not play tennis again ever. Finally she went to acupuncture. And bang! It fixed her shoulder problem. Because of her experience, I gave acupuncture a try.

After visiting an acupuncture clinic twice. My headache was gone. Yeah I got needle pinch on my leg, stomach, and head. But it really isn't that hurt. I continue to visit acupuncture regularly, just for the sake of good health. Now I no longer have headache. Amazing isn't it? It is!

Acupuncture in Bay Area

SPICE model standard

SPICE model is the key to simulate physical behavior of a semiconductor chip. So designers can verify the function of a chip on the computer. For the last couple decades, UC Berkeley BSIM model is the de facto SPICE model standard.

However, BSIM5, the next generation of BSIM, is not selected as the standard SPICE model of next generation semiconductor (CMOS) process, according to Compact Model Council (CMC). In stead, Japanese HiSim model and Philip PSP model (joint effort with U of Pennsylvania) are selected. It is a bit of surprise because Berkeley's BSIM model has such a long successful history. CMC's claim: BSIM5 is just not good enough.

This supposes to be end of story, until I hear something.

BSIM's creator is also the executive of world's largest independent semiconductor fab. Rumor said he thought with the power of his company, BSIM5 will be selected as standard model by default. So he didn't do any promotion for his new model. Unfortunately, the result turn another way.

Now the interesting is: for political reason, the Big Guy will probably support BSIM5 mainly. But the International standard are something else. So what will the rest of chip companies root for? It remind me Microsoft vs. software industry. USA vs. UN ...

CMC
CMOS

Sun Visor

The first year I came to the Bay Area, I immediately love the weather. What a nice California sunshine! Later on, I start to feel the sun light is a bit too strong for me. Especially when I drive on freeway, the sun light keep hitting my face and I hate it. More little dark dot appears on my face. My wife said this will become skin cancer and it freaks me out.

Recently, I see many women, Asian mostly, wear Transparent Sun Visors (as shown on photo) during lunch break walking. My first reaction, they looks so hilarious. They looks like Power Rangers. Later on, I see someone even wear the visors when driving. That's ridiculous! But on a second though, perhaps I can give it a try ...

So I bought one of those visor and sometimes wear this when driving. It really helps block the sunlight and I feel more comfortable. There are a few side effects though. Other drivers keep looking at you and think you are crazy or something. The good news is they tend to back off away your car. Also beware other drivers can't have your eye contact. It is not a good driving practice, so I don't wear it when drive in local.

Transparent sun visor

Language Tools

Silicon Valley is a very diverse city. Indian, Chinese, Mexican, I don't think any of them are consider minority here. Sometimes I wonder if I can read all these language, I will able to learn more about different culture.

Recently I find a Google translation tools. So I give it a try. Although not perfect, it translates around 70% of the correct message. The diffcult part is word with multiple meaning. The tools usually can't make good guess on it. But who can blame it? It is tough.

The following is a short story I think of today. I type in English. I copy and paste the Chinese translation. For those who know Chinese, you can judge how good the tools is.

*** *** ***

Rumor on Fear Factor

In 2006, the popular host of Fear Factor has been changed. The new host is a sexy lady. Audience are attracted by the lady and forgot about the original host. In fact, audience never see the original host on TV again. There is a reason for it. It is all because of an unseen episode of Fear Factor: House Haunting.

The fear factor team challenged the ultimate fear: life beyond dead. They went to the most haunted house in Mississippi. Unfortunately, this time they got into trouble. The whole team, including the host, were haunted and unable to recover till now. The program producer had no choice but to remove the episode and changed host.

*** *** ****

谣言在恐惧因素

2006 年, 恐惧 因素的普遍的主人被改变。新主人是一个性感夫人。观众由这个夫 人吸引和忘掉原始主人。事际上, 观众从未再看原始主人在电视。 有它的一个原因。它是全部由于恐惧因素一个未看见的情节: 议院 困扰。

恐惧因素队质询最后恐惧 : 生活在死者之外。他们去了被困扰的房子在密西西比。不幸地,这 时候他们惹上麻烦。整体队, 包括主人, 无法困扰和恢复直到现在 。节目生产商没有选择但去除这个情节和改变主人。

Google Language Tools

Analog Automation

Design automation has done a very good job on digital circuit. This enables engineers to design their circuit in high level description. Then let the software to translate it to circuit description (synthesis) and physical description (place and route).

However, design automation is nearly none on analog circuit. Engineers still need to design the circuit manually and layout it manually. Numerous companies tried to do analog circuit automation but none gain wide spread success, if not completely fails.

Recently I get a chance to use a software that is close to analog automation, and do it well. This tool is called Circuit Explorer. Well, it can't design or layout the circuit by themselves. But it helps the designers to optimize the circuit device size to meet the spec. Currently, most designers use parametrize sweep or simply random simulation to fine tune the design size. This is tedious. I don't think any engineer enjoy this task. Circuit Explorer help to do this job and it do it well!

Imagine this, you finish a circuit. Meet all the spec at room temperature and typical process corner. Nicely done. Now the next step. You need to fine tune the design size that it still meet the spec at different temperature and process corner. Man! There is lots of simulation and lots of button clicking. The good news, Circuit Explorer can automate all this work.

This tool isn't a break through on analog circuit design automation, but it really helps making life easier for analog designers.

Circuit Explorer
Planet Analog

Hiking and Walking

One activity I enjoy a lot in the Valley is hiking. The weather is so nice that you can go hiking anytime. There are many hiking trail in the Bay area. Some is easy, like the one in Foothill. Some is tougher, for example Mission Peak. Some has super view, such as Half Moon Bay. It is my interest to explore different hiking trails in the Valley.

Ever since I have a kid, there is not much free to go hiking. I still like to take a walk outdoor sometimes. So, I start to look for walking trail that fits for lunch break. So far, I only find two good trails nearby my company. They are Mountain View Shoreline park and Sunnyvale Baylands park. I go to Baylands park more often because it is closer for me and my walking partners. There is one drawback for Baylands park though: it charges for parking during the Summer. But over the last couple months, I discover a few "hidden spots" that can park for free. So, lunch break walking becomes my weekly activity now.

Bay Trail Pages

Cycle on housing price

Income level of people in the Valley doesn't increase much last several years. But housing price keeps going up. A two bed room townhouse in good condition can easily cost half a million.

Those so-call creative mortgage, such as interest-only mortgage, helps to keep housing afforability. Everyone want to live in a better house. And most are willing to push the affordability limit to buy a better house. When people bid a house, some will calculate their affordability based on interests-only mortgage rate. This pushing up the bidding price. As a result, this become a cycle on housing price. With housing price rocket high, people can't afford to buy a decent house without using interest-only mortgage.

Sense a housing bubble blurts!? But it just doesn't happen ... ...

Housing article

Wireless vs. Wrist

Wireless boardband become so common in the Valley. Even I've setup this at home. Look at the image above. It is captured from Yahoo! SBC DSL Ad. Do you think the girl is surfing the web comfortablely! I basically do the same thing every evening. Laying on my bed and surf the net. It seems so comfortable that you almost addict on it.

But there is a catch ... Look at the girls's wrist, bending at 90 degree. I do the same thing and it hurts after a while. In a long run, it isn't good for the hands.

So, all the tech guys here. If you figure out a way to use your laptop while laying (definitely laptop isn't designed to use that way). Let me know, we can file a patent together, perhaps it can become a nice product!

Yahoo! SBC DSL

An era of EDA industry

Ray Bingham, the former CEO of Cadence (CDN), is leaving the company for good. This concludes an era of Cadence, perhaps an era Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry as well.

EDA was once a proud industry, especially in the 90's. Technology innovation on software tools makes possible to build IC chips with millions of transistors. A copy of EDA tool can easily cost $100K, per year! Research on EDA tools was a hot topic in Universities. I watched an TV interview of Jerry Yang, Yahoo founder. Before his Yahoo idea took off, he was planning to work on his Ph.D in Stanford focus on the EDA related research.

In the new millennium, innovation in the EDA seems to stall. Coincidently, it is the same time frame Ray became CEO of CDN. The big guy in EDA (including CDN of course) believe it is more effective to acquire start-up with good technology, rather to build on your own. It is no wrong to buy good technology. The problem is, once the start-up is bought, the engineers acquired will become less motivated to innovate (perhaps they are safe now!?). And for the big guys, the potential competitor is now gone, so just focus on marketing and try to sell more this and that.

When will a Google of EDA emerge ... I wonder!?

Related EE Times article

1st ever blog

Hi Web Surfers, this is my 1st ever blog. First let me give a brief introduction of myself. I live in the Bay Area Silicon Valley, work for an IC design software company. English is my 2nd language so please pardon my poor writing. I will focus my blog on Tech life in the Valley, especially on my industry. There are 2 things quite interesting happening in my industry in 2005.

First, the Design-For-Manufacturing phenomena (so call DFM). There are so many start-up proposing all kind of solution to address this problem, but none is promising. It is like a gold rush. A couple years down the road, it will be interesting to see how many can survive.

Second, the outsourcing. Yeah, not a NEW news. But I'm casting my vote here: outsourcing is a one-way street for tech jobs. Except there is another technology breakthough (e.g. anti-Internet). Outsourcing is just such a logical choice for CEOs. If you have 10 years experience on the right knownledge, you are probably safe for a while. Because most Enginners in China/India don't have that much experience yet (but don't worry, they will catch up). If you are fresh grad or junior, better have backup plan on your career path.

Sammycafe
July 9th, 2005

DFM Startups