Silicon Creations at the Forefront of IP Solutions: Insights from Rick Ader, VP of Sales

In the bustling atmosphere of the 61st Design Automation Conference in San Francisco, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rick Ader, Vice President of Sales at Silicon Creations, to delve into the latest advancements and offerings from this innovative company. Silicon Creations, a leading provider of high-performance and high-quality IP solutions for semiconductor design, continues to make significant strides in the industry. Our discussion, complemented by insights from their website and previous interviews, shed light on the company’s cutting-edge technologies and strategic vision.

A Legacy of Excellence

Founded in 2006, Silicon Creations has established itself as a powerhouse in the semiconductor IP industry. The company specializes in providing analog and mixed-signal IP solutions, including PLLs, SerDes, and high-speed I/Os. With a strong emphasis on quality, reliability, and performance, Silicon Creations has built a reputation for delivering IP that meets the stringent demands of modern semiconductor applications.

Rick Ader highlighted the company’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. “Our mission is to provide our customers with the highest quality IP, enabling them to create differentiated products that stand out in the market. We take pride in our ability to deliver robust, silicon-proven IP that consistently meets or exceeds expectations,” he stated.

Innovations in Advanced Process Nodes

One of the most exciting developments at Silicon Creations is their work on advanced process nodes. As Rick Ader shared, “We are currently developing IP at the 2-nanometer process node. This places us among a select group of IP companies working at such an advanced level.” Working on these leading-edge nodes involves close collaboration with top-tier customers and foundries, including TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. While specifics about these collaborations are often confidential, it’s clear that Silicon Creations is at the forefront of semiconductor technology.

Expanding the PLL and SerDes Portfolio

Silicon Creations continues to innovate within their core IP offerings, particularly in Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) and Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) technologies.

PLL Advancements

PLLs are critical components in modern electronic systems, providing clock generation, synchronization, and frequency synthesis. Silicon Creations’ PLLs are renowned for their low jitter, low power consumption, and high reliability. Ader mentioned, “We continue to expand our PLL portfolio with new types of clock distribution IP, free-running oscillators, crystal oscillators, and more.”

A significant advancement in their PLL technology is the development of an LC-tank PLL. “We’ve developed a new architecture for our LC-tank PLLs, which are now seeing traction in multiple process nodes, including TSMC 16FFC, GlobalFoundries 22FDX, and Intel 3,” Ader noted. This architecture addresses higher-end jitter requirements and is a crucial component of their PLL offerings.

SerDes Solutions

Silicon Creations’ SerDes IP solutions are essential for high-speed data transfer between integrated circuits, playing a crucial role in applications such as networking, data storage, and high-performance computing. Ader explained, “Our SerDes IP supports a wide range of data rates and protocols, including PCIe, Ethernet, and USB. We focus on optimizing power efficiency and signal integrity to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”

Their portfolio includes multi-standard SerDes IP, which supports multiple communication protocols within a single design. This flexibility allows customers to streamline their development process and reduce time-to-market. “Our multi-standard SerDes IP provides a versatile solution for customers looking to implement various interfaces without compromising performance,” Ader added.

Emerging Opportunities: Temperature Sensors

A new area of development for Silicon Creations is in temperature sensors. As Ader shared, “We’ve started developing temperature sensors as part of our broader IP offerings. These sensors are crucial for monitoring chip temperatures, especially in automotive applications and larger chips where heat management is critical.”

Currently, they have products in 28nm and 3nm, with plans to extend into 2nm and 16nm development. This new product line complements their existing PLL offerings, providing a holistic solution for customers who often require temperature monitoring capabilities.

Reaching Milestones: 10 Million Wafers

A significant milestone for Silicon Creations is their achievement of over 10 million wafers in production with TSMC. “This represents many years of customer tape-outs and various IPs that have tags we can track in wafer production,” Ader explained. With an estimated average of a thousand chips per wafer, this translates to approximately 10 billion chips containing Silicon Creations’ PLLs.

To commemorate this achievement, the company celebrated with a giveaway of coasters resembling silicon wafers marked with the 10 million milestone. “It’s a significant mark for us, supported by TSMC, and showcases our impact in the semiconductor ecosystem,” Ader said.

The Impact of AI on Business

The boom in artificial intelligence (AI) has also positively influenced Silicon Creations’ business. “AI has led to a surge in ASIC design starts, which directly benefits us as our business model is based on design starts,” Ader noted. Advanced process nodes like 5nm and 3nm are particularly in demand for AI applications, aligning well with Silicon Creations’ strengths.

Customer-Centric Approach

Throughout our conversation, it was evident that Silicon Creations places a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction. The company takes a collaborative approach, working closely with customers to understand their unique requirements and provide tailored solutions. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize open communication and collaboration to ensure we deliver IP that meets their specific needs,” Rick Ader emphasized.

Silicon Creations’ customer-centric approach extends to their support services. The company offers comprehensive technical support, helping customers seamlessly integrate their IP into their designs. This level of support ensures a smooth development process and accelerates time-to-market for their customers’ products.

Conclusion

Silicon Creations stands out as a leader in the semiconductor IP industry, driven by a commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Their cutting-edge PLL and SerDes solutions, coupled with a proven track record of reliability, position them as a trusted partner for semiconductor companies worldwide.

As the industry continues to evolve, Silicon Creations remains at the forefront, delivering high-performance IP that enables the next generation of electronic devices. With a strategic focus on emerging markets such as AI and ML, the company is poised for continued growth and success.

In conclusion, my conversation with Rick Ader at the 61st Design Automation Conference highlighted Silicon Creations’ dedication to excellence and their unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of their customers. As they continue to innovate and expand their market presence, Silicon Creations is well-positioned to shape the future of semiconductor design.

Tags: PLL, SerDes

Category: Silicon Creations

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