Business Area Design Methodology

Today’s electronic systems often consist of complex hard- and software components that need to work reliably over many years without noticeable malfunctions. In addition, they are supposed to fulfill a wide range of challenging requirements, such as very low energy consumption or high computing power while operating in harsh environments. Through the increasing integration density of the systems and the use of state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies, moreover, physical effects have a stronger impact on the features of a product. Meanwhile, the proliferation of functions makes it hard for developers to maintain an overview of the coupling between subcomponents, making it especially challenging to master them.

Gaining mastery of them requires the use of new design methods and comprehensive tool support. As such, our scientists are working on identifying gaps in the design flow and closing them through the use of innovative tools and services. This begins with the unambiguous definition and traceable implementation of the specification in the product realization, and ranges all the way to the prediction of the effects that technological influences will have on system performance. The goal is an end-to-end virtually supported design flow. This is the only way to ensure that the systems that are developed conform to the required specification across all design steps and that faults are detected before production begins. This can prevent dangerous field failures, avoid very costly repetitions of design cycles and shorten development times.

Our work is focused on complex safety-critical electronics with high requirements regarding quality, robustness and reliability, which are applied in long-lasting, functionally safe products.

Our Research Topics

 

Reliability of ICs

Microelectronic and nanoelectronic structures in components are becoming increasingly small, and advances in system integration are packing these components into ever smaller spaces. As development of the technology progresses, undesirable interactions between components and variation effects arise that must be taken into account as soon as possible before manufacturing. Models and procedures for reliability and life cycle prediction therefore support this development process.

 

Functional Safety

Numerous innovative products consist of complex electronic or heterogeneous systems. We support our customers with tools and services to successfully manage the development phase. They allow fast and reliable modeling for different abstraction levels.

Project Examples and References

ARAMID

A key technology for autonomous driving is radar sensor technology, which enables reliable monitoring of the vehicle’s surroundings even under very poor visibility conditions. ARAMID is intended to form the basis for the further development and broad application of radar sensors in cars.

FLEUR

For small and medium-sized automotive suppliers, the industry’s stringent safety requirements represent a disproportionately higher cost compared to larger corporations. The goal of the FLEUR project is to compensate for the cost and risk borne by SMEs through efficient development methods.

ThermOBS

For self-driving vehicles, safe, effective, and reliable electronics are crucial. The aim of the “ThermOBS” project is to develop sensor and detection solutions that monitor the proper functioning of electronic systems and components.

Reference of an industrial customer

Elmos Semiconductor (DMOS GmbH)

Reduction of the verification workload for current and future IC design projects

ADMONT

Combining expertise, technological platforms and existing clean rooms, a unique design center for »More-than-Moore-Technologien« is developed in Dresden.

Reference of an industrial customer

Optimization of a Design and Verification Workflow