Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Silicon to Systems: A Wake-up Call for the Industry
September 26, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Duane Benson, founder of Positive Edge, has been working with silicon and packaging for longer than some of our newer readers have been alive. We asked him to share his thoughts on silicon to systems, which Duane says is much more than a buzzword—it’s a wake-up call for the industry.
Andy Shaughnessy: We’re seeing more technologists pointing out the need for PCB designers to focus on silicon to systems. What does this term mean to you?
Duane Benson: Silicon to systems implies a holistic approach to design. It means that someone designing a component or subsystem will produce a better product by considering the entire system, from the supply chain through design and to the purchasers and users of the product. In other words, don’t design a product that can’t be built or that doesn’t really fit a need, and while designing it, communicate with others on the overall design team.
Shaughnessy: Many designers don’t know much about what happens at the silicon level, mainly because they’ve never really had to learn. What are the most important things that PCB designers need to understand about silicon?
Benson: Digging deep isn’t a requirement for many products. A lot of good designs have come from engineers who understand the way something works, but not the physics or chemistry underneath. That being said, I think that understanding the silicon level is becoming more important as speeds and density increase. Many engineers still think in terms of analog vs. digital electronics. They even design mixed signal electronics from the perspective of one side or the other. It’s not so simple anymore. In anything but the most basic of design levels now, that distinction is less relevant. Microcontrollers (MCUs) and systems on chip (SoC) mix analog, digital, and even programmable logic in the same part. On the leading edge, speeds are so fast that you can’t really look at it as either digital or analog. When designing in those regimes, even the electron physics becomes relevant.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the September 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Si2 Names NVIDIA, Synopsys Technologists to Lead New LLM Benchmarking Coalition
10/10/2025 | BUSINESS WIREThe Silicon Integration Initiative today announced the chair and vice chair of the Si2 Large Language Model Benchmarking Coalition (LBC), a collaborative industry initiative and standards body advancing AI for silicon design and verification that will expedite the development of high-quality large language models for semiconductor design problems.
Quilter Secures $25M Series B to Eliminate Manual PCB Design with Physics-Driven AI
10/09/2025 | BUSINESS WIREQuilter, the first and only company to publicly demonstrate fully autonomous PCB layout through physics-driven AI, announced $25 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures.
The Shaughnessy Report: Watt About Power Integrity?
10/08/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportYes, that headline is the equivalent of a dad joke, but editors can’t pass up a chance to inject a little humor into a headline, and I had to take my shot. Power integrity (PI) problems are no joke. Current power demands are increasing, especially with AI, 5G, and EV chips, which can lead to voltage drops that kill your performance.
Taking Control of PCB Verification One Step at a Time
10/09/2025 | Kirk Fabbri, Siemens EDAToday’s designs are as complex as ever, and engineers face tough decisions every day. Simulation and verification teams are confronted with a three-fold challenge: understanding the underlying theory, mastering the tools, and applying best practices.Engineers need to navigate a vast and ever-changing cast of design and simulation tools, often with overlapping functionality.
ICT Symposium Review: Sustainability and the Circular Economy
10/09/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007It was pleasant autumnal weather as we made our way once again to Meriden, the nominal centre of England, for the 2025 Annual Symposium of the Institute of Circuit Technology. Delegates were welcomed by technical director Emma Hudson who introduced and moderated a skilfully coordinated programme, focused on the highly relevant theme of sustainability.