BFL ASIC designers == Chronicle Tech

[mrb]

I know at least 1 person who noticed, but this was never posted on BitcoinTalk:



(This is a zoomed-in part of the BFL ASIC that Inaba released: https://forums.butterflylabs.com/attachments/announcements/475d1359776231-bfl-asic-status-bfl_asic_4k.zip )

This reads BFSHA256BGA CHRONICLE TECH. And Chronicle Tech (thx dust - old site is crappy: Chronicle tech - they are known mostly by word of mouth in their industry) is an ASIC designer with offices in Newport Beach, CA. I believe they have done, or are doing, work for Broadcom, whose headquarters are just blocks away (I live nearby).

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[ElectricMucus]

Their site shows an under construction sign. Those weren't used since at least 2005.
Is this some sort of joke? 

[dust]

This site looks more modern: http://www.customsiliconsolutions.com/recent-news-ASIC-solutions/default.aspx?ID=40

January, 2013: CSS & Chronicle Technology Merge .... We have some great news! Custom Silicon Solutions (CSS) and Chronicle Technology’s ASIC division completed a merger as of Jan 1st, 2013. The newly combined company will continue to operate as CSS. The merger greatly increases the design bandwidth and depth of the mixed signal ASIC design capability. Chronicle’s team adds extensive design expertise in advanced integrated technologies to the existing design capability at CSS. This greatly enhanced design capability added to the CSS existing production & test capability provides the new CSS with a full range of Custom Turn-Key ASIC Solutions - from Development through Production.

[Uuno]

Their site shows an under construction sign. Those weren't used since at least 2005.
Is this some sort of joke?  

Many sites are still using that under construction signs in these days. I don't know if they are joke though... 

[ElectricMucus]

Their site shows an under construction sign. Those weren't used since at least 2005.
Is this some sort of joke?  

Many sites are still using that under construction signs in these days. I don't know if they are joke though... 

You are right there are many abandoned sites from back them. But that usually speaks for itself.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

http://web.archive.org/web/20050816023024/http://www.chronicle-tech.com/

A mixed signal ASIC is a semiconductor chip that interfaces with and processes digital and analog electronic signals of any frequency from DC to light. Frequently, we assist clients by integrating numerous smaller ICs, transistors, resistors, capacitors and inductors into a single mixed signal ASIC.

Chronicle clients benefit from lower costs, smaller form factors, lower power and fewer chip interconnects thereby improving overall product quality and reliability. Our one stop ASIC procurement eliminates schedule delays and supply chain "hand-off" responsibility voids. Chronicle accepts overall ASIC project management responsibility - including coordination of design, prototypes, chip fabrication, packaging, assembly, test and shipment. Chronicle assures your ASICs are ready for system assembly and your product roll-out.  

We help clients optimize their human and equipment resource expenses for the cyclical and infrequent requirements of ASIC design and manufacturing tasks. Our expanding list of clients have repeatedly selected Chronicle because we deliver on-time, on-spec and in-budget.

Deduced from the following, I'd say the ASIC chips are most likely made at Global Foundries: http://www.globalfoundries.com/newsroom/2010/20101013_DE.aspx

“Infotech Enterprises is pleased to partner with technology leader, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, whose visionary commitment to reshape the landscape of the foundry industry through a collaborative approach to both technology development and customer engagement has won many accolades in the semiconductor industry,” said Venkata Simhadri, vice presdient, hitech practice head at Infotech Enterprises. “We are pleased to have been chosen as a certified design services partner by GLOBALFOUNDRIES after a rigorous and comprehensive certification process, reaffirming Infotech’s superior capability to provide ASIC Design Services all the way from ‘concept to silicon & prototype.’ We look forward to working with GLOBALFOUNDRIES and bringing to market exciting new semiconductor products.”

[Reckman]

They seem legit, this is promising.

[Bogart]

Remember the "refraction issue" that Josh mentioned BFL encountering with their first spin?

Apparently they completely forgot to apply OPC when creating the first mask set.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_proximity_correction

That sounds like a rather elementary error to make.  Not one I would expect to be made by someone who has any experience producing ICs.

https://forums.butterflylabs.com/bfl-forum-miscellaneous/690-13-jan-2013-asic-update-discussion-thread-9.html#post10463

[jjiimm_64]

Their site shows an under construction sign. Those weren't used since at least 2005.
Is this some sort of joke? 

If your too busy making money to build the site.....who needs the site

[kaerf]

http://www.xfab.com/en/service/third-party-services/x-chain/?no_cache=1&print=1 (search chronicle tech)

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Their site shows an under construction sign. Those weren't used since at least 2005.
Is this some sort of joke? 

If your too busy making money to build the site.....who needs the site

http://www.gigacomsemi.com/index.html

[mrb]

You are right there are many abandoned sites from back them. But that usually speaks for itself.

The keyword is "usually". IOW "not always". Chronicle Tech is 17 years old and has completed hundreds of tapeouts.

But what do I know. Perhaps I should discard this evidence, and base my opinion on a marketing tool such as a website. We all know that companies with rich websites all sell amazing products and services, while those with no or crappy websites do not. Right?

[poon-TANG]

I buy all my apple products because of their cool websites and hip commercials...............

[Phinnaeus Gage]

You are right there are many abandoned sites from back them. But that usually speaks for itself.

The keyword is "usually". IOW "not always". Chronicle Tech is 17 years old and has completed hundreds of tapeouts.

But what do I know. Perhaps I should discard this evidence, and base my opinion on a marketing tool such as a website. We all know that companies with rich websites all sell amazing products and services, while those with no or crappy websites do not. Right?

To be fair, they've recently merged. Use archive.org to view their site during the past years.