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Thank you to Beau Schwabe + Propeller 2 Layout Plans — Parallax Forums

Thank you to Beau Schwabe + Propeller 2 Layout Plans

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,390
edited 2014-10-06 08:41 in Propeller 1
Dear Customers,

Over the last year the Propeller 2 has been through some significant design changes. It had grown too much and consumed way too much power. In May, we put the design on a diet to reduce the size and power. Since then, Chip has been working on both the Verilog code and I/O pin schematic. The I/O pin is the portion of our design requiring manual layout. It contains the A/D, D/A, and all wire-level I/O functions. Combining manual layout and Verilog is done all the time, but not so successfully the way we’ve approached it.

Today we’re changing the way we’re finishing the Propeller 2 and we are hiring an ON Semiconductor approved design firm to do the manual layout and properly verify the whole system. This company will have the latest tools, which have become very expensive to license for our limited use. This approach has better accountability during handoffs and reduces unknowns of the whole-chip verification. We should efficiently finish the project and have successful foundry runs in the future.

Unfortunately it also means we’re eliminating our IC Layout Engineering position held by Beau Schwabe. Beau has been a strong contributor to the Parallax community for 20 years and valuable contributor to our Propeller 2 evolution. Beau will be missed inside Parallax.

Chip is pleased to provide a professional recommendation for Beau to any possible employer. If you are a potential employer seeking IC layout design, please contact me via kgracey@parallax.com and I’ll give you Chip’s number. Some of Beau’s expertise is identified below.

Sincerely,


Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.

====================

Our Recommendation for Beau Schwabe

Beau Schwabe has been employed at Parallax for the past nine years doing our IC layout work. He has sucessfully laid out many blocks which have been proven on test chips. This work has been at the 180nm node. His layout work has included:
  • Complete set of standard cells for 1.8V and 3.3V, including logic, flipflops, and clock gates
  • 8192 x 32 SRAM, single-port, byte-write
  • 512 x 32 SRAM, 3 read ports and 1 write port
  • 256 x 32 SRAM, dual-port
  • Several small ROMs
  • Phase-locked loop with 300MHz VCO
  • Delta-sigma ADC, first-order, variable resolution
  • Brown-out detector with bandgap reference
  • Fast DAC, 9-bit, 75-ohm, 2ns settle-time
  • 20MHz Crystal oscillator with integrated load capacitors
  • 20MHz/20KHz RC oscillator
  • Clock switcher with deglitcher
  • Poly fuse with blow and read circuits
  • Various analog blocks incorporating concentric layout techniques
  • Pads for digital and analog I/O, crystal oscillator, power, and ground, including ESD circuits
  • Entire pad frame, including power rings
Beau's layout work is very compact and clean. I've always been very satisfied with his quality. Though Beau's time at Parallax was spent on 180nm processes, he would certainly adapt to 28nm, or smaller, learning anything requisite in the process.

Beau has been into electronics since he was young and he has developed many board-level circuits for servo control and inductive sensing. So, he has an intrinsic understanding of things that would dictate IC wire widths and such. I suppose this has made my work with him very easy, as he always did the right thing without much instruction.

We have let Beau go because we've decided to outsource our future layout work. Our utilization of Beau has been low lately and it's not cost-effective for us to keep a full-time layout engineer on the payroll. Had we more layout work, we would certainly be keeping him on staff.

If you have any questions about Beau’s work at Parallax, please contact me for a professional reference.

Sincerely,

Chip Gracey
Parallax, Inc.


Comments

  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,451
    edited 2014-10-02 16:11
    Good luck, Beau! Sorry it means Beau has to go but I think this is a good decision and a positive development in the quest for a P2.
  • 4x5n4x5n Posts: 745
    edited 2014-10-02 16:41
    This very bad news. I am sure that with the talent the Beau has that he will have no problem finding another position very quickly! I'm sure this was a very hard decision for Parallax and hope this change in direction works out for the best for all involved.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-10-02 16:47
    Beau and I decided years back that we were "brothers of different mothers." My interaction with Beau invovling RF and analog stuff has been nothing short of energizing. I just know that he will do well in any future pursuit.

    Thanks, Beau, for your knowledgable analog input and for your diligent, exacting (and patient) work on both Propellers! Good luck with whatever you choose to do henceforth!

    -Phil
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,241
    edited 2014-10-02 16:50
    Sorry to see Beau leave. He has helped me on several occasions. Thank you Beau for all you've done.

    Doc
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-10-02 17:00
    I'm missing something here..

    Didn't Parallax just indicate the other day that they were short design engineers for PCB layout?
    Seems strange that they would let someone of this caliber slip through their fingers..

    There are other questions that come to mind, but since it's none of my business, I'll let someone else ask them,

    Best of luck to you Beau. Thank you for all of the help with Expos and Projects over the years..
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,544
    edited 2014-10-02 17:06
    Well, that's too bad. In addition to wiring up P1 and P2, he also wrote some of the best software demos for P1...
    Wish you luck Beau!
  • richaj45richaj45 Posts: 179
    edited 2014-10-02 17:11
    From Beau's list of accomplishments he has been very busy and is highly qualified in IC layout design.
    I hope he find a satisfying job soon. It is tough loosing a job for any reason.

    For the company, it is the correct decision to go with a company that has the resources to do the verification of the layout and chip. Those tools are incredible expensive and require specific skills.

    Hard decisions but it is good to see Parallax is making them.
    It is even more impressive that Parallax is proactive at finding Beau employment.
    Now that is a good company for sure.

    Hats off to Beau and Parallax management.

    cheer,
    rich
  • ozpropdevozpropdev Posts: 2,792
    edited 2014-10-02 19:14
    Sorry to hear Beau is leaving. He will forever be in the "Hall of fame" in the Propeller world. :)
    Outsourcing the P2 layout to the latest (very expensive) tools is a good move.
    At the end of the day Parallax is a "business" and therefore tough decisions have to me made.
    Once again, Thanks Beau for your fabulous hardware/software work. Good Luck!
    Cheers
    Brian
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2014-10-02 19:38
    I have had the pleasure of meeting Beau quite a few times at Propeller Expo's. He has been a great contributor and will be sorely missed.

    With his skill set, I have no doubt he will find another position in short order.

    My best wishes go to you Beau.
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2014-10-03 02:02
    Beau

    Thank you for all those times that you have helped me, shared your valuable knowledge, and voiced your wise opinions. I sincerely hope that this milestone in your life will be a turning point for the better. I am truly sorry to see you go, because you have always been a valuable member of this wonderful community.

    Bruce
  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,848
    edited 2014-10-03 05:39
    Beau, definitely best of luck with the job hunting. But I'll be the first to make this a little less of a funeral and speculate we'll be seeing your wisdom here on the forum into the future. :D
  • mklrobomklrobo Posts: 420
    edited 2014-10-03 05:56
    I hate to see beau go. When I think of Parallax, I think of Beau. He
    has always helped me. I wish the best for him. I am hoping he will
    always be around the forum, to join in a chat or two.:smile:
    Thanks for all you have done for me.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2014-10-03 07:05
    Sorry to see you go Beau, but I am sure you will land on your feet with your great skill set.
    Keep us informed Beau...

    Bean
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-10-03 07:20
    Anybody that knows where to buy ice cream in Frankfort, Mi is OK in my book! :thumb:

    Good luck Beau, you've done a lot for Parallax and its customers!! Thank you for that!
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2014-10-03 08:21
    ...sorry to hear. :frown:

    But, much success to you! :thumb:
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-10-03 08:39
    Thanks to Beau for all the support over the years, even though much of the analog and inductor stuff was way over my head. But he broke it down into simple terms.

    I don't think Beau is going away. He has already responded to a post:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/157653-Another-one-of-those-quot-no-basic-stamp-found-quot-threads

    A
    nd has a web site:

    http://www.bscircuitdesigns.com/
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,169
    edited 2014-10-03 13:20
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Today we’re changing the way we’re finishing the Propeller 2 and we are hiring an ON Semiconductor approved design firm to do the manual layout and properly verify the whole system. This company will have the latest tools, which have become very expensive to license for our limited use. This approach has better accountability during handoffs and reduces unknowns of the whole-chip verification. We should efficiently finish the project and have successful foundry runs in the future.

    That step makes sense, but likely will mandate a test shuttle to confirm the manual layout aspects.
    It could also mean a re-mix of the analog features, to use more fab-proven blocks, which reduces the time/cost/risks in this section of the design.
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Unfortunately it also means we’re eliminating our IC Layout Engineering position held by Beau Schwabe.
    That makes less near-term sense, as usually a company verifies transfer of the critical knowledge first, but I understand that cannot always occur as seamlessly as is ideal.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2014-10-03 23:04
    Beau,
    Thanks for all the information you have given us over the years. It really helped my understanding (or rather lack of it) of some of the issues involved in designing an IC.
    I wish you all the best for the future.

    Ken and Parallax,
    It makes sense although more of the design will be outsourced. The tools are truly cost prohibitive for a small company now-a-days. Looking forward to seeing the results.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-10-04 00:59
    Beau, it was great to meet up with you, Chip, Roy... and talk about things. Thanks for all your fine efforts. They are appreciated. You are a class act and I trust you will do well. And on that note, you've got a LOT of friends in these parts. Don't be shy to ask, if there is something worth asking. Never know who knows who.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-10-04 11:58
    I suspect that Beau will prosper wherever he goes next. He manages to think way ahead of most of us and offer significant contributions to whatever he puts his mind to. What's not to like for any future employer.

    In short.. Beau, you will me missed. We have all benefited from knowing you. Please feel free to drop in from time to time.
  • rjo__rjo__ Posts: 2,114
    edited 2014-10-05 17:16
    Don't have much to say except good luck to Beau.. although I hardly believe that he needs it.

    Sometimes running a company is just not fun. I'm glad I didn't have to make the call.
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2014-10-05 20:26
    All the best Beau. The opportunities has just widen a little (like the world) before you.

    Thank you for all your contributions and it was also a pleasure to have met you in Parallax Expo 2012.

    Do give me a call if you're ever in Singapore!
  • RamonRamon Posts: 484
    edited 2014-10-06 06:50
    Beau, sorry to hear this when P2 is so near to finish. Many thanks for sharing with us those images and videos about P2 layout.
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Chip is pleased to provide a professional recommendation for Beau to any possible employer.

    Great ! Does this mean that we can hire Beau to make a Kickstarter P1.5 version ? ;-D
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,663
    edited 2014-10-06 08:41
    All the best Beau! That's quite a list of layout blocks, quite an accomplishment and an indication of hard work that has gone into the Propeller evolution. Let's keep in touch! A long history with BASIC Stamps and Propellers can't disappear overnight. How about anything to do with inductance and coils and computers, is there such a thing as nano-magnetic layout?

    Ken, Parallax, all the best with the new direction. I can hear a very deep breath being taken before diving in.
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