Case Study: Picocom achieves real-time PVT monitoring and decade‑long field reliability for its 12nm 5G small cell SoC with Synopsys' in‑chip PVT monitoring IP subsystem

Synopsys and Picocom In-Chip Monitoring IP Subsystem Embedded in 12nm Baseband SoC for 5G Small Cells

Picocom, a UK-based 5G Open RAN baseband semiconductor and software specialist, developed the PC802 — a 12nm PHY SoC for small cells that must operate for a decade in often hostile, fanless environments. To ensure long-term field reliability and optimize performance despite thermal hotspots, voltage swings and process variation, Picocom needed a modular, high‑accuracy in-chip monitoring solution that can provide real-time, actionable silicon health data throughout the product lifecycle.

Picocom embedded the Synopsys in‑chip PVT monitoring IP subsystem (part of the Silicon Lifecycle Management family) across the PC802, including a PVT Controller to manage distributed temperature, voltage and process sensors. The result was improved hotspot thermal accuracy, lifetime thermal-stress and supply monitoring, multi-point process-variation visibility, and reduced host processor overhead—enabling remote lifetime performance monitoring and helping deliver a low-power, interoperable PC802-based solution (and ORANIC evaluation platform) ready for reliable 5G small cell deployment.

Picocom

Peter Claydon

President