Garnett, Maureen Y.

2001 Young Alumni Achievement Award

For achievements in research and development of M*CORE Series microcontrollers, contributions to the community, and impact on women in engineering.

Maureen Garnett was admitted to the University of Illinois as a Presidential Award scholar. She was a participant in the Engineering Study Abroad program where she studied and worked abroad at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Columbia. While on campus she participated in various student leadership and volunteer activities. After graduation, she began her career in the semiconductor industry. She worked in the development of microcontrollers that improved the technology of cell phones, automotive systems such as anti-lock braking systems, airbags, and many other applications. She played a key role in implementing new technologies to the design verification methodologies, which was becoming a crucial factor as the complexity and size made designs increasingly more difficult to verify within a reasonable amount of time. One major step was the early introduction of code coverage that has now become an integral part of reducing the time to market development cycle in the industry. From her work with this methodology she was featured on TransEDA year 2000 industry success story for her unique use and integration of code coverage.

Ms. Garnett is a member of IEEE and the VSIA Alliance, and is an associate member of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. She has twice received the Motorola Office of General Management Award of Merit. In 1993 she was elected as an officer of the National Society of Black Engineers.

The critical nature of hardware design methodologies have impacted the quality of the final product as well as defined professional roles within industry. A brief history of the structure and issues that face the development cycle of semiconductors will reveal areas where new methodologies have and will change the way designs are created. A detailed explanation and example of how a specific technology--code coverage--was implemented within a design verification cycle will be discussed as well as future uses of high-level design analysis. Once a technology has been proven, there is a necessity to work with teams to demonstrate its business impact as well. The last phase will discuss how the process of standardization of the use of advanced technologies within industry occurs. Technological trends eventually affect the way engineers choose and develop their careers and the products that will impact society.