Sanyo opts for algorithmic synthesis

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team May 31, 2005

Sanyo Electric Co has selected the Mentor Graphics Catapult C Synthesis tool after an evaluation comparing leading high-level synthesis tools.

Sanyo Electric Co has selected the Mentor Graphics Catapult C Synthesis tool after an evaluation comparing leading high-level synthesis tools.

Sanyo chose the Catapult C Synthesis tool based on quality of results, time savings, ease of use, product maturity and the tool's compatibility with the company's C/C++ design flow.

In the past, the company employed behavioural synthesis tools to shorten device development time.

Recently, Sanyo decided to move beyond behavioural synthesis to explore algorithmic synthesis, which uses pure, untimed system models as input.

Algorithmic synthesis requires far less user effort, allowing designers to specify interfaces and hierarchy using constraints, and instantly target FPGA or ASIC implementations without changing the original C source.

"We found Catapult C's quality of results and ease-of-use to be very convincing".

"Using the tool, we were able to start at a higher level of abstraction and produce concise RTL code more quickly than before".

"Automatically producing ASIC and FPGA hardware from an algorithmic description will enable our hardware designers to spend less time coding details and more time optimising the more meaningful areas of the design", stated Dr Hideki Yamauchi, Senior LSI Design Technical Manager, Sanyo Digital Systems Research Centre, R and D HQ.

The Catapult C Synthesis tool is the only product to synthesise an ANSI C++ source where both the core algorithm and interface are untimed.

As a result, designers can perform detailed "what-if" analysis on varying micro-architecture and interface scenarios achieving fully optimised hardware designs.

The tool creates RTL that can be synthesised into gates using standard RTL synthesis products, enabling it to fit within a wide variety of tool flows.

"Sanyo Electric is a leading global multimedia consumer electronics company with extensive expertise in using high-level synthesis tools".

"We are delighted that Sanyo has selected Catapult C Synthesis to reach its quality and time-to-market goals", said Simon Bloch, General Manager of the Mentor Graphics Design Creation and Synthesis Division".

""Sanyo's selection of Catapult C validates Mentor's recent increased presence and focus on serving the Japanese market".