Novel tool cuts GDSII data down to size

SoftJin Technologies reckons its new design tool GDSIIZIP compresses large IC layout files in GDSII format by up to 20 times, making it four or five times better than existing products.

SoftJin Technologies reckons its new design tool GDSIIZIP compresses large IC layout files in GDSII format by up to 20 times, making it four or five times better than existing products.

By significantly reducing file size as well as transfer time for large electronic designs, the tool allows EDA companies and in-house CAD groups at semiconductor companies to tackle the challenge of handling increasingly large GDSII file sizes common in today's nanometre designs.

Besides space savings, GDSIIZIP reduces the time it takes to transfer these files across design groups, mask makers and foundries.

For example, instead of requiring a T3 line for transfer of 200Gbyte of GDSII data in about 1.5 hours, using GDSIIZIP, the same file can be transferred using a much less expensive T1 line in the same time.

GDSIIZIP will be sold directly in USA, Europe and India and through channel partners in Japan and Asia Pacific.

Evaluation version of GDSIIZIP can be requested for free trial, on registration at the SoftJin website.

"The new tool marks a significant leap forward as it clearly addresses inherent inefficiencies in the GDSII format and results in defined time and cost savings for its users", remarked Nachiket Urdhwareshe, CEO, SoftJin.

"With Anuvad, Nirmaan and now GDSIIZIP we are continuing to deliver on our promise and value as India's only developer in the post layout EDA tools which are targeted at the global EDA market", he further added.

Two metrics commonly used to evaluate compression technologies are compression ratios, the ratio of the size of original file to the compressed design file, and the time required to perform the compression itself.

On average, use of GDSIIZIP produces 20x compression ratios.

For comparison purposes, this is about 4-5x better than freely available utilities such as GZIP.

In addition, the time taken by GDSIIZIP to perform the compression is in the same order as that of GZIP, far less in most cases.

EDA tools that generate or consume GDSII layout data can seamlessly integrate this technology into their tools through an API that is available with GDSIIZIP.

The integration enables the existing GDSII generating tools to generate compressed layout data at the source.

Likewise with these interfaces, existing GDSII consuming tools can directly accept compressed layout data.

The compressed layout data can be selectively decompressed.

Unlike other techniques commonly used in this space, one need not decompress the entire file prior to using the data.

This means only selected layers, selected cells, structures or only a selected subtree of the compressed layout data can be decompressed, as needed.

This on-demand, selective read capability results in significant improvement in the throughput of EDA tool operation.

Built-in APIs make it possible to apply various types of filters while compressing as well as decompressing the data.

Functions range from simple operations such as filtering certain layers, to complex operations such as filtering out geometries with distinct characteristics such as self-intersecting polygons or paths.

Any geometric shape-based operation can be codified as a filter and applied during the compression or the decompression step.

GDSIIZIP includes a built-in verifier that offers on-the-spot verification to check correctness of compressed file.

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