Improved quality of results for ASIC design

The latest version of the Synplify ASIC software from Synplicity provides designers of complex ASICs and SoCs with advanced timing, area and runtime performance.

The latest version of the Synplify ASIC software from Synplicity provides designers of complex ASICs and SoCs with advanced timing, area and runtime performance.

Synplicity has integrated a new version of its module generation system (ModGen) to provide optimal quality of results (QoR) for datapath and arithmetic functions.

The company has also enhanced the software with critical path resynthesis, pipeline multiplier support and algorithmic improvements to deliver up to 25% timing performance improvements over previous versions.

Additionally, Synplicity announced it has formed a strategic relationship with Hynix Semiconductor to support Synplify ASIC software customers in Korea.

"We believe our Synplify ASIC product can offer the highest timing performance and area and runtime quality of results available - customers have reported that with the Synplify ASIC 2.4 beta they achieved better timing performance than with any competitive synthesis tool, including tools with separately purchased module generation systems", said John Gallagher, Director of ASIC Product Marketing for Synplicity.

"With our latest module generator system and other advanced optimisation features, we believe we have raised the bar for ASIC synthesis by delivering high performance in an easy-to-use software solution.

We believe the Synplify ASIC software is the logical choice for designers who need the highest performance possible in the shortest time".

Synplicity has added a rich set of features to the Synplify ASIC software.

The new ModGen module generation system can automatically derive high QoR for operator-rich designs with datapath and arithmetic functions.

Unlike competitive products, the ModGen system is fully integrated within the Synplify ASIC software, eliminating the need for separate software licenses for module generation.

The ModGen system automatically generates the fastest possible operators, or the smallest operators that meet timing, depending on the system application.

The Synplify ASIC software automatically infers from the RTL code the operators needed, without any hand-instantiation of specific components.

This approach allows the Synplify ASIC software to generate a performance-optimised version of the component specifically tuned for the surrounding logic and target process technology.

"We have been using the Synplify ASIC software for several months, and have been impressed with the performance and quality of results delivered by the software", said Peter Parsons, President of Pinpoint Solutions.

"On both customer projects and our internal developments, the Synplify ASIC software has allowed us to meet demanding schedules without concern over how long we will spend in synthesis.

With this new version of the Synplify ASIC software, we expect Synplicity will continue its track record of delivering excellent results with minimal time and setup".

Synplicity has also added a critical path resynthesis feature that can automatically improve timing performance and area within the design.

The new pipeline multiplier support provides excellent timing performance in addition to the standard operator support.

The new enhanced hold analysis and fix up feature enables the automatic insertion of buffers to correct for hold violations.

With this feature, the Synplify ASIC software provides analysis and fixing of hold violations both pre- and post-layout.

Because the Synplify ASIC synthesis solution offers consistent synthesis results across multiple runs, these new automated features can enable designers to refine and improve synthesis results more quickly and with fewer iterations than competitive products or earlier versions of the Synplify ASIC software.

Hynix Semiconductor is the newest ASIC vendor to support the Synplify ASIC product.

Hynix intends to provide its complete suite of libraries - from 0.35 to 0.18 micron - to designers using the Synplify ASIC software.

Likewise, Hynix will support the Synplify ASIC libraries in its design kit, enabling Hynix customers to have easy access to the Synplify ASIC libraries.

Dr Seong Kwan Hong, vice president, CIO of Hynix Semicondcutor, said, "We have seen strong demand from our customers for Synplify ASIC libraries.

While still a young industry, the Korean semiconductor market is experiencing rapid growth.

Our customers value design tools that help them quickly achieve good results, without adding difficult steps or cumbersome scripts.

Teaming with Synplicity, we can provide a superior synthesis flow to our ASIC customers".

Synplicity's Gallagher added, "The new relationship we have developed with Hynix Semiconductor, the leading ASIC vendor in Korea, represents our commitment to serve our customers worldwide with local solutions that improve their design performance and productivity.

We expect Hynix's design and manufacturing capabilities, combined with the customer support available from our own direct sales team in Korea, will provide our customers with the tools needed to succeed".

With support from a major ASIC manufacturer in Korea, Synplicity has expanded its broad range of local resources to support global customer adoption of the Synplify ASIC software into their respective design flows.

Other ASIC vendors who have endorsed the Synplify ASIC synthesis software to date include AMI Semiconductor, Chip Express, Faraday, Fujitsu, IBM Microelectronics, Lightspeed Semiconductor and Oki Semiconductor.

Synplicity's Synplify ASIC solution is available now for Linux (Red Hat 7.3), HP-UX 11.0, Sun Solaris 2.7/2.8/2.9 and Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 operating systems.

Customers on maintenance will be upgraded for free.

The Synplify ASIC software is also available from Monterey Design Systems as part of its Dolphin RTL second-generation RTL-to-GDSII solution.

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