SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA) today announced that TSMC (NYSE:TSM) has selected QuickCap(r) NX for parasitic extraction and designated it as the deviation comparison target for RC extraction tools on special pattern structures and real design samples such as critical nets. TSMC has qualified QuickCap NX technology files for its 65-nanometer (nm), 90-nm and 0.13-micron process technologies. TSMC customers can access the files through the secured TSMC website if they have an account or by contacting their TSMC representative.
TSMC selected QuickCap NX because the proven 3D extractor precisely models advanced process effects, such as optical proximity correction (OPC), chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) and trapezoidal wires, as required for today's nanometer designs. This tool handles complex test structures and critical nets while delivering fast runtimes without compromising accuracy. In addition, QuickCap NX performs device-level extraction.
"QuickCap NX is fast, accurate parasitic capacitance extraction," said Kam Kittrell, general manager of Magma's Design Implementation Business Unit. "We're pleased that TSMC, the world's largest foundry, recognizes QuickCap's ability to accurately predict sub-nanometer silicon performance."
"QuickCap NX is a 3D field solver that extracts and analyzes critical nets with high accuracy," said Kuo Wu, deputy director of design service marketing at TSMC. "TSMC uses QuickCap NX as the standard deviation comparison target for RC extraction tools on special pattern structures and real design samples. Magma provides designers the technology they need to meet their nanometer-level design requirements."
About QuickCap NX
QuickCap NX is used by major semiconductor companies as the reference standard for parasitic extraction. It is a highly accurate 3D extractor that precisely models advanced process effects such as OPC, CMP and trapezoidal wires. QuickCap NX is proven to closely correlate to exact analytical solutions and silicon measurements, delivering capacitance values that are within 1 percent of silicon measurements.
It provides dial-in accuracy and error-bounds reporting on each net, giving the user complete control and trust in the accuracy of results. Leading foundries have validated QuickCap NX's ability to more closely match silicon measurements. By taking process effects into account, the average difference between QuickCap NX capacitance values and actual silicon measurements has been reduced from 9.79 percent to just 0.11 percent.
QuickCap NX in the Magma Flow
QuickCap NX can be used for post-layout analysis in the Magma flow. QuickCap technology is also incorporated into the Blast Fusion(r) and Talus(tm) physical design software systems to support highly accurate timing and noise analysis during chip implementation. It is used to compute the highly accurate capacitance rules used within Blast Fusion, Talus(tm) and the Quartz(tm) RC sign-off extraction tool.
About Magma
Magma's software for integrated circuit (IC) design is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world's top chip companies to "Design Ahead of the Curve."(tm) Magma provides EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification and characterization. Magma products are used by the world's leading engineers to create complex, high-performance ICs for consumer electronics, mobile communications, computing and networking applications, while at the same time reducing design time and costs. Magma is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices around the world. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.
Magma, Blast Fusion and QuickCap are registered trademarks and "Design Ahead of the Curve," Quartz and Talus are trademarks of Magma Design Automation. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Magma software provides the highest accuracy and ensures silicon success are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology; and the company's products' abilities to produce desired results; and TSMC and Magma's decisions to continue working together. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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