SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today announced it has extended the reach of its QuickCap(r) NX parasitic capacitance extraction software. IBM(r) (NYSE:IBM) is now utilizing the software for its 45-nanometer (nm) and 65-nm process technologies. IBM is also using QuickCap NX for extraction qualification to deliver silicon-accurate parasitic data to designers who manufacture their integrated circuits in Common Platform foundries.
In addition to correlating full-chip parasitics, QuickCap NX is now also used to correlate device-level and top-level interconnect extraction data to 3-D extraction data across all IBM technologies, including CMOS, silicon-germanium (SiGe) and silicon on insulator (SOI), and spanning all design types, including digital, analog and mixed signal. QuickCap NX validates not only simple metal configurations, but also more complex transistor-level structures, which are traditionally difficult to verify with sufficient accuracy.
"The QuickCap NX 3D extraction reference provides the fast, device-level and top-level interconnect parasitic extraction that we require," said Matt Graf, IBM manager of PDK Development. "We are expanding use of the software to the 45-nm and 65-nm process technologies to achieve dial-in accuracy and error-bounds reporting, giving us highly accurate results."
"IBM's decision to utilize QuickCap NX for not only parasitic extraction but also device-level and top-level extraction for its leading-edge processes reinforces QuickCap NX's position as the industry standard," said Premal Buch, general manager of Product Development of Magma's Design Implementation Business Unit. "Working with leading semiconductor providers like IBM enables Magma to improve QuickCap NX to meet the requirements of new silicon technologies."
QuickCap NX: Gold Standard of Extraction
QuickCap NX is used by major semiconductor companies as the reference standard for parasitic, device-level and top-level interconnect extraction. It is a highly accurate 3D extractor that precisely models advanced process effects such as optical proximity correction (OPC), chemical-metal polishing (CMP) and trapezoidal wires. QuickCap NX is proven to closely correlate to exact analytical solutions and silicon measurements, delivering capacitance values that are within one percent of silicon measurements.
It is the only extractor that 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 Talus(r) Vortex 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 Talus and the Quartz(tm) RC sign-off extraction tool.
About Magma
Magma's software for designing integrated circuits (ICs) is used to create complex, high-performance chips required in cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3 players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic applications. Magma's EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, circuit simulation and characterization is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world's top chip companies to "Design Ahead of the Curve"(tm) while 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, QuickCap and Talus are registered trademarks, and Quartz and "Design Ahead of the Curve" are trademarks of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or 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 QuickCap NX accurately correlates full-chip extraction data; that QuickCap NX is being used by IBM to correlate full-chip parasitic, device-level and top-level interconnect extraction data to 3-D extraction data across all IBM technologies; and statements about the performance of Magma software 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, IBM's decision to continue using Magma's software; both companies' abilities to keep pace with rapidly changing technology; and their products' abilities to produce desired results. 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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