NICE, France, April 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA) and Mentor(r) Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) today announced the successful implementation and verification of a design in which low-power requirements were specified in the Unified Power Format (UPF). Based on Magma's Talus IC implementation platform and Mentor Graphics' Questa verification platform, the flow has been shown to reduce turnaround time for advanced low-power nanometer (nm) integrated circuits. It is the first complete flow to support the new standard. This interoperable, UPF-compliant implementation and verification flow will be showcased at the conclusion of Accellera's Low Power Workshop at the Design, Automation and Test in Europe conference in Nice.
UPF provides a single low-power description that can be used in the design and verification process and fosters tool interoperability. Without the single low-power description, each step of the design process would need to rely on the error-prone and cumbersome process of translating multiple formats and proprietary commands where the power intent could easily deviate from each other. Now design engineers using Magma's Talus IC implementation system and the verification engineer using Mentor Graphics' Questa verification environment can use the same low-power description.
The availability of the UPF standard has permitted Magma and Mentor Graphics to validate an interoperable multi-vendor low-power flow that goes from RTL through gate level to GDSII using low-power design intent such as multiple power domains, automatic insertion of level-shifters for signals that cross the voltage power domains and routing the power signals to the corresponding power supplies. The RTL design can now be synthesized to produce not only the gate-level design but the corresponding gate-level UPF file that is verification ready. The gate-level design information can then be used to implement the power-aware floorplan and to complete placement and routing of the design.
"The results of our work with Mentor Graphics establishes that the production-proven Talus IC implementation platform supports UPF," said Kam Kittrell, general manager of the Design Implementation Business Unit at Magma. "We're pleased to be working with leading EDA vendors to offer mutual customers complete low-power design flows that improve turnaround time and eliminate potential sources of errors. Our customers that develop wireless and handheld consumer devices will benefit from this cooperation."
"UPF is Accellera's answer to the design community challenge for a fast, open and inclusive low power design standard. Today, we are proudly demonstrating a multi-vendor RTL to GDSII low power flow based on UPF," said Robert Hum, vice president and general manager of Mentor Graphics' Design Verification and Test Division. "Design portability and the ability to create flows around best-in-class solutions such as Mentor Graphics' Questa Verification Platform and Magma's Talus IC Implementation Platform deliver the value that comes from open standards such as UPF."
Magma and Mentor will be demonstrating this flow on Tuesday, April 17 from noon to 3 p.m. at the conclusion of the Accellera Low Power Workshop at DATE. For details on the location and to register for the event, please visit www.accellera.org.
About Magma's IC Implementation Flow
The Talus IC implementation platform provides a complete RTL-to-tape-out flow that concurrently analyzes and optimizes timing, area, power, signal integrity and yield. It enables Automated Chip Creation(tm), a new methodology for IC implementation that drastically improves engineering productivity.
About Mentor's Verification Tools
The Questa verification platform is a mixed-language, verification solution supporting multi-level abstraction simulation, assertion-based verification, constrained-random testbench automation and coverage-driven verification. Questa supports SystemVerilog, VHDL, PSL, SystemC, and UPF.
About Magma
Magma's software for integrated circuit (IC) design is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology. The world's top chip companies use Magma's EDA software to design and verify complex, high-performance ICs for communications, computing, consumer electronics and networking applications, while at the same time reducing design time and costs. Magma provides software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, characterization and programmable logic design, and the company's integrated RTL-to-GDSII design flow offers "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon(tm)". 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.
About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of over $800 million and employs approximately 4,250 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.
Magma is a registered trademark, and Talus and "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon" are trademarks of Magma Design Automation Inc. Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark and Questa is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that the Magma-Mentor flow reduces turnaround time and improves productivity 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 and Mentor's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology, the companies' products' abilities to produce desired results and the companies' decisions to continue working together. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's and Mentor's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Magma and Mentor undertake no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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