Electronic Design Automation: January 4, 1996

Simulation environment supports convergence designs. The Convergence simulation architecture, key to Version 3.5 of the Signal Processing Workbench (SPW), addresses the convergence not only of system-level design and chip-level design, but also of communications and multimedia application domains. It performs full-system mixed-level and -domain simulation, enabling continuous analysis and verification of systems on a chip and other complex convergence de- signs. SPW 3.5 with the Convergence architecture costs $25,000 per seat (node-locked). Alta Group, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 733-1595.

Timing-diagram editor translates stimulus vectors for VHDL. A timing-diagram editor, the WaveFormer, imports and exports stimulus vectors to simulators and logic analyzers. It works with VHDL, ViewLogic, and Spice file formats, as well as the Pod-A-Lyzer, a PC-based logic analyzer from Boulder Creek Engineering. A Windows 3.1 version of the WaveFormer costs $450; the 32-bit Windows 95 and NT versions cost $500. A floating license for Sun workstations sells for $2,000. SynaptiCAD, Blacksburg, VA. (540)953-3390.

PC-board-design system runs under Windows and MacOS. In addition to offering expanded features for improved performance, updated versions of ExpertPCB design software operate under Windows and MacOS. The updates retain all the functions of the current version and add capabilities for pin and gate swapping and fillets. The MacOS binary version includes native PowerPC and 680X0 code. The 32-bit Windows version works under Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, and Windows 3.1. All versions cost $995. Sage EDA Corp, Germantown, MD. (301) 540-6280.

Simulator complies with Vital ’95 specification. In support of VHDL Initiative toward ASIC Libraries (Vital) ’95 (IEEE 1076.4-95), Micro Technology is offering accelerated Vital ’95 packages for its V-System 4.4d simulator. To speed the simulation of designs, the company optimized and hard-coded the packages into the V-System kernel. Simulations run three to 10× faster with Vital-compliant models. Accelerated Vital ’95 costs $29,995 for the V-System/Plus workstation and $12,495 for the V-System/VHDL workstation (single floating license). Model Technology Inc, Beaverton, OR. (503) 641-1340.

VHDL program merges text and graphics. Version 2.3 of Ease/VHDL lets you enter VHDL descriptions in both text and graphics. In addition to explicit code for state machines, V2.3 generates implicit state code that allows a mixed description of data-path and control logic. The program offers on-line verification, automatic I/O propagation, and dedicated VHDL features, such as support for generics, packages, and libraries. Ease/VHDL V2.3 costs $3000 on Windows PCs and $7500 on Unix workstations. Translogic BV, The Netherlands. +33-318-642076.

Analog gate arrays join 0.6-µm ASIC library. Mixed-signal functions are now available in the vendor’s 0.6-µm gate-array ASIC library. The addition of the AMI6A library to existing gate-array and standard-cell CMOS libraries lets you implement analog functions in a digital process technology through CMOS gate arrays. Initially focused at the communications and electronic data-processing markets, the library offers such functions as PLLs, op amps, D/A converters, and low-power oscillators implemented in a variety of packages. Charges for the 0.6-µm library range from $22,000 to $220,000. American Microsystems Inc, Pocatello, ID. (208) 233-4690.

Windows software targets pc-board and FPGA designs. Recent releases of OrCAD Capture, Layout, and Layout Plus for Design Desktop for Windows provide full 32-bit operation under Windows 95, NT, and 3.1. Design Desktop for Windows provides tools for designing pc boards and complex PLDs, including FPGAs, and runs in native 32-bit mode under all Windows platforms. New to Design Desktop are OrCAD Layout Ltd and Design Data Link. OrCAD Layout Ltd is an entry-level pc-board-layout tool, and Design Data Link is a design-data and library-management system. OrCAD Capture costs $995; Layout, $4995; Layout Plus, $9995; and Layout Ltd, $1995. Introductory price for Design Data Link is $250. OrCAD, Beaverton, OR. (503) 671-9500.

Windows-based tool suite builds 10,000-gate FPGAs. Offered in versions for Windows 3.1 and Windows NT, a design-tool suite bundles a front-end design kit for ViewLogic’s Workview EDA tools with silicon-specific place-and-route, delay-calculation, programming, and test tools. CPTools/PC lets you design FPGAs on a PC platform with tools that have predictable timing delays and can handle densities of >10,000 gates. The tool suite costs $2995 per seat. Crosspoint Solutions Inc, Milpitas, CA. (408) 324-0200.

Software suite enhances Spice simulations. The Windows-based ICAP/4 simulation system, a suite of design tools consisting of schematic entry, Spice-based simulation, model libraries, and postprocessing, now offers thousands of new digital, analog, and sampled-data models. A unique set of models lets you interface hardware with a Spice simulation. In addition to electrical-circuit simulation, ICAP/4’s Spice simulator handles mathematical, mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and physical systems. The simulation system costs $2595. Intusoft, San Pedro, CA. (310) 833-0710