Software tool provides 3-D interactive viewing.

VisFly, a 3-D CAD visualization tool, lets you "fly through" complicated scenes and maneuver around complex models in real time. Comprising a high-speed viewer and a model generator, VisFly processes large amounts of information from CAD databases and maintains real-time interactivity. The program offers interfaces to the I-DEAS Master series and Pro/Engineer for transferring CAD data. It also supports direct loading of many industry-standard model formats. You can import complex motion from major third-party kinematics and dynamics applications. VisFly, which runs on Silicon Graphics, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun workstations, costs $6900/seat. Engineering Automation Inc, Ames, IA. (515) 296-9908.

Windows software offers midrange CAD/CAM/CAE solutions.

Cadra V10 en-compasses a wide variety of CAD/CAM/CAE applications for desktop computers, including design drafting, numerical control, solids modeling, and electrical-control and power-system designs. V10 is fully compliant with Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, and Windows NT 3.51. Additionally, the Cadra suite now offers product-design, analysis, and optimization functions through the integration of Cosmos/M and Cosmos/FFE from Structural Research and Analysis. Application modules are sold separately, with prices ranging from $3995 to $10,000. Adra Systems Inc, Chelmsford, MA. (508) 937-3700.

Object-oriented PDM software gains access to business modeling.

An agreement between SAP AG and the vendor has led to an interface that seamlessly melds the vendor's Matrix object-based product-data-management (PDM) system with SAP's R/3 business-application software. Matrix's re-engineering capabilities complement R/3's modeling ability, streamlining business pro-cesses from engineering to manufacturing. Matrix 3.0 is a cross-platform client/server package that runs under AIX, Digital Unix, HP-UX, Irix, Solaris, SunOS, and Windows. The software costs $35,000 for the first 20 licenses and $1200 for each additional license. Adra Systems Inc, Chelmsford, MA. (508) 937-3700.

PC-board-analysis tools run under Windows NT.

SyntheSolve and UniSolve concurrent analysis tools for Windows NT, a complete translation of the Unix tool suites, maintain database compatibility for Unix and PC interoperability. Aimed at high-speed pc-board design, SyntheSolve reduces layout-to-analysis iterations, and UniSolve automatically computes the impact that a design decision in one area could have on another. UniCAD, Westford, MA. (508) 692-8446.

Synthesizable cores offer PCI-bus-interface solutions.

These four synthesizable cores comprise a PCI-bus-interface line. Two of the cores are implemented in Verilog: the 32-bit PCI to 32-bit Satellite Core and the 64-bit PCI to 64-bit host bridge core. Both are synchronous cores, the latter with FIFOs and the former without. The other two cores, which are implemented in VHDL, comprise the 64-bit PCI to 64-bit host bridge core (asynchronous with FIFOs) and the 32-bit PCI to 32-bit host bridge core (synchronous without FIFOs). Prices start at $50,000, depending on configuration and utilization. Virtual Chips, San Jose, CA. (408) 452-1600.

Models enhance simulation of wireless systems.

SystemView V1.8-5, a Windows-based development package for communications, DSP, and control applications, offers models for wireless-communication systems, including digital cellular and cordless telephones. The communications library adds a PSK demodulator, a bit interleaver, a bit synchronizer, a gray encoder-decoder, and a constant-modulus algorithm equalizer. Along with enhancements to the user interface and additions to token libraries, these models speed the prototyping of digital cellular and wireless wide-area-network and LAN systems. Elanix Inc, Westlake Village, CA. (818) 597-1414.

Simulation server verifies high-end designs in hours.

The LightSpeed family of simulation servers is a parallel platform that delivers supercomputer-level performance for simulating microprocessor, ASIC, and system designs of as many as 16 million gates. LightSpeed attains speeds in the range of 2000 instruction cycles/sec in benchmark simulations of a 486 processor. By comparison, simulation of a 486 using a fast implementation of Verilog on a workstation runs at approximately five instruction cycles/sec. The LightSpeed simulation server provides parallel multiprocessor configurations ranging from 64 to 4096 processors. Prices range from $200,000 to $1 million for a typically configured system. Zycad Corp, Fremont, CA. (510) 623-4400.

Software simulates 3-D electromagnetic radiation.

Based on the full-wave methods of moments algorithm, IE3D V3.0 offers a magnetic-simulation option that reduces simulation time and increases accuracy of models that contain ground planes or antenna-plane apertures. V3 also supports optimization of geometries for a desired electrical result by simply entering the electrical values wanted and the geometry modification limits allowed. You can export modified structures using GDS-II, DXF, CIF, and Gerber file formats. IE3D runs under Windows 3.1, 95, and NT. Prices start at $10,000. The magnetic simulation option costs $4000. Bay Technology, Aptos, CA. (408) 688-8919.

Standard-cell library serves deep-submicron designs.

Optimized for synthesis and place-and-route tools, the Optimum Silicon library technology offers >300 standard-cell functions for deep-submicron designs. The technology, which is available under the company's Passport product line and custom library-development program, makes efficient use of silicon area and meets stringent power and performance requirements. Prices for the Passport OS libraries start at $250,000 per library in 0.6-µm, 5V and 0.5-µm, 3 and 5V technologies. The 0.35- and 0.6-µm, 3V libraries will debut in the second quarter. Compass Design Automation, San Jose, CA. (408) 433-4880.

Verilog simulator doubles speed.

V3.0 of the Verilog Compiled Simulator (VCS) not only runs as much as two times faster than the previous version, but also offers ASIC sign-off features, source protection, and en-hanced debugging capabilities. The speed boost of VCS V3.0 is seen at all levels, including gate-level simulation. The speed of the PLI interface and SDF back-annotation are also faster in V3.0 Two debugging options—a text-based debugger and an interactive graphical debugger—can be used interchangeably during interactive and batch processing. Prices start at $30,000. Viewlogic Systems Inc, Marlborough, MA. (508)480-0881.

Routing option checks wire lengths.

The EditFST option for the EditRoute interactive wire and via editor, part of the Specctra family of shape-based place-and route tools, obeys user-defined length rules and provides graphical feedback that guides you to a compliant routing solution for nets that have timing constraints. Color-coded polygons surround nets with length rules and provide a global view to interactively route to minimum-, maximum-, or matched-length connections. Wires are checked for length violations during routing, continually displaying both legal and illegal conditions. EditFST comes with Specctra V6.0 for $5000 on most Unix workstations and Windows-based PCs. Cooper & Chyan Technologies Inc, Cupertino, CA. (408) 366-6966.

State-diagram software is revamped for Unix.

StateCAD software for programming ASICs and FPGAs from concurrent state diagrams now comes in Unix versions for SunOS and Solaris platforms. The program, which comes with a drawing engine for specifying state machines, generates synthesizable VHDL, Verilog, Abel, Alter-HDL, Minc-DSL, and C code. StateCAD lets you enter a design in one language and generate code in another using the same state diagram. It also provides a context-sensitive validation unit that flags >100 syntax and logic errors. A single-node locked seat costs $2995; a floating seat costs $4495. Visual Software Solutions, Coral Springs, FL. (954) 346-8890.

Verilog simulation program works with Visual C++.

V2.1 of the Unix and Windows versions of PureSpeed Verilog simulation tools enhances the GUI and adds a comprehensive on-line help facility. For Windows 95 and NT 3.51, PureSpeed now accepts Visual C++ 4.0 for the Verilog programming-language interface and compiled-code simulation mode. V2.1's BackTracker tool lets you graphically traverse the entire design connectivity, starting from any signal, to aid in locating and debugging design problems. The waveform window in the simulation control panel also includes error and status markers and handles 64-bit time. Prices for PureSpeed interpreted and gate-level engines start at $5000. FrontLine Design Automation Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 456-0222.

Spice library expands to >440 macromodels.

The ADSpice library has 18 new models, bringing the total number of available macromodels to 446. Revision K is free on a PC-compatible, 3.5-in. floppy disk. It covers the 800-MHz AD8001 op amp; the rail-to-rail OP279, OP191, and OP284 op amps; and the 90-MHz AD603 variable-gain amplifier. A utility program lets you access all library files. Analog Devices Inc, Canton, MA. (617) 937-1428.

Windows EDA tools improve.

V6.3 of Schematics and PCBoards adds a graphical error-trace-back function with context-sensitive help. PCBoards includes the latest release of Cooper & Chyan's Specctra shape-based autorouter, and Schematics comes with a library of >40,000 symbols and a graphical parts browser that performs compound searches. You can use either program stand-alone or with the vendor's other products, running under Unix/Motif, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and Windows 95. MicroSim Schematics and PCBoards cost $479 and $1495, respectively. MicroSim Corp, Irvine, CA. (714) 770-3022.