Electronic Design Automation: September 12, 1996

Tool compares different simulators.

Comparescan software compares two simulation runs, reports the differences in interactive windows where they can be queried, and graphically shows the results in the vendor's Signalscan program. Comparescan identifies the mismatch in functionality and timing between levels of abstraction. The software not only compares simulations from different Verilog simulators, but also offers translators for other simulators, including QSim from Compass Design, TimeMill and PowerMill from Epic, HSpice from Meta-Software, and VCD (a Verilog standard format). Prices start at $11,995. Design Acceleration Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 559-8500.

Layout tools work within mixed-platform environment.

The vendor's acquisition of Seto Software enables it to offer Windows-based pc-board layout tools for both stand-alone and mixed Windows/Unix design environments. The first product to be integrated with the Windows-based Integra Station family is the Unix-based Board Station, providing bidirectional database compatibility within the two platforms. The design-variant capability of the Integra Station family allows you to build multiple product variations of a design using only one design database. Integra Station prices start at $25,000. Mentor Graphics, Wilsonville, OR. (503) 685-7000.

Windows design tool works with pASIC2 devices.

Version 6.0 of QuickWorks, a Windows-based FPGA development environment, includes comprehensive support of pASIC2 devices with 7000 to 9000 usable gates. The software exploits the pASIC2 architecture to improve logic utilization by an average of 35%. Timing-aware auto-buffering automatically increases the performance of high-fanout paths by using post-logic placement analysis to determine the best buffer insertion points. QuickWorks 6.0 automatically translates pASIC1 designs to pASIC2, starting at all levels of abstraction, including the netlist. The updated software, which includes an extensive multimedia HDL training course, costs $2995. QuickLogic Corp, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 987-2000.

EDA-software suite adds radiation-analysis tools.

In addition to being updated for Windows NT, the EMC-Workbench suite of signal-integrity and EMC-simulation and -analysis tools now performs system-level radiation analysis. EMC-Work- bench Multiple PCBs for Radiation extracts connectivity data from multiple pc boards, which can be designed on different systems, and treats this data as a single system for radiation analysis. The software allows rotation in 3-D Cartesian-coordinate space for all the boards and cables, enabling the system to analyze boards in arbitrary orientations. Prices start at $17,000 for EMC-Workbench. The radiation-analysis extension costs approximately $10,000. Incases North America, Dallas, TX. (214) 373-7344.

Software performs gate-level power simulation for ICs.

ICPower simulates the power consumption of integrated circuit designs, with accuracies approaching that of circuit simulators. The software tool is integrated into a Verilog simulator and uses gate-level power models and libraries that the vendor's model and library-synthesis tools generate to achieve Spice-level accuracy. The cell-based program identifies power-dissipating paths, generates a power monitor, and uses detailed power characterization parameters measured through Spice simulation. ICPower runs on Sun and Hewlett-Packard workstations and costs $40,000. Library Technologies Inc, Saratoga, CA. (408) 221-7569.