Synopsys, SMIC target China mobile TV power design
By Colleen Taylor, Contributing Editor -- EDN, August 29, 2007
EDA player Synopsys Inc. and China-based foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) jointly announced today at IC China 2007 a strategic alliance to develop a low-power design solution targeted at the mobile TV market in China, while also providing key IP components.
The companies said that the design will be based on 130-nm and 90-nm fab processes will be designed to help resolve problems in power design. In addition, the companies will provide key IP required by mobile TV IC designers, including AD, DA, PLL, USB, SATA and IEEE 1394. Financial terms of the partnership have not been announced.
"It's our great honor to form this strategic alliance with SMIC to support Chinese chip manufacturers and the development of the digital TV market," Chen Zhikuan, president and COO of Synopsys, said in a statement.
A host of technology companies have turned even more attention to China in recent months as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games draw near. Of particular interest in the industry is the burgeoning digital TV market. However, Synopsys and SMIC said, there is currently no uniform standard in low power design, IP access barrier and foundry access for local manufacturers in the mobile TV market in China. "I believe our cooperation will promote the development of China's digital TV sector's standards and marketplace," Richard Chang, SMIC's president and CEO, said in the statement.
This is not SMIC's only agreement with an EDA industry heavyweight. Earlier this month, Cadence Design Systems Inc. and SMIC announced the availability of a new SMIC RFCMOS 180-nm process design kit that supports the Cadence RF Design Methodology Kit, which was first announced in November 2006.
