Electronic News and EDN

Electronic News and EDN - EDA Articles EDA News from Reed Electronics Group en-us http://www.reed-electronics.com Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. Subject to its <A href="http://www.reed-electronics.com/ednmag/index.asp?layout=siteInfo&doc_id=26250">Terms of Use</A> Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:26:37 PST Mentor Graphics acquires Sierra DA for $90M http://www.reed-electronics.com/edn/article/CA6450674?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 The EDA landscape is going to get a bit more interesting, as this morning Mentor Graphics officially announced that it has finally filled a hole in its tool line up by acquiring RTL-to-GDSII vendor Sierra Design Automation for $90 million. The acquisition makes Mentor a direct competitor with Cadence, Synopsys and Magma in traditionally the most lucrative segment of EDA, digital IC implementation tools. Sponsored Link: New PXI Semiconductor Suite http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;219509080;12103198;y?http://digital.ni.com/express.nsf/bycode/exkpnt?opendocument&metc=mtxzsk National Instruments introduces PXI Semiconductor Suite, a collection of 10 new software-defined modular instruments for mixed signal chip test. View white paper to learn more. Building the next iPod http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449907?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 Breakfast in the Valley: What makes a new consumer product successful? It all comes down to a good idea, streamlining the development process and a deep understanding of the end market. Opportunities abound for EDA in automotive electronics http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449811?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 DAC: Given the complexity of next-generation automobiles that can upwards of 70 electronic control units, there is a real opportunity for the electronic design automation to play an enabling role, Mentor Graphics Corp.’s CEO said today during a panel at the Design Automation Conference. Large chipmakers still developing EDA tools http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449456?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 DAC: The overall number of vendors developing in-house EDA tools may be down, but large companies like IBM and Freescale still see homegrown EDA software as a necessity and a competitive advantage. DFM debate rages on over foundry data http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449603?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 DAC: EDA vendors on a conference panel say manufacturing data is not there in the form they can use, despite what foundries say. Ecosystem competition heats up http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449089?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 DAC: EDA and IP companies find that joining consortiums to offset development costs is no guarantee of success as competition within ecosystems is beginning to heat up. While the idea behind these consortiums led by IBM, TSMC, UMC and others is that no single company can afford to do everything by itself anymore, the reality is that these consortiums can’t afford to support additional development and integration at the same level for all members. EDA leaders support MIPS 74K core family http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6449257?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 Cadence, Magma, Mentor Graphics and Synopsys have all developed EDA software and tools to support MIPS Technologies' 32-bit processor family, the 74K. Cadence stock soars on buyout reports http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448913?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 Buzz that EDA leader Cadence Design Systems is in talks with at least two private equity firms over a potential buyout pushes the company's stock to a 52-week high. According to a high level industry source who spoke with Electronic News at the Design Automation Conference today, Cadence has been in talks with private equity firm Blackstone Group for about five months. Common Platform debuts DFM support at 45-nm http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448857?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 DAC: As the Common Platform technology alliance, IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics announce the availability of design-for-manufacturing technology models, data files and design kits from leading EDA and DFM companies that support Common Platform technology at 45-nm. EDA’s ebb and flow http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448347?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 Synopsys’ CEO sounds off on startups, customer-developed flows, faster verification and what's next in chip technology. Magma adds validated RTL-to-GDSII reference, SSTA to UMC flows http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448363?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 San Jose-based semiconductor design tool provider Magma Design Automation has added two major upgrades to its IC implementation reference flows for semiconductor foundry UMC’s processes. Cadence, Denali unveil DDR-PHY methodology http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448342?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 EDA giant Cadence Design Systems has teamed up with Denali Software to deliver an advanced DDR-PHY implementation methodology based on Cadence's Encounter digital IC design platform. Synopsys adds 2 new board members http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448388?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 The EDA player has added Autodesk CFO Al Castino and Business Objects CEO John Schwarz to its board of directors. KLA-Tencor unveils advanced RET/OPC tool http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6447988?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 Aimed at allowing semiconductor circuit designers to reduce the time and cost to develop resolution enhancement techniques and optical proximity correction processes, the San Jose-based semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier is rolling out a new Linux-based software tool. Chartered, Mentor offer design kits for 65-, 90-nm Common Platform processes http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA6448046?title=Article&spacedesc=news&nid=2553 To allow mutual customers to gain full control and predictability over SoC design and manufacturing to jump-start designs and plan for aggressive tape-out and production schedules, Chartered is combining its mixed-signal processes with Mentor’s EDA flows.