SAN JOSE, Calif., July 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today announced availability of a Talus(r)-based low-power RTL-to-GDSII integrated circuit design flow for a new enhanced 65-nanometer (nm) low-power process offered by Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq:CHRT) (SGX:CHARTEREDSC), based on Common Platform technology. The process, called 65nm LPe, utilizes innovative leakage-reduction techniques to significantly improve system-on-chip (SoC) standby power consumption by up to 50 percent.
Based on the Magma Talus IC implementation system, the Chartered 65LPe Low-Power Reference Flow includes Talus Power Pro, which uses various techniques throughout the implementation phase within a single environment to minimize power consumption while maximizing quality of results (QoR) and reducing turnaround time.
This Unified Power Format (UPF)-compliant reference flow was used to implement a complex, hierarchical design incorporating ARM(R) standard-cell and memory intellectual property (IP) and Aragio Solutions' I/O libraries using a low-power design intent specification and the Chartered 65nm LPe process. The Unified Power Format is a standard supported by a range of EDA suppliers to enable design flows and solutions for low-power design.
"While our customers want low-power solutions, they also want solutions that will help them get to market faster with less risk. Working closely with partners such as Magma, we are able to provide integrated, low-power solutions that enable design teams to meet their project objectives," said Walter Ng, vice president, design enablement alliances at Chartered. "By implementing a complex, hierarchical design, Magma's Talus implementation system proved its ability to maximize the benefits of our enhanced 65-nm low-power process."
"Power consumption has always been a concern for portable and consumer devices, but is now a driving requirement across many application segments," said Premal Buch, general manager of Magma's Design Implementation Business Unit. "We're pleased to support the reference flow for Chartered's 65nm LPe process and to help accelerate the development of next-generation chips that incorporate low-power technology."
Talus Implementation System for Low-Power Designs
The Magma Common Platform 65-nm Low-power Reference Flow is based on the Talus implementation system that includes Talus Design and Talus Vortex, and provides an integrated RTL-to-GDSII flow for high-performance, high-complexity and low-power nanometer designs.
Talus Power Pro works in conjunction with Talus Design, a full-chip synthesis environment, and the Talus Vortex physical design solution to enable optimal power management throughout the flow. It features power-aware synthesis, physical optimization, clock tree synthesis and routing, allowing designers to minimize power and ensure uniform power distribution.
Talus Power Pro reads in the power constraints from the UPF file at the beginning of the RTL-to-GDSII flow. Power constraints, including power gating, retention-flop synthesis and multi-Vdd domain definitions, can be defined for dynamic power reduction. Special cells such as retention cells can be inferred during the synthesis stage to support multi-Vdd flows. For powered-down domains, switches can be inferred at the register transfer level (RTL) stage to facilitate simulation. State tables can be used to define the relationship between the different domains that have been created. Additionally, Talus Power Pro can write out a UPF file at any point in the design flow for interoperability with third-party tools.
Talus Design is used for the rapid development of RTL and chip-level constraints throughout the design process, and automates datapath synthesis and floorplan generation for prototyping. Talus Vortex is a complete physical implementation system that delivers improved timing and signal integrity, smaller area, lower power, better manufacturability, faster turnaround time and higher capacity than conventional point-tool flows.
Availability
The reference flow is available now at no cost to Magma customers and may be obtained by requesting it from Magma's foundry support team by emailing FoundrySupport@magma-da.com or by contacting a Magma sales representative.
About Magma
Magma's electronic design automation (EDA) software is used to create complex, high-performance integrated circuits (ICs) for cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3 players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic applications. Magma products for IC implementation, analog/mixed-signal design, analysis, physical verification, circuit simulation and characterization are recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, providing the world's top chip companies the "Fastest Path to Silicon."(tm) Magma maintains headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.
Magma and Talus are registered trademarks and "Fastest Path to Silicon" is a trademark of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that the Talus-based reference flow ensures better quality results for timing, area, power, signal integrity and reliability while minimizing the design cycle are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to Magma's ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and the company's products' abilities to produce desired results. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.