Open-Silicon Expands Front-End Design Capabilities With Advanced Virtual Prototyping Solution

MILPITAS, CA--(Marketwired - September 23, 2014) - Open-Silicon today announced it is expanding its virtual prototyping capabilities with support for a new web portal introduced today by Carbon Design Systems. Called Carbon System Exchange, the portal provides access to more than 100 pre-built virtual prototype systems and subsystems. These pre-built systems, known as Carbon Performance Analysis Kits (CPAKs), speed the creation and optimization of application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and System-on-Chip (SoC) designs. CPAKs include software, intellectual property (IP) and system solutions from numerous vendors. Open-Silicon has contributed multiple CPAKs to the portal.

"Open-Silicon adds value throughout the entire system design process, from initial concept and architecture through to manufacturing and packaging, making it critical that we have access to the most advanced and accurate virtual prototyping solutions," said Huzefa Cutlerywala, senior director of technical solutions for Open-Silicon. "We are already using CPAKs internally to deliver optimized ARM processor-based designs, and have found that CPAKs enable us to increase our productivity and accuracy -- ultimately lowering cost and reducing schedule risk for customers. By making CPAKs available directly to our customers via Carbon System Exchange, we expect to build on these existing design advantages."

As part of its support, Open-Silicon has contributed three CPAKs to the portal. The first is a system model containing an ARM® Cortex-A7 dual core platform with memory models. The memory models, developed by Open-Silicon, include NOR flash and SD/eMMC. The CPAK facilitates the development of low level firmware, such as boot ROM and bootloaders, and also enables driver development. Integrated memory models, built from memory specifications, allow end users to read and write their code into memory without the need for an FPGA or ASIC. Open-Silicon has also contributed an ARM Cortex M3 processor CPAK, as well as a performance analysis CPAK for DSP-based designs. Open-Silicon intends to add more CPAKs as they are developed.

"The enormous success of CPAKs on our original IP Exchange portal demonstrates how pre-built, extensible virtual prototypes can enhance productivity," said Bill Neifert, chief technology officer and founder of Carbon Design Systems. "With Carbon System Exchange, we have the opportunity to enable ecosystem partners, like Open-Silicon, to provide this same solution to their customers. Because Open-Silicon leverages tremendous expertise in system design and virtual prototyping, we believe many more teams will be able to benefit and accelerate their own design schedules."

The portal complements the Open-Silicon complete system design capability that begins with architectural analysis and carries through to volume production. Virtual prototyping is a key piece of the company's front-end design capabilities, and CPAKs help ensure the delivery of optimized designs with greater speed and accuracy. The offering also augments the company's extensive ARM processor-based design support that includes SoC development expertise through the Open-Silicon ARM Technology Center of Excellence. For more information on the Open-Silicon virtual prototyping offering, please visit www.open-silicon.com/virtual-prototyping.

Availability
The Open-Silicon CPAKs on Carbon System Exchange are available today at www.carbonsystemexchange.com. Price varies depending upon configuration and authorization.

About Open-Silicon
Open-Silicon transforms ideas into system-optimized ASIC solutions within the time-to-market parameters desired by customers. The company enhances the value of customers' products by innovating at every stage of design -- architecture, logic, physical, system and software -- and then continues to partner to deliver fully tested silicon and platforms. Open-Silicon applies an open business model that enables the company to uniquely choose best-in-industry IP, design methodologies, tools, software, packaging, manufacturing and test capabilities. The company has partnered with over 150 companies ranging from large semiconductor and systems manufacturers to high-profile start-ups, and has successfully shipped nearly a hundred million ASICs to date. Privately-held, Open-Silicon employs over 250 people in Silicon Valley and around the world. www.open-silicon.com

Open-Silicon is a trademark and service mark of Open-Silicon, Inc. registered in the United States and other jurisdictions. ARM® is a registered trademark of ARM Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.