SUNNYVALE, Calif. -September 13, 2000-Simplex Solutions, Inc. today announced that leading integrated circuit (IC) maker Acer Laboratories Inc. (ALi, Taipei, Taiwan) has selected Simplex' VoltageStormš SoC power integrity verification software for use in designing advanced logic ICs for the personal computer and embedded PC markets. VoltageStorm SoC is the premier solution for performing high-speed, hierarchical analysis of power-grid IR (voltage) drop and electromigration (EM) risk at any stage of physical design.
The need for power-grid integrity verification is coming to the fore worldwide, as mainstream design has moved to 0.18-micron processes and below. Chipmakers increasingly acknowledge that power-grid sign-off (PGS) is as essential to the physical verification process as design-rule checking (DRC) and layout-versus-schematic (LVS) checking. Simplex' VoltageStorm SoC enables users to apply Simplex' production-proven IR drop analysis early in their design cycles, avoiding costly downstream engineering change orders (ECOs) to correct power grid problems.
ALi selected VoltageStorm SoC after the tool identified two previously undetected power-grid issues in a pre-production design, enabling ALi's design team to correct the problems before tapeout. According to Luke Hwang, CAD director for ALi, VoltageStorm SoC yielded highly impressive results during evaluation. "We ran VoltageStorm SoC on a complex design that we were confident had sufficient power across the chip. The tool confirmed that the total IR drop was within our specifications, but it also quickly detected several layout issues, including some missing vias and a disconnect in the power ring," said Hwang. "None of these problems was identified during DRC/LVS, and they may have resulted in localized IR drop problems. With VoltageStorm SoC's PGS Exploration™ feature, we were able to quickly explore design alternatives and improve our design significantly before tapeout."
"Taiwan is a rapidly growing and very important market. As chipmakers there re-tool for 0.18-micron processes, leading companies are recognizing the need for power integrity verification," said Penny Herscher, Simplex chairman and CEO. "We're extremely pleased to have ALi, one of the premier providers of PC core logic chips, lead the way in adopting PGS as part of their standard sign-off procedures."
About ALi
Acer Laboratories Inc. (ALi) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of core logic chipsets for personal computers. In addition, the company designs and manufactures a full range of PC peripheral devices, including X86 embedded controllers, super I/O controllers, and scanner controllers, as well as MPEG, CD-ROM and DVD controllers for both the PC market and the consumer/information appliance market. The company aims to become a major solution provider in the emerging information appliance era. The company employs about 600 people, with sales revenue of about $130 million in 1999. More information can be found at www.ali.com.tw
About Simplex
Simplex Solutions, Inc. provides software and services designed to enable first-time production success of complex systems-on-chip (SoCs), accelerating time-to-market and reducing production costs for computer, communications and consumer-product manufacturers. Simplex' software products are designed to enable customers to identify and to correct previously undetectable defects or substandard performance in integrated circuit (IC) power integrity, timing integrity, signal integrity and reliability created by adverse interactions between densely packed components in deep submicron (DSM) chip designs. Simplex' SoC Design Foundry business provides customers with physical design capabilities for first-time production success, based on proprietary DSM methodologies and tools. Simplex works closely with semiconductor foundries Chartered, IBM, NEC, TSMC, Toshiba and UMC to develop and deliver SoC design and verification solutions to mutual customers. The company's investors include Attractor Investment Management, Intel Corp., Mayfield Fund, Sumitomo Corp. and Worldview Technology Partners. Simplex can be reached at (408) 617-6100 or on the web at www.simplex.com
