Printer Friendly Version

WILSONVILLE, Ore., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT), today announced that SpaceBridge, a leading broadband wireless technology provider, has selected the Mentor Graphics® FormalPro(TM) equivalence checker to verify its next generation of advanced modem chips.

``Facing the challenge to verify the SB7015, a two million gate modem chip, it was clear that we needed an equivalence checker,'' said Robert Wood, Senior ASIC designer at SpaceBridge. ``Our backend flow requires that the equivalence checker is capable of handling very large blocks without requiring any hierarchies. We decided to benchmark three different equivalence checkers from the major formal verification providers and found that FormalPro was the only equivalence checker that could solve our verification need.''

``We were really impressed with the minimal setup needed to verify the SB7015 chip,'' said Amal Khailtash, ASIC designer at SpaceBridge. ``FormalPro didn't require any scripts to do the job.''

``We are very pleased that SpaceBridge has selected FormalPro from Mentor Graphics as its formal verification provider,'' said Kenneth Larsen, Product Marketing Manager. ``Our focus is to provide high-capacity, high-speed formal verification solutions that address the industry's +20M gate verification needs.''

SpaceBridge's SB7015 Digital Modem Chip

The SB7015 is a highly integrated digital modem chip designed for broadband wireless access products. It consists of a high-speed modulator and demodulator as well as a programmable Air Interface Processor for implementing all aspects of the physical layer of a radio link.

The SB7015 also performs high-speed functions required by the MAC layer of a radio link. When combined with an external processor, the SB7015 provides the functionality required to implement a complete wireless link in either terrestrial- or satellite-based communication systems. The SB7015 can be used in the terminal end of a point-to-multipoint communication link, or in point-to-point links.

Next Generation Formal Verification Technology

FormalPro uses a novel approach to equivalence checking that enables designers to formally verify extremely large designs -- 20 million gates and beyond -- in a matter of hours. This next generation technology allows designers to execute multiple daily runs of multi-million gate designs without having to partition a SoC or ASIC design into blocks -- increasing productivity and decreasing the risk of errors split across blocks.

Using FormalPro, the functional equivalence of two circuits can be established with little or no user intervention. The tool's minimal setup requirements save designers time and allows the easy adoption of formal verification technology into any design flow. Multiple matching techniques, coupled with multiple solver technology, ensure an automated flow.

The advanced debugging technology found in the FormalPro tool quickly performs automated analysis of failing comparison points and isolates the exact location of the error, increasing a design team's productivity and shortening turnaround times.

About SpaceBridge

SpaceBridge is a world leader in broadband wireless semiconductor solutions, developing highly integrated modem and access solutions for the broadband wireless market. More information on the company is available on the SpaceBridge corporate web site: www.spacebridge.com.

About Mentor Graphics Corporation

Mentor Graphics Corporation is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products and consulting services for the world's largest electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of more than $525 million and employs approximately 2,600 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777, Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com.

NOTE: Mentor Graphics is a registered trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. FormalPro is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Carole Thurman of Mentor Graphics, 503-685-4716, or carole_thurman@mentor.com; or Luis Lorenzana of The Benjamin Group, 415-352-2628, ext. 617, or luis_lorenzana@benjamingroup.com, for Mentor Graphics.