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SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplex Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLX) today announced that Cognigine Corporation (Fremont, Calif.), an emerging leader in broadband and optical-networking semiconductors, has selected Simplex's VoltageStorm(TM) SoC power analysis product to verify the power grid integrity of Cognigine's new, fully programmable, single-chip network processor. VoltageStorm SoC is the premier solution for high-speed, hierarchical and transistor-level sign-off analysis of power grid IR (voltage) drop and electromigration risk at any stage of physical design.

Cognigine selected the Simplex tool on the basis of the close correlation of its results to silicon. ``Power grid analysis is an essential verification for complex, deep-submicron designs at 0.18 micron and below. Many design teams are learning from sad experience that on-chip IR drop can cause significant timing problems, and can even result in a non-functional chip,'' said Andre Chartrand, vice president of engineering at Cognigine. ``After a rigorous competitive evaluation, in which we found that the results from Simplex's VoltageStorm SoC correlated closely to actual silicon, we identified VoltageStorm SoC as the best-in-class tool to verify the power grid integrity of our next-generation, VISC(TM)-based optical system processors.''

Jim Bailey, general manager of Simplex's SoC verification business, said, ``Leading-edge companies like Cognigine have found that IR drop analysis is now a 'must-have.' VoltageStorm SoC enables them to understand the effects of IR drop on these advanced SoC designs. We are delighted that Cognigine Corporation has chosen to partner with Simplex to achieve first silicon success.''

Until the advent of deep-submicron process technologies, IR drop was considered a second- or third-order effect. Today's high-performance SoC designs, with their increasing chip size and number of integrated IP blocks and decreasing power supply voltages, are at increased risk for IR drop-related failures due to the unpredictable flow of power in and around embedded blocks. Accordingly, SoC designers require full-chip verification tools that rapidly identify and help resolve critical power grid issues. Simplex developed VoltageStorm SoC -- which has become the de facto industry standard -- to address these issues. In recent months, it has been adopted by a wide range of chipmakers, including Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Oki, and MIPS Technologies.

About Cognigine

Cognigine Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company that is designing and building the next generation of programmable network processors for broadband and optical networking applications. Cognigine markets its network processor-based solutions to switching, routing and Internet traffic management equipment providers. Cognigine's network processor solutions are based on a user configurable Variable Instruction Set Communication (VISC) architecture, which enables the highest levels of performance, scalability and flexibility for evolving broadband communication and networking services. Additional information is available at www.cognigine.com.

About Simplex

Simplex Solutions, Inc. provides software and services for the design and verification of integrated circuits to enable its communications, computer and consumer-products customers to achieve first-time production success and rapid delivery of complex systems-on-chip. Simplex's customers use its products and services prior to manufacture to design and verify the integrated circuits to help ensure that the integrated circuits will perform as intended, taking into account the complex effects of deep-submicron semiconductor physics. Simplex can be reached at 408-617-6100 or on the web at www.simplex.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, information regarding the capabilities of VoltageStorm SoC to understand the effects of IR drop on all SoC designs and to ensure Cognigine will achieve first silicon success) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of Simplex to differ materially from management's current expectations.

Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: future strategic decisions made by Simplex and/or Cognigine; competitive developments; and the rapid pace of technological change in the semiconductor industry. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Simplex's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Simplex assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.

NOTE: Simplex Solutions, the Simplex logo and VoltageStorm are trademarks of Simplex Solutions. All other trademarks mentioned in this press release are the properties of their respective owners.