Synplicity's ASIC Synthesis Targets High-Performance ASIC Designs

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2003--

Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP), a leading supplier of software for the design and verification of semiconductors, today announced significant enhancements to its Synplify ASIC(R) software to provide complex ASIC and system-on-chip (SoC) designers with advanced timing, area, and runtime performance. Synplicity has integrated a new version of its module generation system (ModGen) to provide optimal quality of results (QoR) for datapath and arithmetic functions. The company has also enhanced the software with critical path resynthesis, pipeline multiplier support and algorithmic improvements to deliver up to 25 percent timing performance improvements over previous versions. Additionally, Synplicity announced it has formed a strategic relationship with Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. to support Synplify ASIC software customers in Korea.

"We believe our Synplify ASIC product can offer the highest timing performance, area and runtime quality of results available. Customers have reported that with the Synplify ASIC 2.4 beta they achieved better timing performance than with any competitive synthesis tool, including tools with separately purchased module generation systems," said John Gallagher, director of ASIC product marketing for Synplicity. "With our latest module generator system and other advanced optimization features, we believe we have raised the bar for ASIC synthesis by delivering high performance in an easy-to-use software solution. We believe the Synplify ASIC software is the logical choice for designers who need the highest performance possible in the shortest time."

New High-Performance Features

Synplicity has added a rich set of features to the Synplify ASIC software. The new ModGen module generation system can automatically derive high QoR for operator-rich designs with datapath and arithmetic functions. Unlike competitive products, the ModGen system is fully integrated within the Synplify ASIC software, eliminating the need for separate software licenses for module generation. The ModGen system automatically generates the fastest possible operators, or the smallest operators that meet timing, depending on the system application. The Synplify ASIC software automatically infers from the RTL code the operators needed, without any hand-instantiation of specific components. This approach allows the Synplify ASIC software to generate a performance-optimized version of the component specifically tuned for the surrounding logic and target process technology.

"We have been using the Synplify ASIC software for several months, and have been impressed with the performance and quality of results delivered by the software," said Peter Parsons, president of Pinpoint Solutions. "On both customer projects and our internal developments, the Synplify ASIC software has allowed us to meet demanding schedules without concern over how long we will spend in synthesis. With this new version of the Synplify ASIC software, we expect Synplicity will continue its track record of delivering excellent results with minimal time and setup."

Synplicity has also added a critical path resynthesis feature that can automatically improve timing performance and area within the design. The new pipeline multiplier support provides excellent timing performance in addition to the standard operator support. The new enhanced hold analysis and fix up feature enables the automatic insertion of buffers to correct for hold violations. With this feature, the Synplify ASIC software provides analysis and fixing of hold violations both pre-and post-layout. Because the Synplify ASIC synthesis solution offers consistent synthesis results across multiple runs, these new automated features can enable designers to refine and improve synthesis results more quickly and with fewer iterations than competitive products or earlier versions of the Synplify ASIC software.

Strategic Relationship Supports Customers in Korea

Hynix Semiconductor, Inc., formerly Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd, a leading worldwide semiconductor foundry, is the newest ASIC vendor to support the Synplify ASIC product. Hynix intends to provide its complete suite of libraries -- from 0.35 micron to 0.18 micron -- to designers using the Synplify ASIC software. Likewise, Hynix will support the Synplify ASIC libraries in its design kit, enabling Hynix customers to have easy access to the Synplify ASIC libraries (.syn).

Dr. Seong Kwan Hong, vice president, CIO of Hynix Semiconductor, said, "We have seen strong demand from our customers for Synplify ASIC libraries. While still a young industry, the Korean semiconductor market is experiencing rapid growth. Our customers value design tools that help them quickly achieve good results, without adding difficult steps or cumbersome scripts. Teaming with Synplicity, we can provide a superior synthesis flow to our ASIC customers."

Synplicity's Gallagher added, "The new relationship we have developed with Hynix Semiconductor, the leading ASIC vendor in Korea, represents our commitment to serve our customers worldwide with local solutions that improve their design performance and productivity. We expect Hynix's design and manufacturing capabilities, combined with the customer support available from our own direct sales team in Korea, will provide our customers with the tools needed to succeed."

With support from a major ASIC manufacturer in Korea, Synplicity has expanded its broad range of local resources to support global customer adoption of the Synplify ASIC software into their respective design flows. Other ASIC vendors who have endorsed the Synplify ASIC synthesis software to date include AMI Semiconductor, Chip Express, Faraday, Fujitsu, IBM Microelectronics, Lightspeed Semiconductor and Oki Semiconductor.

Pricing and Availability

Synplicity's Synplify ASIC solution is available now for Linux (Red Hat 7.3), HP-UX 11.0, Sun Solaris 2.7/2.8/2.9 and Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 operating systems. A one-year time-based license costs $45,000 (U.S.), and a perpetual license costs $115,000 (U.S.). Customers on maintenance will be upgraded for free.

The Synplify ASIC software is also available from Monterey Design Systems as part of its Dolphin RTL second-generation RTL-to-GDSII solution. Dolphin RTL blends RTL reader and logic structure generation technology from Synplicity with comprehensive physical synthesis capabilities from Dolphin into a unified solution. It uses the Synplify ASIC technology to quickly generate an initial logic structure and then performs technology mapping and logic optimization using patented Monterey Progressive Multi-objective Refinement (PMR) technology to meet timing, area, power and signal integrity constraints. For more information on this combined solution, please visit the Monterey Design Dolphin RTL Web site at http://www.montereydesign.com/products/DolphinRTL.htm.

About Synplicity

Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP) is a leading provider of software products that enable the rapid and effective design and verification of semiconductors used in networking and communications, computer and peripheral, consumer and military/aerospace electronics systems. Recognizing the company's industry-leading position, Dataquest named Synplicity as the #1 provider of PLD synthesis tools in 2001 with a 54 percent market share. Synplicity leverages its innovative logic synthesis, physical synthesis and verification software solutions to improve performance and shorten development time for complex programmable logic devices, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) integrated circuits. The company's fast, easy-to-use products offer high quality of results, support industry-standard design languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms. As of October 31, 2002, Synplicity employed 255 people in its 20 facilities worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. For more information on Synplicity, visit http://www.synplicity.com.

The specific features, functionality and release timing of any new technology or new versions of current products as described in this press release remain at the sole discretion of Synplicity, Inc., and Synplicity does not make any warranty as to when or if such specific features, functionality or releases may occur.

Note to Editors: Synplicity and Synplify ASIC are registered trademarks of Synplicity, Inc. All other brands or products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.

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	   CONTACT: Synplicity, Inc.
             John Gallagher, 408/215-6000 (Reader Contact)
             johng@synplicity.com
                or
             Porter Novelli
             Steve Gabriel, 408/369-1500 x27 (Press Contact) 
             steve.gabriel@porternovelli.com