Synplicity and Lightspeed Semiconductor Ink Agreement to Develop Custom ASIC Synthesis Tools
Companies Team to Enable Optimized Results for Lightspeed's
Luminance Modular Array Products
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2003--
Synplicity, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP), a leading supplier of software for
the design and verification of semiconductors, and Lightspeed
Semiconductor today announced the companies have signed a joint
technology development agreement to provide support for Lightspeed's
0.13-micron Luminance family of Modular Array ASIC devices. Under the
terms of the agreement, Synplicity will develop custom synthesis
mapping technology for its Synplify ASIC(R) software, optimized to
deliver enhanced performance, density and design productivity for
Lightspeed's Luminance devices. Lightspeed will distribute
Synplicity's Synplify ASIC .sel library and accept Synplify ASIC
netlists and timing analysis results as input to Lightspeed's back-end
P&R tools.
"With up to 10 million gates and the ability to deliver production
0.13-micron silicon in less than three months, our Luminance
architecture leads the industry in delivering the density and time to
market advantages design teams need to achieve aggressive design
goals," said Richard Terrill, VP/Business Development for Lightspeed
Semiconductor. "We chose to work with Synplicity due to their
experience in delivering high-performance, high-productivity synthesis
technology and expertise in developing custom mapping technology. The
Luminance-specific customization that Synplicity is doing will provide
a 15% improvement in timing results over standard Synplify ASIC."
This development project builds on Synplicity's existing support
for Lightspeed ASICs. Citing the software's ability to deliver fast
timing convergence, Lightspeed has offered ASIC library support for
the synthesis software for more than a year.
"For complex ASIC devices such as Lightspeed's Luminance products,
the availability of high-performance, high-productivity design tools
customized for the architecture is critical to designer success," said
Ken McElvain, chief technical officer of Synplicity. "Over the past
year, we have heard positive feedback from Lightspeed's ASIC customers
regarding our Synplify ASIC software, and look forward to extending
support to the Luminance devices to help enable this next-generation
modular array technology. We believe our close relationship with
Lightspeed will provide our mutual customers with a best-in-class,
high-capacity custom synthesis solution that will offer fast runtimes
and excellent results."
About Synplicity's ASIC Synthesis Solution
Introduced in June 2001, Synplicity's Synplify ASIC software
leverages the company's proven synthesis technology, delivers high
quality of results and features order of magnitude runtime
improvements over traditional synthesis products. The Synplify ASIC
software has been production proven through customer tapeout successes
and endorsements from leading ASIC vendors, and has been flow tested
with leading EDA tools. This solution offers a unique top-down design
methodology that enables designers to perform timing-driven synthesis
on up to two million gates in a single block, supporting matching
hierarchy and constraints in both synthesis and place-and-route steps.
Additionally, the Synplify ASIC software offers a unique
MultiPoint(TM) design flow for fast, high-performance hierarchical
synthesis for any size of ASIC. The Synplify ASIC software is the only
ASIC synthesis solution to provide performance-optimized synthesis
capability for the Luminance architecture from Lightspeed.
About Lightspeed's Luminance Technology
Utilizing a two metal mask, one via mask customization in
conjunction with TSMC's 0.13-micron eight-layer copper,
high-performance CMOS process, Lightspeed's Luminance Modular Array
ASICs will provide up to 10 million usable ASIC gates and up to five
million bits of embedded dual-port SRAM. The high-performance logic
fabric supports system speeds up to 700MHz, and is optimally suited to
implement a wide range of soft and firm IP. The high-density
architecture includes embedded PLLs, SRAMs and configurable I/O cells.
These elements are optimized for maximum array efficiency that
delivers an unparalleled degree of versatility for designing
high-performance systems across a wide range of applications.
About Lightspeed Semiconductor
Lightspeed Semiconductor delivers high-performance custom silicon
with the fastest turn-around times and lowest total cost.
Modular Array ASICs are the emergent design choice for the
majority of custom digital applications. Our methodology delivers
production-ready devices in prototype timeframes. Our groundbreaking
Luminance technology secures Lightspeed as The Easy Way to ASIC(TM).
Lightspeed Semiconductor maintains design centers in California,
Texas, New Hampshire, and the UK. Lightspeed has seven direct sales
offices and more than 50 sales representative locations worldwide. For
more information visit http://www.lightspeed.com/.
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, since the year
2000 Dataquest has named Synplicity as the #1 provider of PLD
synthesis tools, announcing a 54 percent market share in 2001.
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
December 31, 2002, Synplicity employed more than 250 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 and new functionality of existing products
developed with or for third parties as described in this press release
remain at the sole discretion of Synplicity, Inc. and no warranty is
made as to whether the specific functionalities of such existing
products or the success of product integration with those of third
parties will occur as described in the press release.
Synplicity and Synplify ASIC are registered trademarks of
Synplicity, Inc. MultiPoint is a trademark of Synplicity, Inc. All
other names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their owners.
CONTACT: Synplicity, Inc.
John Gallagher, 408/215-6000 (Reader)
johng@synplicity.com
or
Porter Novelli
Steve Gabriel, 408/369-1500 ext. 27 (Press)
steve.gabriel@porternovelli.com
