Mentor Graphics Joins Chartered NanoAccess Alliance and Delivers Comprehensive Support for 90nm Technology
WILSONVILLE, Ore. & SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18,
2003--Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) and Chartered
Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq:CHRT)(SGX-ST: CHARTERED), today
announced that Mentor has joined the Chartered NanoAccess(TM)
Alliance. Mentor Graphics and Chartered are collaborating to provide
extensive design support for 90-nanometer (nm) system-on-chip (SoC)
manufacturing technologies from Chartered, one of the world's top
three dedicated semiconductor foundries. The companies are jointly
developing 90nm technology files and models for Calibre DRC(TM),
Calibre LVS(TM) and Calibre xRC(TM) that exploit the most advanced
physical verification, parasitic extraction and resolution enhancement
capabilities of the Calibre(R) design-to-silicon platform, which is
Chartered's "golden" internal standard for design rule checking (DRC).
"The Calibre design-to-silicon platform has a long track record of
silicon success, and is well integrated with a wide variety of design
creation environments," said Kevin Meyer, vice president of worldwide
marketing and services at Chartered. "Mentor's Calibre is already an
important part of the leading-edge design ecosystem for many companies
today, and our joint efforts ensure that they have access to the
proven design and manufacturing technologies needed for first-pass
silicon success at 90nm."
"We're expanding the Calibre design-to-silicon platform to answer
the trends spurred by new design flows and manufacturing requirements
at 90nm," said Joe Sawicki, vice president and general manager,
Design-to-Silicon Division, Mentor Graphics. "For example, the latest
addition to the Calibre design-to-silicon platform, Calibre xRC,
addresses the need for rapid, high-capacity, transistor-level
parasitic extraction to enable more accurate post-layout analysis and
ensure first-pass silicon success. Our work with Chartered enables
companies to apply these capabilities to their leading-edge designs
with Chartered's 90nm process."
With today's announcement, Mentor Graphics becomes an inaugural
member of Chartered's NanoAccess Alliance and joins the extensive
system of industry-leading library, electronic design automation,
intellectual property, and outsourced design and manufacturing
services companies. The NanoAccess Alliance brings together critical
SoC technologies and services with Chartered's NanoAccess
semiconductor manufacturing processes for 90nm and beyond. Chartered
and the NanoAccess Alliance companies promote access to open design
solutions that allow foundry customers more control over their
leading-edge design and manufacturing options. (See September 18, 2003
press release, "Chartered Launches NanoAccess Alliance to Enable Chip
Design on Foundry-Proven 90nm Process Platform").
The Calibre Design-to-Silicon Platform
In nanometer design, the handoff between IC layout and
manufacturing has changed. In previous technologies, the handoff was a
simple DRC/LVS check at tapeout. Now it is a multi-step process where
the layout database is modified so the design can be manufactured.
This presents a host of challenges. Issues arise concerning process
effects, photolithography, data volumes and acceptable yield.
To meet these challenges, design teams rely on the integrated
Calibre design-to-silicon platform, which includes physical
verification, full-chip, transistor-level parasitic extraction, design
for manufacturability (DFM), mask data preparation (MDP), optical
proximity correction (OPC) and resolution enhancement technologies
(RET).
The Calibre design-to-silicon platform of integrated tools is
recognized as an industry-leading solution that addresses the
complexities of advanced IC design.
Availability
Calibre DRC and Calibre LVS (layout vs. schematic) technology
files for Chartered's 90-nm process are available now from Chartered.
Calibre xRC (parasitic extraction) files will be available in Q4 2003.
About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in
electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products,
consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most
successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in
1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about
$650 million and employs approximately 3,500 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.
About Chartered
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the world's top
three dedicated semiconductor foundries, is forging a customized
approach to outsourced semiconductor manufacturing by building lasting
and collaborative partnerships with its customers. The Company
provides flexible and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for
customers, enabling the convergence of communications, computing and
consumer markets. In Singapore, Chartered operates five fabrication
facilities and has a sixth fab, which will be developed as a 300mm
facility.
A company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is
traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq:CHRT) and on the
Singapore Exchange (SGX-ST: CHARTERED). Chartered's 3,500 employees
are based at 11 locations around the world. Information about
Chartered can be found at www.charteredsemi.com.
Mentor Graphics and Calibre are registered trademarks of Mentor
Graphics Corporation. NanoAccess is a trademark of Chartered
Semiconductor Manufacturing. All other company or product names are
the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.
Chartered Safe Harbor Statement under the provisions of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, as
defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual
results to differ materially. Among the factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially are : the difficulties,
interruptions or unforeseen delays in the implementation of our
collaborative efforts with Mentor Graphics; changes in market outlook
and trends; customer demands; rate of semiconductor market recovery;
economic conditions in the United States as well as globally; the
performance level of and technology mix in our fabrication facilities
and competition. Although we believe the expectations reflected in
such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions,
we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. In
addition to the foregoing factors, a description of certain other
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially can be found in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in our
Annual Report on Form 20-F and our First Quarter 2003 Quarterly Report
on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which are based on the current view of management on
future events. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Mentor Graphics
Nan Devlin, 503-685-1809
nan_devlin@mentor.com
or
For Chartered:
Wired Island, Ltd.
Laurie Stanley, 510-656-0999
laurie@wiredislandpr.com