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Agilent Technologies and Synopsys Announce Industry-First Scan Diagnostics Reference Methodology
Tools Speed Failure Analysis by Automating Information Sharing
between Electronic Design Automation and Automatic Test Equipment
PALO ALTO, Calif. & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 14, 2004—
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and Synopsys Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS)
today announced an industry-first scan diagnostics reference
methodology. The solution speeds fault localization and failure
analysis for semiconductor design and test engineers faced with
identifying device failures under increased time-to-market pressure.
A result of the companies' three-year strategic alliance, the
methodology is enabled by the Agilent 93000 SmarTest Program Generator
(PG) 2.2 and the Synopsys TetraMAX(R) automatic test pattern
generation (ATPG) solution, in conjunction with the Agilent 93000 SOC
Series test platform. This combination of tools automates the
bidirectional information sharing between electronic design automation
(EDA) and automatic test equipment (ATE) required for scan
diagnostics.
As process geometries shrink and device complexity grows,
identifying device failures becomes increasingly difficult. The demand
for shorter time to market and lower product cost makes rapid
diagnostics and fault localization vital during the first silicon
evaluation and production ramp up. EDA companies have begun to offer
fault localization tools, but they require failure information from
automatic test equipment. Until now, a standardized and supported
means for sharing information from ATE has not been available.
"Our customers want us to link design and test more closely in
order to lower the overall cost of test," said Tom Newsom, vice
president and general manager of Agilent's SOC Business Unit. "Our
strategic alliance with Synopsys has successfully contributed toward
bridging the gap between EDA and ATE."
"Automating failure and yield diagnostics is a critical business
issue for our customers," said Antun Domic, senior vice president and
general manager, Synopsys Implementation Group. "Synopsys'
collaboration with Agilent is key to improving manufacturing test
flows, and together we are demonstrating further leadership by
delivering a diagnostics reference methodology."
The Agilent 93000 SmarTest PG 2.2 offers a seamless transition
from the EDA environment to the industry-leading capabilities of the
Agilent 93000 SOC Series, which speeds test development for functional
and scan tests. SmarTest PG 2.2 provides a scan failure map for
viewing scan failures on the Agilent 93000 SOC Series in their native
scan context, speeding first silicon debug. It features a simplified
user interface and command-line operation, and supports
industry-standard EDA input formats, including Standard Test Interface
Language (STIL), Waveform Generation Language (WGL), Value Change Dump
(VCD), Extended VCD (EVCD) and Core Test Language (CTL).
Further information about the Agilent 93000 SmarTest PG 2.2 is
available at www.agilent.com/see/smartestpg. Information about
Agilent's semiconductor test products is available at
www.agilent.com/see/atenews.
About the Agilent 93000 SOC Series
The Agilent 93000 SOC Series is the industry's fastest-growing,
lowest-cost scalable platform architecture with more than 900
installed systems worldwide. The Agilent 93000 SOC Series is designed
to meet both the demanding performance and cost challenges of SOC
testing. Models are configured to span the widest range of
applications that may require ultra-high-speed digital data rates, up
to 10 Gb/s, and the broadest range of mixed-signal and RF
capabilities. With this range of capabilities, the 93000 SOC Series is
the first choice for subcontract manufacturers and the preference for
high-volume manufacturing. More information is available at
www.agilent.com/see/soctest.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Agilent 93000 SmarTest PG 2.2 is available now for purchase
with licensing options ranging from $5,000 to $72,000.
About Synopsys Inc.
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is the world leader in electronic
design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company
delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification
platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global
electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex
systems-on-chips (SOCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property
and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate
time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in
Mountain View, Calif., and has offices in more than 60 locations
throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys
online at www.synopsys.com.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader
in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis.
The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110
countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year
2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at
www.agilent.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and
executive news is available on the Agilent news site at
www.agilent.com/go/news.
Contact:
Agilent Technologies
Kim Tran, 408-553-2324
kim_tran@agilent.com
or
Edelman for Synopsys
Sarah Seifert, 650-429-2776
sarah.seifert@edelman.com
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