ASPEC Technology Introduces InConcert Physical Library Development Environment; Proven solution delivers density & performance advantages to IC/ASSP companies.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 1996--ASPEC Technology, the leader in Open Design Implementation Technology (DIT), today announced the introduction of its new InConcert Physical Library Development Environment.

Aimed at IC/ASSP companies, InConcert is designed to create a proven solution which enables the customers to create high performance and high density embedded array and standard cell libraries.

Conrad Dell'Oca, president and chief executive officer of ASPEC Technology, views InConcert as the next natural step to ASPEC's growth and expansion. "We have been successful supplying off-the-shelf DIT products and solutions, and now we want to move into the DIT development market with a new set of tools which will set the standard for the entire industry," said Dell'Oca.

Even though most DIT products such as physical libraries, memory compilers, and delay calculations, are available as "off-the-shelf" products, many companies want to maintain control of the porting of libraries. This is mainly due to the fact that some IC/ASSP companies have many different processes, each optimized for different products.

Therefore, it is more economical to purchase the library porting technology, as opposed to purchasing libraries for each process. In addition, some of these processes go through continuous enhancements, and the lack of a stable process makes it difficult to outside companies to deliver the library.

However, the porting of the physical libraries must start with a baseline library that is field proven. The architectural decisions made in the baseline library can often affect the density and performance at the chip level. Therefore, IC/ASSP companies are always looking for the architecture that would yield the best competitive advantages.

InConcert addresses both requirements: library porting automation and field proven cell architectures.

"While library development tools have been available from EDA companies, we look at the library development challenge and see that a more complete solution is required," said Patrick Yin, ASPEC's vice president of engineering.

"Many customers do not want to design by trial-and-error with the hope of eventually getting the architecture right through many iterations. Their efforts should be concentrated on their core competency and system level design. InConcert can help customers achieve these goals by providing them with a powerful set of proven tools."

Features of InConcert

The InConcert Physical Library Development Environment includes reference libraries for ASPEC's embedded array (HDEA) or standard cells (HDC). It also features AMAP, a mapping software which can map the libraries from 0.8 micron down to 0.35 micron and below. In addition, customers can also purchase optional products such as ACcurate, an AC characterization software component which characterizes the cell libraries produced by AMAP.

Also available is ADVER Pro, which provides a consistent delay calculation & backannotation methodology, as well as design database translation for all supported EDA software and hardware. Finally, the design kits for these EDA tools are also available to InConcert customers.

As a proven library design environment, InConcert provides the following advantages:

-- 20 to 40% die size improvement over existing cell architectures -- As much as 15% gain in performance and power savings of up to 50%

at the chip level -- Much more automated method of porting to new process -- Support for more than 30 EDA software and hardware tools

Pricing and Availability

The InConcert system pricing starts at $500,000 and will be available in Q3 '96. Beta testing has already begun.

About ASPEC Technology

ASPEC Technology Inc. is a pioneer and leader in providing Open Design Implementation Technology to ASIC vendors, IC companies and systems houses designing ASICs. Open Design Implementation provides a standard, open link between design automation and silicon manufacturing. Although many semiconductor companies have proprietary DIT, ASPEC promotes and leads the category for open DIT tools.

ASPEC's Open DIT is based upon its patented High Density Architectures and has been adopted by many major semiconductor companies, including industry leaders such as Hyundai, National Semiconductor, Samsung, Sanyo, Yamaha and others. ASPEC is a privately held company located at 830 E. Arques Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.

CONTACT: ASPEC Technology Inc., Sunnyvale

Charlie Cheng, 408/774-2199

or

Cain Communications

Susan Cain, 408/291-2580