Analog Simulation environment aids complex system and IC design; AnalogView extends the Viewlogic Powerview/ISE design environment for verification of advanced analog circuits.

MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 1995--Viewlogic Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:VIEW) today introduced AnalogView(tm), an analog design environment for complex ICs and systems.

It guides the designer through design entry; the management of multiple, complex simulation runs; and the collection and post-processing of results. AnalogView allows the assignment of input stimuli, command controls, analysis types, probes for current and voltages, as well as invoking simulation and analyzing results from a common environment. Because it offers a common user interface, designers can switch transparently between analog simulators to take advantage of each simulators's capabilities.

Tom Reeder, Analog product marketing manager, says, "AnalogView is the first design environment to provide easy access to the sophisticated modeling, analysis and post-processing functions used with the latest circuit simulators, such as HSPICE and ViewSpice. The user saves engineering time because most of the information needed for simulation and analysis is built right into the menuing system."

AnalogView is integrated into the Viewlogic Integrated Simulation Environment (ISE) to provide analog simulation interfaces to ISE. Although some ISE functions, such as waveform display and analysis, can be used for analog as well as digital simulation, many functions are unique to analog simulators. AnalogView extends ISE into this analog realm and makes it possible to run simultaneous analog and digital simulations.

AnalogView is customized for each analog simulator. ViewLogic uses ISE technology to build efficient interfaces for each analog simulator. These interfaces provide a design environment optimized for the analog designer. Each interface provides for design entry, simulation control and bi-directional passing of data from back-end physical design software. This enables accurate simulation of electrical effects due to interconnect delays, EMI and crosstalk.

The AnalogView interfaces provide efficient access to all analog-oriented circuit simulation functions. The analog designer can build his design looking at both schematic and netlist views. Since simulation control and stimulus data are kept in separate run-time files, the schematic is always ready and "clean" for design-review or for passing on to physical design and manufacturing. A structures menuing system in AnalogView gives access to simulator features and provides default menu entries to minimize the knowledge required by the designer. For example, AnalogView makes it easy to look up transistor and other semiconductor models, display the device default parameters, allow parameter change where desired, and then display the resultant I-V curves for confirmation of choice.

Engineers choose analog simulators based on the requirements of specific applications. To cover these numerous applications, Viewlogic has developed strong third-party relationships with several analog simulator developers. Meta-software's HSPICE, for example, is used for advanced ASIC design and verification and ViewSpice, developed by Deutsch Technology, is used for general systems/circuit design. Analogy's Saber is used for the design of mixed-technology systems that address electrical, mechanical, optical, thermal, and other behavior and wherever an analog hardware description language (IIDL) is required.

Two products in the AnalogView series, AnalogView for HSPICE and AnalogView for ViewSpice are already available. Each of these products is optimized for the analog simulator it serves. AnalogView for HSPICE provides access to the models and special features utilized in HSPICE, including the ALTER statement widely used in characterizing design cells for ASICs. AnalogView for ViewSpice focuses on the board and module capabilities in ViewSpice. It also includes access to ViewModel, and easy-to-use facility for building and displaying results for user-defined models.

Also based on ISE technology is the Saber Frameway interface developed cooperatively with Analogy to integrate the Saber simulator (for the MAST analog HDL) with the Viewlogic mixed-analog/digital capability. AnalogView extends the Saber interface for use with FusionHDL, the integrated Verilog/VHDL simulator, and provides a solution for simultaneous analog (MAST and Spice), behavioral, gates, VHDL, and Verilog co-simulation.

An AnalogView floating license is $7,500. AnalogView for HSPICE design environment is available immediately. It will be available for ViewSpice in June 1995.

Founded in 1984, Viewlogic Systems Inc. is a worldwide supplier of electronic design automation software. The company's design tools enable electrical engineers to design state-of-the-art electronic products more efficiently, while reducing both development costs and time to market. The company offers software for both UNIX- and Windows-based computing platforms, along with a broad range of support services. For more company information, the Internet home page address for Viewlogic is http://www.viewlogic.com. -0-

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CONTACT: Viewlogic Systems Inc.

John Bond, 508-480-0881