Cadence Introduces Technology Key to Multigigabit Serial Interface Design in PCB Systems.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PCB West

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2003

Complete Differential Signaling Environment Addresses Network

Companies' Need for Speed

Addressing the differential signaling problems inherent in integrating nanometer-scale devices into systems, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN) today announced a new methodology and solution for designing and implementing multigigabit serial interfaces in high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) systems. The new capability can speed time-to-market for networking and communications companies.

"Nanometer silicon technology is creating SoCs that can run at data rates of 10 gigabits per second at the PCB level," said Charlie Giorgetti, corporate vice president and general manager of the Cadence PCB Systems Division. "At these speeds, engineers are challenged with signal integrity, timing, and complex, multi-layer routing issues. The new differential signaling solution can increase their productivity so they get products to volume sooner by allowing them to create, constrain, simulate, and manage differential signals throughout the entire design flow."

Complex multiboard backplane applications can have hundreds -- or even thousands -- of differential signal pairs, causing long cycle times as engineers perform numerous layout-simulate-fix iterations to successfully complete a design. The new Cadence simulation-driven environment enables engineers to reduce design time by introducing the ability to design a comprehensive set of rules within Constraint Manager, and then use those rules to drive layout and routing. This can eliminate numerous iterations and enables first-time design success.

"The differential signal exploration, simulation, and post-route extraction capabilities of SPECCTRAQuest are invaluable to design engineers facing the challenge of high-speed serial interface design," said Joe Socha, manager, Signal Integrity Analysis Group, Plexus Corp. "Being able to define simulation-derived constraints that drive the interactive and automatic routing will save considerable PCB design time, as well as reduce the need for exhaustive post-route analysis."

The differential signal capability is part of the new 15.0 release of the Cadence PCB Expert series design environment. The release includes enhancements in SPECCTRAQuest(TM) SI Expert, Allegro(R) layout, and SPECCTRA(R) autorouter.

New Technology Delivers New Benefits

-- Ability to define a comprehensive set of rules within Constraint Manager that enables constraint-driven layout in Allegro for differential signals. This can shorten the design cycle by reducing time-consuming and frustrating layout-simulate-fix iterations.

-- Capability in Allegro to treat differential signal pairs as a single entity while interactively routing them with a heads-up display that shows information on phase or delay control and options to use various via-patterns.

-- Power to edit an existing differential signal, or group of differential signals, using interactive push/shove routing while maintaining full electrical rule/constraint compliance. This feature in SPECCTRAQuest and Allegro reduces the need for tedious post-edit re-simulation iterations.

-- Custom stimulus and custom measurement capabilities allow SPECCTRAQuest users to make complex measurements such as common mode offset measurements from die pads inside the IC package. A user can now quickly understand the influence of the package on the performance of differential signals.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The differential signaling capability is part of the new release of the Cadence PCB Expert design environment, 15.0, available in the second quarter of 2003. It is supported on Solaris, HP-UX, IBM-AIX platforms, and Windows NT and 2000.

The PCB Design Expert for high-speed design starts at a U.S. list price of $25,200 for a one-year license and includes Concept(R) HDL Expert or Capture(R) CIS schematic, constraint and topology management, library management, Allegro Expert for interactive PCB layout and SPECCTRA Expert autorouter. SPECCTRAQuest SI Expert starts at a U.S. list price of $25,200 for a one-year license. Pricing outside of North America is available by contacting a local Cadence office or distributor.

About Cadence

Cadence is the largest supplier of electronic design technologies, methodology services, and design services. Cadence solutions are used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products. With approximately 5,200 employees and 2002 revenues of approximately $1.3 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More information about the company, its products and services is available at www.cadence.com.

Cadence and the Cadence logo, Allegro, SPECCTRA, Concept, and Capture are registered trademarks and SPECCTRAQuest is a trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective holders.