Calibre DRC Rule Files the First Available from TSMC for Nexsys 90nm Technology.

Business Editors

WILSONVILLE, Ore--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2002

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT), and Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation (TSMC) today announced that Calibre DRC(TM) (design rule check) rule files are now available for TSMC's Nexsys(R) 90nm technologies, the most advanced of TSMC's process offerings. The Calibre offering was enhanced in close cooperation between TSMC and Mentor Graphics engineering teams to faithfully interpret the leading-edge Nexsys 90nm design rules. These 90nm rule files exploit the most advanced capabilities of Calibre, ensuring that designers using TSMC's reference flow can rapidly verify their Nexsys-based SOC designs.

TSMC's Calibre rule files receive extensive qualification to smooth the design transition from tape-out to manufacture. "Design engineers can rely on high-quality Calibre rule files to verify their designs for TSMC silicon," said Genda Hu, vice president of marketing. "Not only do we put them through TSMC's rigorous double-blind QA procedure, but, because Calibre has been used to verify designs in our production environment for the last 2.5 years, we know that they cover real-world design conditions."

"The 90nm node will require not only unprecedented performance and capacity from a physical verification tool, but also the flexibility to handle SOC designs incorporating analog and digital IP of widely divergent design styles," said Joseph Sawicki, general manager of the Mentor Graphics' Physical Verification & Extraction Division. "Calibre is ready now for the challenges of the designs we expect to see in 90nm technology."

TSMC and Mentor Graphics are mutual partners through TSMC's EDA Alliance and Mentor Graphics' Design for Manufacture (DFM) Silicon Partners Program. Through these partnerships, TSMC and Mentor Graphics have developed an extensive set of design rule checking (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS) and parasitic extraction rule files. These can be obtained from TSMC's password-controlled website, TSMC Online.

Customers can download scripts, makefiles and utilities directly from TSMC Online, http://online.TSMC.com.tw. Application notes, guidelines and tutorials are also available.

About TSMC

TSMC is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing the industry's leading process technology and the foundry industry's largest portfolio of process-proven library, IP, design tools and reference flows. The company has one advanced 300mm wafer fab in production and one under construction, in addition to six eight-inch fabs and one six-inch wafer fabs. TSMC also has substantial capacity commitments at two joint ventures fabs (Vanguard and SSMC) and at its wholly-owned subsidiary, WaferTech. In early 2001, TSMC became the first IC manufacturer to announce a 90-nanometer technology alignment program with its customers. TSMC's corporate headquarters are in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. For more information about TSMC please go to http://www.tsmc.com.

About Mentor Graphics Corporation

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 $600 million and employs approximately 3500 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: http://www.mentor.com

Mentor Graphics and Calibre are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. Calibre DRC and Calibre LVS are trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.