Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited Successfully Deploys Calibre DFM Solutions to Help Drive Rapid Process Migration.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ:MENT) today announced that Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited ('CSR'), a leading global provider of personal wireless technology with capabilities including Bluetooth, FM, GPS and Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 a,b,g,n), has received working 65nm silicon using their new nanometer design flow, which incorporates advanced Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM) methods using the Calibre([R]) DFM platform. Applying the full range of Calibre DFM solutions to its latest product, CSR was able to successfully tape-out at 65nm. CSR plans to use the same DFM solutions to quickly move to even more advanced RFCMOS processes nodes.

"CSR is moving to the most advanced process nodes at a very rapid pace, so we're employing sophisticated DFM practices to ensure our designs are more robust over the process window, and to eliminate manufacturing surprises late in the development cycle," said Chris Ladas, an Executive Director of parent company CSR plc and Senior Vice President of Operations at CSR. "We're extremely pleased with the results we achieved on our most recent RFCMOS 65nm design, which employed a full range of DFM methods including Calibre tools."

CSR is adopting the complete Calibre DFM solution, which includes litho process checking with the Calibre LFD[TM] tool, critical area analysis (CAA) with Calibre YieldAnalyzer, CMP analysis and intelligent metal fill with Calibre CMPAnalyzer and Calibre YieldEnhancer, and critical feature analysis (CFA) using Calibre nmDRC with Equation-based DRC. All of these products are supported by design kits from TSMC, CSR's foundry of choice. By using these tools to identify areas of the physical design that are sensitive to manufacturing process variations, and then making changes to remove these sensitivities, CSR is able to improve the robustness of their designs across the process window. A more robust design helps ensure first time working silicon, minimizes the potential for manufacturing surprises, and enables a faster ramp to volume production.

"We worked extensively with Mentor to define a collaborative roadmap for the introduction of a DFM methodology and support tooling to meet CSR's specific objectives," said Mark Redford, Vice President of Advanced Process Technology Development at CSR. "This is a strategic initiative for us because we see DFM as a competitive advantage. It's a way for us to get more advanced, higher performance products to market more quickly and with no manufacturing hitches late in the product development cycle. To do this effectively, you need a DFM-aware design flow that integrates accurate information about the target manufacturing process."

"Consistent with the TSMC DFM Compliance Initiative, the Calibre DFM platform provides an efficient way to incorporate the valuable TSMC data into a customer's physical design flow which is an integral part of our Open Innovation Platform(TM), helping designers to innovate and achieve silicon success," said S.T. Juang, Senior Director of Design Infrastructure Marketing at TSMC. "TSMC is confident that our DFM compliant program, supported by EDA tools, will continue to show increasing value to key fabless partners like CSR."

"We've worked closely with CSR and TSMC to realize our mutual vision of how engineers can use DFM to design and manufacture more competitive IC products," said Joseph Sawicki, Vice President and General Manager for the Design-to-Silicon division at Mentor Graphics. "We are pleased with the first time working Silicon obtained by CSR at the 65nm process node. It is a clear demonstration of the value proposition of the Calibre DFM platform."

About Mentor Graphics

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 $800 million and employs approximately 4,500 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

(Mentor Graphics and Calibre are registered trademarks and LFD is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners).