Mentor Graphics Provides Comprehensive Product Support for New ARM Cortex-M1 Processor for FPGAs.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) today announced product support for the ARM[R] Cortex[TM]-M1 processor -- the first ARM processor designed specifically for implementation on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Mentor Graphics provides the EDA industry's most comprehensive portfolio of vendor-independent FPGA design solutions, allowing engineers to implement the ARM Cortex-M1 processor on any FPGA device.

"With the Cortex-M1 processor, designers have the freedom to select any FPGA device they wish. Mentor Graphics' support for FPGA design extends that freedom, offering our mutual customers a comprehensive, vendor-independent flow for FPGA design," said Kevin McDermott, director of CPU Marketing, Processors Division, ARM. "We consider Mentor's support to be a significant contribution for customer success with the Cortex-M1 processor."

Mentor Graphics is the only EDA company with a complete FPGA solution, covering design entry, simulation, synthesis, PCB design, embedded software and software development toolsets. These hardware and software design solutions enable FPGA system designers to develop better electronic products faster and more cost-effectively. Unlike proprietary solutions from FPGA vendors, Mentor products allow designers to target virtually any FPGA platform with their Cortex-M1-based design. In addition, Mentor Graphics is the only major EDA company with an embedded software solution, providing turn-key technology for development tools, operating systems and application middleware.

The ARM Cortex-M1 processor extends the range of the ARM Cortex family and enables OEMs to standardize around a common architecture across the performance spectrum. According to ARM, the Cortex-M1 processor enables OEMs to achieve significant cost savings through rationalization of software and tools investments across multiple projects spanning FPGA, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and application specific standard product (ASSP), plus greater vendor independence through use of an industry-standard processor.

"Mentor Graphics' long-term strategic relationship with ARM has enabled us to support the launch of the Cortex-M1 with several plug-and-play design solutions, including design assembly, embedded software toolsets, and most recently Precision[R] Synthesis for FPGA devices," said Simon Bloch, general manager, Design Creation and Synthesis Division, Mentor Graphics. "With these vendor-independent offerings from Mentor, designers are free to select any FPGA device to implement their designs based on the ARM Cortex-M1 processor."

Supporting Toolsets

For design, rapid assembly and validation, Mentor Graphics offers Platform Express[TM], a tool that uses the IP-XACT[TM] specification by The SPIRIT Consortium[TM] to automatically assemble hardware and software IP into a complete design and drive downstream processes. Platform Express allows designers to rapidly integrate hardware and software IP with the Cortex-M1 processor and quickly examine interactions between hardware blocks, identify interconnect bottlenecks, and validate hardware/software functionality before initiating implementation automatically. Mentor Graphics and ARM will host a seminar on this tool flow for the Cortex-M1 at the Embedded Systems Conference, April 3, San Jose, Calif. For more information, please visit:

http://www.mentor.com/products/fpga_pld/events/escj.cfm?int=1&id=3 3300&listid=0403

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Precision Synthesis is a leading RTL and physical synthesis tool and is the centerpiece of the industry's most comprehensive vendor-independent solution for FPGA design. The tool uses the same design source and constraints, enabling designers to synthesize the ARM Cortex-M1 processor for optimal performance on any FPGA technology. Designers can take advantage of the wide device support and superior quality of results (QoR) provided by Precision Synthesis to target the smallest and least expensive FPGA for their Cortex-M1 processor-based designs.

Additionally, the EDGE[TM] Developers Suite and the Nucleus([R]) operating system (OS) will provide a foundation for Cortex-M1 developers to accelerate their electronic device's time-to-market and increase their margins. The EDGE Developer Suite includes an IDE, Compiler, Debugger, Profiler, JTAG and Host Simulation software. The Nucleus OS family of products includes kernels, networking, USB, graphics and file system software that are ideal for applications in consumer electronics, industrial controls, medical and telematics vertical markets. Nucleus software is highly reliable, extremely scalable and has a very small memory footprint.

Availability

For detailed pricing and availability information on hardware design and software development products for the Cortex-M1 processor, please go to http://www.mentor.com.

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 4,250 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, Nucleus and Precision are registered trademarks, and Platform Express and EDGE are trademarks, of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Cortex is trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc, its operating company ARM Limited, and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC., ARM KK, ARM Korea Ltd., ARM Taiwan, ARM France SAS, ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ARM Belgium N.V., AXYS Design Automation Inc., AXYS GmbH, ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and ARM Physical IP, Inc., and ARM Norway AS.