Mentor Graphics and TSMC Provide TSMC-Qualified Process Design Kit for 0.13 Micron Mixed-Mode and RF Design.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. -- Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT) today announced that in a joint effort with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), TSMC is releasing foundry-qualified process design kits (Mentor-PDKs) that support Mentor's entire custom/mixed-signal IC design flow.

TSMC has long been providing foundry-qualified design rule check (DRC), layout versus schematic (LVS), and parasitic extraction rule decks qualified for the Mentor Graphics Calibre[R] platform, as well as Spice models for Mentor's Eldo[R] Spice simulator. Starting with this latest release of the 0.13 micron mixed-mode and RF Mentor-PDK for TSMC's CM013RG process, TSMC now supports the entire Mentor Graphics ICstudio custom/mixed-signal IC design flow. This kit includes symbol library for Design Architect[R]-IC schematic capture and parameterized layout generators for IC Station[R] layout editor. This complete Mentor-PDK has been pre-qualified with the TSMC process. Design kits for the 90nm (nanometer) and 65nm nodes are currently being developed.

"We are pleased with the result of this collaboration between TSMC and Mentor Graphics in the development and validation of the Mentor process design kit," said Ed Wan, Senior Director of Product Marketing and Design Services at TSMC. "With the release of qualified process design kits such as this, IC designers will be able to leverage the readiness of our leading-edge analog mixed-signal and RF technologies more efficiently and effectively. This in turn can help them jump start their design activities quickly and confidently."

Among many users of this CM013RG Mentor-PDK is MediaPhy, a fabless semiconductor company developing next-generation System-on-Chip solutions for global mobile media applications. MediaPhy has been an early adopter of this kit since its alpha and beta stages.

"We have been working closely with Mentor Graphics and TSMC through the early development stages to address our ever-increasing requirements for mixed-signal and RF designs," said Mohammad Moradi, co-founder and VP of engineering at MediaPhy. "Being able to receive collaborative support from both Mentor and TSMC has made this design kit a center piece of our advanced design methodology. We are pleased to see its official offering from TSMC that gives added confidence and benefits not only to us, but to the greater IC design community."

"The partnership between TSMC and Mentor has long supported chip designers in their quest to complete designs efficiently. I am pleased to see this collaboration elevated to the next level," said Jue-Hsien Chern, vice president and general manager, Deep Submicron (DSM) division, Mentor Graphics. "With the support of Mentor-PDKs and Eldo/ADMS Views, we are enabling our common customers to design in TSMC's leading nanometer technologies."

New Mentor ICstudio Design Platform

Mentor's new ICstudio design environment integrates all of the Mentor Graphics custom-IC design tools into a seamless flow that enables designers to quickly and accurately conceptualize, capture, simulate, layout, and verify the most challenging of custom, analog, RF, and mixed-signal designs. Prominent design capture tools in the ICstudio environment include Design Architect-IC, a powerful schematic capture, netlisting, and simulation control cockpit, and IC Station, Mentor's connectivity-driven layout editor and chip assembly tool. These capture tools integrate tightly with Mentor's best-in-class Calibre verification platform and Eldo and ADvance[R]MS simulation tools to provide a cohesive front-to-back IC design flow. ICstudio also provides robust data management and revision control capabilities to facilitate collaborative IC design.

About the new 0.13 micron Mixed-Mode RF design kit:

This new design kit contains all the basic components necessary to kick off a production design project with Mentor's IC Flow. It includes schematic symbols for DA-IC with netlist control files, and parameterized device generators for automatic and correct-by-construction device layout in IC Station. It also contains the TSMC-supplied Calibre rule decks and Eldo Spice models. Customers who download this kit can jump start their design process with the added confidence that together with a tightly integrated flow, they have a design kit that complies with TSMC's manufacturing process.

Availability

The design kit is available for customer download directly from TSMC, through their "TSMC-Online" website at http://online.tsmc.com

About TSMC

TSMC created the semiconductor dedicated foundry industry when it was founded in 1987. It continues as the market leader by steadily increasing its capital spending and by out performing all other market competitors. TSMC posted annual sales of US$8.2 billion in 2005 and currently employs over 20,000 people worldwide. To serve and support customer's manufacturing needs, TSMC maintains account service offices in Taiwan, North America, Europe and Japan. TSMC's corporate headquarters are in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. More information about TSMC is available through the World Wide Web at http://www.tsmc.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 $750 million and employs approximately 4,100 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, Calibre, Eldo, Design Architect-IC, Advance MS and IC Station are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.)