Synopsys and Xilinx Collaborate On System Level Design for FPGAs; Leaders in Programmable Logic and System Level Design Tools Team Up to Automate C/C++ Based Design Flow.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2000

Synopsys Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) and Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq:XLNX) announced today a one year cooperative development effort to deliver a complete system design flow from system level descriptions in C/C++ to Xilinx(R) Virtex(R)-II platform FPGAs. As part of their cooperation, the companies will focus on ensuring the availability of all models required for Synopsys' CoCentric(TM) system level design tools to support the Xilinx Virtex-II platform FPGAs and on optimizing the Quality of Results (QoR) of SystemC synthesis targeting the Virtex-II FPGA architecture. This SystemC based synthesis capability will be based on technology within Synopsys' CoCentric SystemC Compiler and FPGA Compiler II as well as the Xilinx Alliance Series(TM) software.

"By providing an automated path into an FPGA implementation from SystemC, CoCentric SystemC Compiler will help customers to accelerate the next revolution in electronic design, such as co-design targeting the Xilinx architecture with the embedded processor," said Rich Sevcik, senior vice president of IP, support and software, for Xilinx.

Enabling Technologies: Platform FPGAs and SystemC-based Design

With the incorporation of high performance IBM(R) PowerPC(TM) processor cores and high speed I/O, Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs have evolved to the point that they can be used as the implementation target for complex applications. The programmable nature of these platform FPGAs gives designers more flexibility to move functions across the boundary between software and FPGA hardware, even after the applications have been shipped. The enabler for this new design style is the ability to design both the hardware and the software using the same language.

While software developers primarily use C and C++, hardware designers use other languages such as Verilog HDL to describe their designs. This difference has made it difficult in the past to create design tools that allow designers to easily migrate functions from hardware into software and vice versa. Synopsys' CoCentric system level design tools enable system designers to specify and validate their applications using SystemC, the industry standard for system-level C/C++ based design, and quickly implement them as hardware and software. By using SystemC when designing the hardware in their systems, designers avoid time-consuming manual HDL translations. CoCentric SystemC Compiler today synthesizes the SystemC hardware description directly into an ASIC implementation; a streamlined path from SystemC to Virtex-II series FPGAs will be the result of this collaboration.

"Embedding a high performance processor core in a Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA, makes it possible to implement complex applications on a single programmable chip. We are delighted to collaborate with Xilinx to create a design solution based on Synopsys' CoCentric system level design tools targeting this exciting new programmable platform," said Joachim Kunkel, vice president/general manager system level design at Synopsys.

About SystemC

Launched by the Open SystemC Initiative in September of 1999, SystemC is rapidly emerging as the preferred language for system level design. Based on C and C++, the languages of choice for most algorithm developers, system architects and software developers, SystemC also includes all the language elements necessary to effectively address hardware design. Designers can use the SystemC language constructs to refine their C/C++ code for synthesis. SystemC can be downloaded free of charge from the Open SystemC Initiative's web site at http://www.SystemC.org.

About Xilinx

Xilinx is the leading innovator of complete programmable logic solutions, including advanced integrated circuits, software design tools, predefined system functions delivered as cores, and unparalleled field engineering support. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Xilinx invented the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and fulfills more than half of the world demand for these devices today. Xilinx solutions enable customers to reduce significantly the time required to develop products for the computer, peripheral, telecommunications, networking, industrial control, instrumentation, high-reliability/military, and consumer markets. For more information, visit the Xilinx web site at www.xilinx.com.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., creates leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools for the global electronics market. The company delivers advanced design technologies and solutions to developers of complex integrated circuits, electronic systems, and systems on a chip. Synopsys also provides consulting and support services to simplify the overall IC design process and accelerate time to market for its customers. Visit Synopsys at http://www.synopsys.com.

Note to Editors: Synopsys is a registered trademark, and CoCentric and FPGA Compiler II are trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. Xilinx and Virtex are registered trademarks, and Xilinx Alliance Series is a trademark of Xilinx, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.