Synplicity Enhances RTL Debugging Software and Adds New Device Support.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 2003 Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP SYNP Synchronization Profile ) Identify Software Allows FPGAs to be Directly Debugged with the Original RTL (Register Transfer Level) A high-level hardware description language (HDL) for defining digital circuits. The circuits are described as a collection of registers, Boolean equations, control logic such as "if-then-else" statements as well as complex event sequences; Source Code while Running In-Circuit Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP), a leading supplier of software for the design and verification of semiconductors, today announced it has enhanced its Identify(TM) RTL debugging (programming) debugging - The process of attempting to determine the cause of the symptoms of malfunctions in a program or other system. These symptoms may be detected during testing or use by real users. software. The Identify software is the industry's only software tool that allows FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) A type of gate array that is programmed in the field rather than in a semiconductor fab. Containing up to hundreds of thousands of gates, there are a variety of FPGA architectures on the market. prototyping designers to functionally debug To correct a problem in hardware or software. Debugging software means locating the errors in the source code (the program logic). Debugging hardware means finding errors in the circuit design (logical circuits) or in the physical interconnections of the circuits. their hardware directly in their RTL source code. This provides the benefits of full-speed in-circuit verification, which is several orders of magnitude faster than an RTL simulator. In addition, the Identify software enables designers to directly select signals and conditions in their RTL source code for debugging and view the results from the FPGA directly in the RTL source code or save the results in a standard VCD See Video CD. VCD - Video Compact Disc format and used with a waveform The shape of a signal. See wavelength, sine wave and square wave. display. The Identify 1.2 software adds support for Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGAs, Actel ProASIC and ProASIC Plus FPGAs and Agilent Technologies' traceport cable. The software also provides support for Altera Apex, Apex-II, and Stratix FPGAs; and Xilinx Spartan II, Spartan II-E, Virtex, Virtex-E, and Virtex-II FPGAs. "Verifying the functionality of today's complex FPGA designs can be extremely difficult," said Brian Caslis, director of product marketing at Synplicity. "Traditional verification methods are too slow for FPGA designs that provide ASIC-like functionality. In addition, previous verification methods do not allow for in-circuit testing, which is critical for system designs that require testing in the field. With the Identify software, we deliver an in-circuit, full-speed RTL debugging solution that allows designers to view captured data directly in the RTL source code. We believe this enables designers to isolate functional problems very quickly and reduce the time needed to fix bugs potentially from months or weeks down to days." "Designers using our ProASIC and ProASIC Plus FPGAs will greatly benefit from the ability to internally view their target system at full speed," said Saloni Howard-Sarin, tools marketing director at Actel Corp. "For mission critical designs, creating artificial stimulus to emulate the real world is time consuming and typically not very accurate. Support of our flash-based devices by the Identify software will enable our customers to see how their systems work in a real-world context." Using the Identify software, designers can add triggers to their RTL design and specify signals to be watched. The software enables triggers on both the data path (signal values) and the control path (CASE and IF statements). The Identify software supports Verilog, VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) A hardware description language (HDL) used to design electronic systems at the component, board and system level. VHDL allows models to be developed at a very high level of abstraction. or mixed designs and is capable of exporting VCD or VHDL models to waveform viewers. Pricing and Availability The Identify 1.2 software is available now. A multi-vendor perpetual license of the Identify software starts at $25,000 (U.S.). A one-year, time-based license for the Identify software starts at $15,000 (U.S.). A single-vendor perpetual license of the Identify software is also available starting at $15,000 (U.S.). A single-vendor, one-year time-based license for the Identify software starts at $9,000 (U.S.). For more information on the Identify software, visit Synplicity at http://www.synplicity.com. About Synplicity Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNP) is a leading provider of software products that enable the rapid and effective design and verification of semiconductors used in networking and communications, computer and peripheral, consumer and military/aerospace electronics systems. Recognizing the company's industry-leading position, since the year 2000 Dataquest has named Synplicity as the #1 provider of PLD (Programmable Logic Device) Refers to a variety of logic chips that are programmable at the customer's site, the customer being the vendor of the finished chip, not the end user. synthesis tools, announcing a 54 percent market share in 2001, the last year for which data is available. Synplicity leverages its innovative logic synthesis The conversion of a high-level electronic circuit description into a list of logic gates and their interconnections, called the "netlist." Every logic synthesis program understands some subset of Verilog and VHDL. , physical synthesis and verification software solutions to improve performance and shorten development time for complex programmable logic devices (hardware) complex programmable logic device - (CPLD) A programmable circuit similar to an FPGA, but generally on a smaller scale, invented by Xilinx, Inc. , application specific integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. (ASICs), structured ASICs and system-on-chip (SoC) integrated circuits. The company's fast, easy-to-use products offer high quality of results, support industry-standard design languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms. As of March 31, 2003, Synplicity employed over 260 people in its 20 facilities worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif. For more information on Synplicity, visit http://www.synplicity.com Synplicity is a registered trademark of Synplicity Inc. Identify is a trademark of Synplicity Inc. All other names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners. |
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