Synplicity Optimizes Industry-Leading Synplify Pro Software to Enable Efficient Implementation of DSPs into Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP SYNP Synchronization Profile ): --Synplify Pro Software Delivers Optimal Results by Taking Full Advantage of Xilinx's Built-In Virtex-4 XtremeDSP Structures --Visit Synplicity and Xilinx in Booth #371 at the Design Automation Conference Synplicity Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP), a leading supplier of software for the design and verification of semiconductors, and Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq:XLNX) announce optimizations to Synplicity's industry-leading Synplify Pro(R) software that enable designers to efficiently implement DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive functions into Xilinx Virtex-4 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. devices. For example, FIR filters can be inferred and implemented to operate at 500MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. using Synplify Pro. Through its knowledge of the Virtex-4 device architecture, the Synplify Pro software allows users to take advantage of the many different operating modes of the device family's DSP48 blocks by automatically implementing the XtremeDSP structures as selected by the designer and exclusive capability to cascade multiple DSP blocks. "Designers can achieve optimal DSP implementations using Synplify Pro 8.1 software," said Jerry Banks, director of business development and strategic DSP alliances at Xilinx. "The latest optimizations are the result of our strong ongoing partnership with Synplicity. Through our relationship, Synplicity has been provided with unique knowledge of our devices in order to deliver synthesis tools that allow our mutual customers to realize the best results possible." With the Synplify Pro software, many commonly used DSP functions are inferred directly from the designer's HDL (Hardware Description Language) A language used to describe the functions of an electronic circuit for documentation, simulation or logic synthesis (or all three). Although many proprietary HDLs have been developed, Verilog and VHDL are the major standards. code and implemented directly in Virtex-4 DSP48 blocks through seamless integration An addition of a new application, routine or device that works smoothly with the existing system. It implies that the new feature or program can be installed and used without problems. Contrast with "transparent," which implies that there is no discernible change after installation. with Xilinx ISE Ise (ē`sā), city (1990 pop. 104,164), Mie prefecture, S Honshu, Japan, on Ise Bay. It is one of the foremost religious centers of Shinto, the site of the shrines of Ise. logic design tools. Examples are multiply-accumulate and multipliers with operands that are a constant. In these cases the Synplify Pro software infers this behavior from the 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; code and creates an efficient implementation in the DSP48 block. The Synplify Pro software can also implement adders with three or more operands and automatically balance delay between registers within the DSP48 blocks to improve overall timing performance. In addition, the software enables designers to take their single HDL source and quickly retarget different FPGAs from Xilinx. A comprehensive application note on using Virtex-4 DSP48 blocks with Synplify Pro can be found at http://www.synplicity.com/literature/pdf/dsp48.pdf. "The Virtex-4 family of multi-platform FPGAs continue to expand the types of applications being implemented in programmable logic See PLD. and we're thrilled to provide outstanding quality of results to designers implementing DSPs into their Virtex-4 FPGAs," stated Jeff Garrison, director of marketing for FPGA products at Synplicity. "In addition to our new automated DSP features, Synplicity's timing-driven synthesis technology supports the Virtex-4 devices with unmatched reductions in area and cost, providing customers with the broad range of benefits that they've come to expect from Synplicity." Pricing and Availability The new optimizations for the Synplify Pro software are available now. Pricing for the Synplify Pro software starts at $19,000 (U.S.). For more information about Synplicity's family of FPGA synthesis products, visit the company's Web site at http://www.synplicity.com/. About Synplicity's FPGA Synthesis Solutions Synplicity's Synplify software helps programmable logic designers rapidly achieve aggressive performance objectives. The Synplify software takes designs written in 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 Verilog as input, and compiles, optimizes and maps them into efficient, high-performance netlists for all leading CPLD (Complex PLD) A programmable logic device that is made up of several simple PLDs (SPLDs) with a programmable switching matrix in between the logic blocks. CPLDs typically use EEPROM, flash memory or SRAM to hold the logic design interconnections. See PLD and SPLD. and FPGA devices. The Synplify Pro software offers high quality of results and fast runtimes along with an expanded feature set optimized to increase performance and productivity for today's complex programmable devices. About Xilinx Virtex-4 Platform FPGAs Named 2004 Product of the Year by Electronic Products Magazine, Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs deliver more options, higher performance and lower power than any other FPGA family available today. Manufactured using the world's first triple-oxide 90nm CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. technology with 11-layer metal interconnect, Virtex-4 devices represent a quantum leap quantum leap n. An abrupt change or step, especially in method, information, or knowledge: "War was going to take a quantum leap; it would never be the same" Garry Wills. in programmable device architecture, technology, and system design capabilities. With more than 100 technical innovations, the Virtex-4 family consists of 17 devices and three domain-optimized platforms; Virtex-4 LX FPGAs optimized for logic-intensive designs, Virtex-4 SX FPGAs optimized for high-performance signal processing See DSP. , and Virtex-4 FX FPGAs optimized for high-speed serial connectivity and embedded processing. Devices are shipping now. For more information on the Virtex-4 product family, visit www.xilinx.com/virtex4. About Synplicity Synplicity(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNP) is a leading supplier of innovative synthesis, verification and physical implementation software solutions that enable the rapid and effective design and verification of semiconductors. Synplicity's high-quality, high-performance tools significantly reduce costs and time-to-market for FPGA, structured/platform ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. and cell-based/COT ASIC designers. The company's underlying Behavior Extracting Synthesis Technology(R) (BEST(TM)), which is embedded in its logical, physical and verification tools, and has led to Synplicity's top position in FPGA synthesis, now provides the same fast runtimes and quality of results to ASIC and COT customers. The company's fast, easy-to-use products support industry standard design languages (VHDL and Verilog) and run on popular platforms. Synplicity employs over 280 people in its 20 facilities worldwide. Synplicity is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California Sunnyvale ([sʌniveil]) is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 131,760. . For more information visit http://www.synplicity.com. About Xilinx Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. Additional information about Xilinx is available at www.xilinx.com. Forward-Looking Statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding Synplicity's performance in the FPGA market and the performance, achievements and benefits of the latest versions of the Synplify Pro software, both individually and used in conjunction with third-party products. In some cases, you will be able to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "believes" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the performance and benefits of Synplicity's software relative to relevant industry methods or standards, design flaws, design difficulties or other problems with Synplicity's software, and the growth and changing technical requirements in the FPGA market. For additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Synplicity, see its annual report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other periodic reports filed with the SEC from time to time, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. . Although Synplicity believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Synplicity cannot guarantee the future performance or achievements of its software. In addition, neither Synplicity nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of these forward-looking statements. Synplicity disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. Synplicity, Behavior Extracting Synthesis Technology, Synplify and Synplify Pro are registered trademarks of Synplicity Inc. BEST is a trademark of Synplicity Inc. All other names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners. |
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