Tensilica Flow for Diamond Standard Processor Cores Employs Synopsys SoC Design and Verification Platforms.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), a world leader in semiconductor design software, and Tensilica(R), Inc. today announced the availability of a predictable RTL-to-GDSII design flow for Tensilica's new Diamond Standard processor family based on Synopsys' Galaxy(TM) Design and Discovery(TM) Verification Platforms. The Diamond Standard processor family includes six cores, ranging from a low-power 32-bit controller to a high performance DSP. The combination of Synopsys solutions with Tensilica's processors and design methodology enables improved time-to-market for complex system-on-chip (SoC) designs.

"This Tensilica design methodology, based on the widely used Synopsys design implementation and verification tools, allows designers to quickly integrate the Diamond Standard cores into their SoCs while meeting all process technology requirements. This helps deliver high-quality devices to market sooner," said Lonn Fiance, director of Strategic Alliances at Synopsys. "The Diamond Standard core family spans a range of power and performance points, making it appropriate for numerous SoC applications."

The Diamond Standard processor reference design flow for Synopsys includes the following products: Design Compiler(R) RTL synthesis, Power Compiler(TM) power optimization, DFT Compiler test synthesis, Physical Compiler(R) physical synthesis, Astro(TM) place-and-route, PrimeTime(R) timing analysis, and VCS(R) RTL verification solution. The reference flow can be used to design chips that can be manufactured at all major semiconductor foundries.

"Our Diamond Standard core family and Synopsys' IC design and verification solutions, deliver proven solutions to our mutual customers," stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica's director of strategic alliances. "The design methodology makes integrating our new cores into existing and new designs both fast and predictable, because all of the key design steps are addressed."

Availability

The reference flow for the Diamond Standard core family is available from Tensilica today.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at www.synopsys.com.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific microprocessor and DSP solutions in high-volume embedded applications. Using a patented configurable and extensible processor generation technology, Tensilica is the only company that offers a wide range of controller, CPU and specialty DSP processors in both off-the-shelf format via the Diamond Standard series cores, and with full designer-configurability with the Xtensa processor family. Every Tensilica processor core comes complete with a companion software development tool environment, portfolio of system simulation models, and hardware implementation tool support. For more information on Tensilica's patented approach to the creation of application-specific building blocks for SOC design, visit www.tensilica.com.

Editors' Notes:

--Tensilica and Xtensa are registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica, Inc. Synopsys, the Synopsys logo, Design Compiler, DesignWare, Formality, HSPICE, NanoSim, Physical Compiler, PrimeTime, and VCS are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. Astro, JupiterXT, Power Compiler, Star-RCXT, Discovery and Galaxy are trademarks of Synopsys. All other company and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

--Tensilica's announced licensees include ALPS, AMCC (JNI Corporation), Astute Networks, Atheros, ATI, Avago Technologies, Avision, Bay Microsystems, Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Conexant Systems, Cypress, Crimson Microsystems, ETRI, FUJIFILM Microdevices, Fujitsu Ltd., Hudson Soft, Hughes Network Systems, Ikanos Communications, LG Electronics, Marvell, NEC Laboratories America, NEC Corporation, NetEffect, Neterion, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), NVIDIA, Olympus Corporation, sci-worx, Seiko Epson, Solid State Systems, Sony, STMicroelectronics, Stretch, TranSwitch Corporation, u-Nav Microelectronics and Victor Company of Japan (JVC).