TranSwitch Incorporates Silicon Dimensions' Chip2Nite into Design Flow for Early Closure.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- Silicon Dimensions, Inc. today announced that TranSwitch Corporation has adopted its revolutionary early design-planning tool for use in TranSwitch design centers around the world.

TranSwitch is a leading developer of highly integrated system-on-chip VLSI solutions that implement the core functionality of communications equipment used in global communications networks. In addition to their high degree of digital functionality, TranSwitch products incorporate sophisticated mixed-signal elements to meet the stringent specifications of the communications industry.

"TranSwitch was actively looking for technology that would allow our logic designers to predict the impact of their design decisions on the physical implementation process," said Andre Chartrand, VP of engineering at TranSwitch. "On one of our recent projects the Chip2Nite tool enabled us to identify several design issues and to rectify them prior to handing off the design to the physical design team. By handling these issues at the appropriate stage in the development process we avoided bogging down the physical design team unnecessarily and were able to meet our tight schedule."

Chip2Nite is a suite of next-generation tools for floorplanning, seed placement, and analysis. Chip2Nite allows logic designers to actively participate in the design closure process by mapping the physical world into the logical world for easier analysis and debug. This common interface and database reduces wasted time from miscommunication and resolves design issues more efficiently.

"Even before the chip went to physical design our logic designers became aware of potential physical design problems. They were able to analyze several options, make the necessary modifications, and solve the issues well before any hand-off to physical design," Chartrand stated.

Silicon Dimensions recently expanded the Chip2Nite DRC suite, making design analysis even more accurate, and added support for groups and regions, allowing designers to specify logic into groups and assign to specific regions of the floorplan new post-placement analysis features, and support for top-level pins. The additions and enhancements eliminate costly iterations between logic design and physical design reducing the overall design time by at least 20 per cent.

About Silicon Dimensions

Silicon Dimensions provides industry-leading early design-planning technology focused on helping logic design engineers design large integrated circuits efficiently and cost effectively. Since its inception in 2002, Silicon Dimensions has secured funding from Kodiak Venture Partners, Globespan Capital Partners, and Fletcher Spaght Ventures. For more information, please visit www.sidimensions.com or call 508-281-5170.

About TranSwitch

TranSwitch Corporation designs, develops and markets innovative semiconductors that provide core functionality and complete solutions for voice, data and video communications network equipment. As a leading supplier to telecom, datacom, cable television and wireless markets, TranSwitch customers include the major OEMs that serve the worldwide public network, the Internet, and corporate Wide Area Networks (WANs). TranSwitch devices for Broadband, Transport and Switching are inherently flexible, many incorporating embedded programmable microcontrollers to rapidly meet customers' new requirements or evolving network standards by modifying a function via software instruction. TranSwitch implements global communications standards in its VLSI solutions and is committed to providing high-quality products and services. TranSwitch, Shelton, CT, is an ISO 9001:2000 registered company. For more information, visit www.transwitch.com.