Nassda helps Virage in embedded memory design

Nassda's HSIM timing, power and signal-integrity analysis software has been integrated into Virage Logic's Embed-It! embedded memory design platform.

Nassda's HSIM timing, power and signal-integrity analysis software has been integrated into Virage Logic's Embed-It! embedded memory design platform.

The solution accurately provides the performance characteristics of memory IP needed by SoC designers, and thereby increases their confidence in achieving first-time silicon success.

Nassda is also a member of Virage Logic's Memory Alliance Programme.

With embedded memory increasingly dominating chip area, designers developing chips for applications in high-end LAN/WAN, wireless, networking, and portable digital electronics must accurately model the performance and power of embedded memories used in the chip.

Virage Logic's Embed-It! memory compilation and characterisation software, together with Nassda's HSIM circuit simulator, produces embedded memory IP that more closely reflects actual silicon.

This simulation and analysis helps designers to achieve their requirements for power and timing performance of the chip.

"Design engineers can hardly keep up with the large number of process choices from the different foundries", said Raymond Leung, vice president of engineering at Virage Logic.

"They need a way to quickly and accurately characterise their new memory designs to insure performance matches specification when a different process is used.

By working closely with Nassda, we have created a solution that automatically and accurately measures memory performance and characterises design data".

Targeted for applications as varied as low-voltage, low-power digital hearing aids to very high performance Internet routing and search engines, Virage Logic embedded memories must meet widespread customer requirements.

In addition, the wide proliferation of process variations from the different foundries has prompted a need for rapid characterisation, making accurate circuit simulation even more critical.

HSIM, integrated into Virage Logic's AutoChar instance-based characterisation product, provides rapid timing characterisation for process variations.

"As SoC designers increasingly use multiple embedded memories, they need rigorous circuit simulation and analysis to see the impact of different operating conditions on circuit performance", said Sang Wang, CEO at Nassda.

"By working closely with Virage Logic, the leader in the development of embedded memory, we have created a solution that enables designers to accurately characterise their memories across a range of process, voltage, and temperature conditions.

By taking into account important post-layout effects, this analysis has increased accuracy which helps designers achieve their timing and power budgets for the entire chip".

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