Press Release

Apache's Static IR Solution Validated by TSMC

TSMC verifies RedHawk-S power analysis accuracy and performance results through silicon

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - March 3, 2004 - Apache Design Solutions, the technology leader in physical power integrity solutions for system-on-chip (SoC) designs, today announced that TSMC verified RedHawk's static IR-drop solution with a real customer design. After extensive analysis, TSMC has verified RedHawk's performance and correlated results with TSMC Reference Flow.

This validation of Apache's RedHawk-S includes static power consumption, cell-based IR and EM analysis. The critical I/O regions are handled in RedHawk's mixed cell-based and GDS flow to determine the impact of high-current drivers on power supply to the chip core.

TSMC and Apache are also working together on validating RedHawk-SDL, Apache's flagship Vectorless Dynamic™ power flow solution. RedHawk's full-chip dynamic voltage-drop solution incorporates the effects of simultaneously switching in the core and I/O area, intrinsic and intentional decoupling capacitance, and inductive effects (on-chip and package), all of which are neglected by existing static analysis solutions. TSMC is interested in adding these capabilities to their reference flow because dynamic power integrity is becoming increasingly critical as geometries shrink, frequencies increase, and operating voltages are reduced.

"We were impressed by the full-chip performance of RedHawk-S while maintaining the accuracy to predict power and IR-drop that closely matched reference results," said Cliff Hu, Deputy Director of Design Service Division for TSMC. "We look forward to correlating Apache's unique vector-less dynamic solution and adding this capability to our reference flow."

"A significant percentage of our current RedHawk customers use TSMC as their foundry, due to their advanced process technologies," said Andrew Yang, Apache CEO. "We are excited to be working with TSMC on fulfilling the critical need for a dynamic physical power solution."

About RedHawk-SDL

Apache's flagship RedHawk-SDL fills the critical missing link for physical power flows in 130nm, 90nm, and 65nm SoC designs. It provides the only full-chip static and Vectorless DynamicTM physical power solution that is capable of addressing dynamic power issues such as simultaneous switching outputs (SSO) for core, memory, clock and I/O, as well as the effects of on-chip inductance, package models, and decoupling capacitance.

RedHawk-SDL enables designers to examine the power and timing impacts on a SoC caused by physical implementation decisions made from the early design stage through final verification. RedHawk-SDL delivers dramatic speedup with transistor-level accuracy. It also addresses verification issues associated with low-power techniques such as leakage current, power gating, multiple voltages and multiple thresholds.

About Apache Design Solutions

Apache is an EDA software supplier of innovative next-generation silicon integrity platforms for low-power, high-performance system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs. By considering all sources of noise that impacts the design, such as power, signal, package / system IO, substrate, and temperature, Apache’s silicon signoff platform enables designers of leading networking, wireless, communication, consumer, and semiconductor companies to detect, fix, and prevent design weaknesses that can result in reduced yield or failed silicon. Apache’s vendor neutral platform enables designers to adopt any industry’s standard physical design flow and is certified by TSMC’s 5.0 and 6.0 Reference Flow (NYSE: TSM). Apache has direct sales and support offices worldwide with over 40 customers, including 7 of the top 10 semiconductor companies.

Apache Design Solutions, NSPICE, RedHawk, PsiWinder, and Vectorless Dynamic are trademarks of Apache Design Solutions, Inc.

Downloads Contact Us Site Map