The Week In Review: Design

M&A
Synopsys acquired one-time programmable non-volatile memory IP provider Kilopass. Founded in 2001, Kilopass’ 1T and 2T bitcell IP supports up to 4-Mbit OTP instances in 180-nm to 7-nm process technologies. The acquisition will add to Synopsys’ growing OTP NVM portfolio: last October, Synopsys acquired Sidense, another provider of the technology. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Machine learning
CEVA launched a line of processors targeting deep learning inference on connected edge devices. The NeuPro family supports both 8-bit and 16-bit neural networks, with performance ranging from 2 Tera Ops Per Second (TOPS) for the entry-level processor to 12.5 TOPS for the most advanced configuration. CEVA also provides a neural network software framework. Additionally, the company debuted a new software suite of advanced voice input processing algorithms aimed at enhancing speech intelligibility and voice clarity for voice-enabled devices.

Videantis announced a new processor architecture focused on high-performance deep learning, computer vision, imaging and video coding applications. The heterogeneous multicore architecture combines multiple VLIW/SIMD media processors (v-MPs) with a number of stream processors (v-SPs) that accelerate bitstream packing and unpacking. Videantis also released a tool to translate trained neural networks into optimized implementations for the architecture.

Deals
Infineon adopted Mentor’s Veloce emulation platform for verification of both the hardware and software components of its automotive chip platforms, including pre- and post-silicon verification and validation of its AURIXTM multicore microcontroller.

Nationz Technologies licensed ArterisIP FlexNoC interconnect IP for use in ultra-low power IoT chips that enable trusted services, including trusted platform module and digital authentication systems for online banking and mobile services.

Cadence’s Tensilica HiFi DSP core now supports Dolby Atmos for PCs, with the aim of improving two-channel audio while increasing battery life.

People
Moortec, a provider of PVT monitoring IP subsystems, opened a new design center in Gdańsk, Poland. “The exciting new Design Centre in Gdańsk will allow Moortec to accelerate its engineering efforts in terms of its advanced node roadmap,” said Moortec CTO Oliver King. The company is recruiting designers for the location.

Synopsys formed a technical advisory board for its Software Integrity Group. The TAB will be chaired by Dr. Gary McGraw, vice president of security technology at Synopsys. The initial board members include Dr. Brian Chess (Oracle), Dr. Neil Daswani (Symantec), Dr. Charlie Miller (Cruise Automation), and Dr. Laurie Williams (North Carolina State University). “We understand it is important to build and maintain an objective outside perspective to review and augment our technical strategies,” said Andreas Kuehlmann, general manager of the Software Integrity Group.