The Week In Review: Design

IP

ARM unveiled a suite of products focused on the IoT, with new processors, radio technology, subsystems, end-to-end security and a cloud-based services platform. Included are Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33, the first embedded processors based on the ARMv8-M architecture. The Cortex-M33 features configuration options including a coprocessor interface, DSP and floating point computation, while the M23 focuses on security at ultra-low power. Both Cadence and Synopsys have announced support for the two processors.

Arteris implemented ARM AMBA 5 Advanced High-Performance Bus 5 (AHB5) protocol support in its FlexNoC Interconnect IP and Ncore Interconnect IP products.

UltraSoC extended the capabilities of its on-chip monitoring and analytics IP to include debug, monitoring and analysis features for the ARM AMBA 5 Coherent Hub Interface (CHI).

SilabTech launched High Speed Serial Trace Port (HSSTP) PHY IP designed to enable probing of high speed on-chip signals like embedded processors and memory buses across multiple clock and power domains. The IP Core is silicon proven on TSMC 28HPC.

Tools

Mentor Graphics launched its new Xpedition multi-board systems design solution for multi-discipline team collaboration, aimed at eliminating redundant effort during the design process and optimizing product performance and reliability with a data management infrastructure.

Deals

Fujitsu is using Cadence’s Palladium Z1 emulation platform for the development of the ARMv8-based Post-K, the next-generation flagship supercomputer in Japan.

SMIC adopted Synopsys’ StarRC product as the standard solution for signoff parasitic extraction for its 28nm process technology. The qualified StarRC technology files are available as the default in SMIC’s 28nm PDKs for both digital and custom designs.

Montage Technology licensed Arteris FlexNoC IP for use in its next generation digital set-top box SoCs. Montage cited quality-of-service features, shorter design times and less cost due to smaller die area.

Numbers

Rambus reported third quarter financial results, with revenue of $89.9 million, up 22% from the third quarter last year. On a GAAP basis, net income per share stood at $0.04, down from $1.52 in Q3 2015. Non-GAAP net income per share was $0.16 for the quarter, up from $0.14 in Q3 2015. The company also licensed its tools to protect against side-channel attacks to Nvidia.

Cadence released third quarter financial results with revenue of $446 million, up 2.76% from the same period last year. On a GAAP basis, net income was $0.23 per share, down from $0.25 per share for the third quarter 2015. Non-GAAP, income per share was $0.30, up from $0.28 per share in Q3 2015.

NetSpeed Systems closed a $10 million Series C funding round led by Intel Capital with participation from investors SK Hynix and Walden-Riverwood Ventures. The company also launched new interconnect IP targeting cloud, hyper-scale and enterprise networking and storage segments.

Certifications

Synopsys’ Galaxy design platform was certified for Samsung’s second generation of 10nm LPP (Low Power Plus) process.  A 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 processor was used for QoR optimization and flow validation. The company’s Custom Compiler was also validated for the process.

Cadence’s digital and signoff tools were certified for Samsung’s PDK and Foundation Library on the second-generation 10nm LPP process. Samsung also validated the Cadence reference flow using a quad-core design with the ARM Cortex-A53 processor on the 10LPP process.

Cadence’s analog/mixed-signal tool chain and digital front-end design and verification flows were granted Tool Confidence Level 1 (TCL1) documentation that is compliant with the automotive ISO 26262 standard. The evaluation was performed by TÜV SÜD.