The Week In Review: Design/IoT

Mergers & Acquisitions

Synopsys’ list of security acquisitions grew with a definitive agreement to buy certain assets of Quotium, including the interactive application security testing product Seeker and its R&D team. The acquisition builds on static analysis technology from Coverity and Codenomicon’s fuzz testing and software vulnerability assessment tools. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Tools

Mentor Graphics released the Veloce Power Application software for accurate, timely and efficient power analysis at the system, RTL and gate level for complex SoC designs. The tool uses real-time transfer of power switching activity, via a Dynamic Read Waveform API, to power analysis tools replacing current file-based activity transfer methodology. The first ecosystem partner is Ansys with PowerArtist.

Synopsys expanded its Virtualizer Development Kit (VDK) portfolio for Renesas’ RH850 MCU with a virtual prototype for the new RH850/P1x series targeting chassis electronic control units (ECUs). The VDK can be customized to represent any RH850/P1x series variant including P1x-C in support of chassis application development such as electric power steering, electronic stability control and anti-lock braking system.

Mentor Graphics announced the newest version of the FloTHERM XT software product with advanced thermal management capabilities for electronic systems, PCB and packages of any geometric complexity. The new product now supports transient analysis, Joule heating, parametric studies, extended EDA integration capabilities, and new modeling options, including a cutting-edge ability to represent copper in detail for complex PCBs.

Deals

STMicroelectronics and ARM teamed up on an innovation lab initiative to promote ARM mbed and STM32 technologies in China. The collaboration will develop and expand the Chinese engineering community targeting global Internet of Things opportunities. Eighteen polytechnic universities across China have already joined the program, which is also supported by the Association of Fundamental Computing Education in Chinese Universities.

Toshiba implemented Arteris’ FlexNoC IP as the backbone interconnect within their latest shipping 4K Ultra HD TV SoCs. In particular, Toshiba cited simulation capabilities that enabled them to try many candidate architectures and configurations in very short turn-around-times.

TowerJazz certified Ansys’ power, noise and reliability sign-off tools for its 180nm process family design kits and reference design flow.

NXP and Stora Enso entered into joint development of intelligent packaging solutions focused on integrating RFID into packages for consumer engagement and supply chain purposes, as well as brand protection and the development of tamper evidence applications.

Numbers

Mentor Graphics released first quarter financial results with reported revenues of $272.1 million, up 7.9% from last year’s Q1. Non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.28 (from $0.11 in Q1 last year), and GAAP loss per share of $0.08 (from a $0.02 loss in Q1 last year). Highlighted was a strong quarter for automotive, driven by a major win with a leading automotive OEM.