The Week In Review: Design/IoT

Mergers & Acquisitions

Synopsys announced Sunday it would acquire privately held formal verification provider Atrenta, for an undisclosed sum. That was followed quickly by Ansys’ announcement that it would buy data analytics firm Gear Design Solutions.

Tools

IC Manage uncorked its big data predictive analytics tool Envision, which provides real-time design progress analytics to predict and manage projects as well as protection for a company’s design IP from insider threats.

Aside from the acquisition, Synopsys released several updates, including for the IC Compiler II place and route solution. TSMC recently certified the tool (along with Cadence’s Innovus physical implementation tool) for its 16nm FF+ process, and collaboration is underway for 10nm readiness. Synopsys also added FastSPICE simulation advancements in the update to its CustomSim circuit simulator, plus new mixed-signal verification support for SystemVerilog Real Number Modeling and UPF.

Sonics introduced SonicsStudio 8.0, the latest release of its SoC development environment that includes improvements for both designer productivity and power analysis.

Mentor Graphics’ latest update to their Enterprise Verification Platform includes enhancements for simulation, debug, formal, coverage closure and low power verification.

Cadence announced the next-generation of the JasperGold formal verification tool, integrating Cadence and Jasper formal technology into a single platform.

Blue Pearl released a new version of its software suite that introduced a new RTL debugging environment that includes formal technology for improved clock domain crossing (CDC) analysis.

IP

Synopsys released a broad IP portfolio for automotive applications. The portfolio is ISO 26262 ASIL B Ready and is being further enhanced to address AEC-Q100 testing and TS 16949 quality management requirements.

CEVA unveiled its RivieraWaves Wi-Fi IP platforms for integrating Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac into a new class of SoCs targeting a broad range of connected devices.

Fabs

Cadence, Imagination, and Synopsys announced collaborations with TSMC on the development of an IoT IP subsystem demonstration platform for TSMC’s ultra-low power process.

People

Two NXP engineers, Franz Amtmann and Philippe Maugars, won the EPO European Inventor Award for their work in the invention of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.