EDA and Consumer Electronics

Quoting Steve Svoboda (Cadence Marketing). “EDA companies cannot think of themselves as just a tool vendor anymore. Tools are just kernel technologies that solve heavy analysis functions.” Let see how EDA companies like Cadence and Synopsys are rising to the challenge.

Cadence is increasing its focus on design kits, which use pre-developed IP flows. Cadence kits address application-specific design challenges by combining a verified methodology, packaged in platform flows, with IP and consulting. For example, Cadence provides AMS Methodology Kit that enables analog mixed-signal (AMS) designers of wireless, wired and consumer electronics devices to achieve shorter, more predictable design cycles while creating reusable AMS blocks. The goal of the Cadence kits approach is to simplify the application of Cadence technology and thereby shorten time-to-productivity.

Synopsys provides DesignWare IP, which has a broad portfolio of implementation IP, verification IP, and hardened PHYs. It is combined with comprehensive worldwide technical support from Synopsys. DesignWare IP gives designers a faster and lower risk path to chip success. For example, IBM and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing support Synopsys' DesignWare Mixed-Signal connectivity intellectual property (IP) on the 65-nanometer (nm) process developed for Common Platform technology. As part of this agreement, Synopsys is porting PHYs for USB 2.0, PCI Express® (PCIe), SATA and XAUI protocols to the 65-nm process technology. These PHYs are highly complex process-tuned analog interfaces used in today's high-volume, high-value consumer, computer, storage and networking applications.

Conclusion

Thanks to broad demand across multiple product categories, the consumer electronics segment is currently gaining momentum. Electronics industry is breaking loose from telecom/PC centric confines. Technology is becoming pervasive and ubiquitous, just like electricity and telephone before it.

The design challenge it poses is how to deliver user-friendly, seamless, cost-effective, leading edge silicon solutions into consumer centric space and also make a profit. Some of the products successes, like the iPod, show that design not technology will play an increasing role. This will force move away from bottom-up traditional transistor-level/process IC design approach to a top-down holistic view. EDA industry is trying to capture a piece of consumer electronics products. Cadence and Synopsys exhibited in 2005 in Consumer Electronics Show. EDA vendors need to tune into the consumer electronic product space through working with their customers.

-Kirti Sikri Desai