CFI to standardize critical link between logical and physical design; CFI acquires copyrights from IBM for deep submicron data model and PI

Business Wire, June 7, 1996

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1996--In a major step toward bridging the gap between logical and physical design tools, CFI Inc. Friday announced their selection of IBM's Integrated Data Model (IDM).

This technology will be used as a base from which an industry standard design data model and programming interface (PI) will be created. CFI disclosed that an agreement has been signed with IBM transferring the copyrights for the data model and PI to CFI, paving the way forward for CFI to enhance and standardize the technology.

The data model and PI currently embody information about a design's connectivity, constraints for timing, power and area, floorplan clustering and physical layout including detailed placement and routing information. The data model and PI, which represent third-generation technology, are utilized by a variety of IBM's tools including synthesis, timing analysis, floorplanning and place and route tools used in the design of complex integrated circuits.

This effort is part of a design tools initiative formed by SEMATECH in the middle of last year to architect and build an EDA tool flow capable of designing complex integrated circuits using 0.25um and below technologies. As part of this initiative, CFI was awarded a contract to acquire, enhance and standardize a design data model and PI upon which SEMATECH's Chip Hierarchical Design System (CHDS) will be built.

In a related announcement it was made public that SEMATECH awarded a contract to Synopsys Inc. as prime contractor to develop the new design system. CFI will work with Synopsys and other awardees of EDA-related SEMATECH contracts to enhance the IDM and PI to align them with existing standards such as SDF, DCL, SPEF, PDEF and to add refinements on the physical data required to handle 0.25um and below technologies used by SEMATECH member companies.

Greg Ledenbach, director of design at SEMATECH stated, "One of the biggest issues with deep submicron technology is the dependence of circuit timing on the physical layout and routing of the design. SEMATECH's Chip Hierarchical Design System is architected as a timing driven flow with tight links between logical and physical design. To bridge the gap between these worlds, we must agree on data that will be shared by the tools and the methods that will be used to access the data."

"Once established, we will standardize the information for industry use. That's where the CFI data model and programming interface come into play," he continued.

The technology transfer of the IDM and PI to CFI is similar to the agreement between IBM and CFI established a year ago whereby IBM transferred the Delay Calculation Language (DCL) and PI to CFI for industry standardization. The DCL language and PI went from a proprietary language to a draft standard in just over a one-year period. The draft standard is now well on its way to being adopted by the EDA industry and is progressing into the IEEE formal standardization process.

Dr. John Darringer, director of EDA, IBM Microelectronics noted, "This is another important milestone in the establishment of EDA standards that address the challenges of deep submicron ASIC design. Having an industry standard data model will enable EDA suppliers to develop applications that can interoperate in new, more powerful design methodologies that support the growing complexity and performance demands of these designs."

CFI Inc. was established in 1988 and is an independent industry effort to facilitate and promote the adoption of open EDA technologies which improve designer productivity. Members include more than 40 design tools, workstation and semiconductor suppliers and CAD designers in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information on CFI contact http://www.cfi.org or cfi@cfi.org.

CONTACT: CFI Inc., Austin

Sarah Logsdon, 512/342-2244; Fax: 512/342-2037

Email: sarah@cfi.org

or

KJ Communications Inc., San Francisco

Kella Knack, 415/508-0371; Fax: 415/508-0372

Email: 74353.144@compuserve.com