VHDL-AMS Standardization Boosts Analogy's TheHDL Strategy

Business Wire, April 5, 1999

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 1999--Analogy, Inc.'s (Nasdaq:ANLG) TheHDL(TM) open simulation strategy received a significant boost from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) when the organization approved this week the analog, mixed-signal and mixed-technology extension for VHDL.

The standard has been officially designated by the IEEE's Review Committee (RevCom) as IEEE Std. 1076.1-1999.

The new standard is an extension of the IEEE VHDL 1076-1993 for the description and simulation of mixed-signal systems, including electrical and non-electrical disciplines, from system level down to transistor level. VHDL 1076.1-1999 is also informally known as VHDL-AMS (Analog and Mixed-Signal).

"We designed VHDL-AMS with the needs and benefits of the model writer in mind," explained Ernst Christen, who is Vice-Chair of the 1076.1 Working Group, Co-Chair of the 1076.1 Language Design Committee and Principal Engineer, Simulation Technology, at Analogy. "Rather than designing an analog language first and then merging it with VHDL, our approach was to define a mixed-signal language that builds on the full power of VHDL. The result is a unified language environment, where analog and digital modeling constructs complement each other. VHDL-AMS is a true top-down design language for mixed-signal system and IC design."

VHDL-AMS was developed in an open process, exposing everything from requirements to language design to public review by any interested party. The language specification went through a thorough review by over 150 experts as part of the IEEE standardization. VHDL-AMS is defined by a precise language specification that describes each language construct in detail. Compliance with the standard is defined in terms of the qualities the simulation results must possess, assuming an ideal simulator. The VHDL 1076.1-1999 standard is not dependent on any specific simulation engine implementation.

"Mixed-signal simulation is becoming critical to the design of many systems, whether implemented on chip or otherwise, and language standards are critical to the development and adoption of mixed-signal simulation tools," stated Doug Lundin, Vice President Marketing at Analogy. "VHDL-AMS, along with the other existing and emerging hardware description languages, is a key component of Analogy's TheHDL vision for a language-independent, open simulation environment. We warmly welcome its standardization under the auspices of the IEEE."

Analogy's TheHDL technology delivers a mixed-signal, mixed-technology, single kernel simulation environment encapsulated within an open architecture capable of supporting multiple hardware description languages (HDLs) such as VHDL-AMS, Verilog-AMS, and MAST(R). By utilizing a single kernel simulation engine, rather than an array of simulation engines loosely linked via backplane or co-simulation technology, TheHDL's environment can efficiently solve both the analog and digital parts of a design. The simulation engine keeps both fully synchronized using Analogy's patented Calaveras(R) algorithm in much the same way Analogy's Saber(R) simulator does today. TheHDL's simulation kernel is encapsulated in an open environment, the specifications for which will be published by Analogy.

Founded in January 1985, Analogy, Inc. is a world leader in the development of high-performance design and analysis software and model libraries for the design of mixed-signal and mixed-technology systems. The company's products are used in the aerospace, automotive/transportation, semiconductor, telecom, computer peripherals, medical, and industrial control industries. Analogy has offices and support staff throughout the United States, Europe and Asia and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. Analogy is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq:ANLG). For on-line information visit www.analogy.com or email questions to info@analogy.com.

Analogy, MAST, and Calaveras are registered trademarks and TheHDL is a trademark of Analogy, Inc. Saber is a registered trademark of American Airlines Inc., licensed to Analogy, Inc. All other companies and products are trademarks of their respective manufacturers.