StarCore Design System Methodology Makes High Performance DSP Core Design Possible for Multiple Process Technologies - StarCore Design System unique design methodology developed by Lucent, Motorola and Synopsys - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, June 12, 2000

Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) Microelectronics Group and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Monday announced a revolutionary design methodology used in the StarCore Technology Center for implementation of next generation digital signal processing (DSP) cores. The DSP market requires DSP manufacturers to stay on the leading edge process technologies to achieve the highest performance, lowest power and most cost efficient. The StarCore Design System (SCDS) is a unique design methodology developed by Lucent, Motorola and Synopsys that allows them to quickly and easily re-target the cores to the cutting edge process technologies with optimized speed and area.

"The StarCore Technology Center was challenged to deliver very high performance DSP cores for multiple process technologies in shortened cycle times," said Dan Bruck, director of Core Design at the StarCore Technology Center. "In response, the StarCore team worked with Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) to develop SCDS, a unique automatic custom design methodology that blends the benefits of both synthesizable and custom design. Implementation with this design flow can be done quickly and with commercially available electronic design automation (EDA) tools common with synthesizable design flows, while achieving the high performance and optimized silicon area previously found only in custom design flows. The result is a core that can be re-targeted to leading process technologies from various sources, with minimal impact to performance and silicon area."

SCDS automates the custom design flow by using tools to optimize transistors for a specific process. The methodology delivers a custom-like performance and silicon area, that is expected to result in decreased time-to- market for equipment manufacturers over hand optimization techniques. This ability to quickly move a core to different process technologies benefits end customers by allowing Lucent and Motorola to easily keep their products on the most appropriate process available for every product they deliver, and to also support potential dual source options for large volume customers.

"StarCore Design System Methodology can provide Motorola and Lucent customers with the ability to achieve a significant competitive advantage," said Jim Boddie, executive director of the StarCore Technology Center. "This methodology is designed to allow Lucent and Motorola customers to rapidly obtain StarCore based System on Chip solutions in the most optimal process technology for any application. Moreover, this flexibility may be obtained without sacrificing cost or performance."

The StarCore Technology Center worked with Synopsys, a technology leader for complex integrated circuit design, in developing SCDS. Synopsys provided specialized expertise in the areas of transistor-level optimization and analysis, which enabled implementation of a high performance, portable flow. Working with Synopsys Professional Services afforded the StarCore Technology Center a total solution with design experts, as well as high performing and innovative tools.

"The StarCore Technology Center's relationship with Synopsys allows us to tap the right experts at the right time," Boddie added. "On-site consultants from Synopsys Professional Services seamlessly worked with our evolving StarCore team to perfect this unique automatic custom design methodology."

"It was clear from the onset that Synopsys would be in a position to directly contribute to the implementation of the design methodology developed by the StarCore Technology Center," said Scott Houghton, vice president, Synopsys Professional Services Delivery. "Time-to-market is critical, and design methodologies can clearly have a huge impact on success in this market. Synopsys Professional Services contributed expertise and experienced resources, both on-site and off-site, to the StarCore team. Working closely together, the team delivered the unique SCDS flow on schedule. The flow ensures a repeatable design process and reduced design-cycle times; Lucent and Motorola will undoubtedly benefit from this advanced design approach."

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the StarCore Technology Center is a cooperative research and development initiative between Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group and Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector, created to define next-generation DSP core technologies. The StarCore charter is to design superior DSP architectures, cores, and development tools for the communications, consumer electronics, and transportation industries. For more information on StarCore, visit its Web site at www.starcore-dsp.com.

Lucent's Microelectronics Group designs and manufacturers integrated circuits and optoelectronic components for the computer and communications industries. Additional information about Lucent's Microelectronics Group can be found at http://www.lucent.com/micro.> Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.