Electronics Automation

Cadence Design Systems and Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) have aligned their efforts to produce a common industry standard for low-power design, implementation and verification.

Cadence Design Systems and Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) have aligned their efforts to produce a common industry standard for low-power design, implementation and verification. The combined effort calls for the Si2 Low Power Coalition to standardise on the Common Power Format (CPF) for a single-file approach to low-power design intent. Cadence intends to contribute CPF to Si2 by 31st January 2007 after completing the feedback process with Power Forward Initiative advisors, and has already made a read-only version available to Si2 Low Power Coalition members.

IEEE standardisation of CPF will now be subject to a decision and approval of the Si2 Low Power Coalition.

'Si2 applauds the vision of the EDA- and semiconductor-industry leaders in working together towards a single power-format standard', said Steve Schulz, President and CEO, Si2.

'We look forward to supporting all Low Power Coalition members as they use CPF to develop the industry's open standard for low-power design'.

'Customers have called for a single, holistic approach to address the gaps in linking low-power design, implementation and verification'.

'They do not want a standards war', said Jan Willis, Senior Vice President of Industry Alliances at Cadence.

'Customers are already seeing the benefits enabled by a single file approach'.

'So we are delighted to contribute CPF to Si2 where we believe a strong cross section of committed companies exists to drive the unification of low-power standards'.

Cray has adopted the SpyGlass platform for its next generation ASIC projects.

Cray has adopted the SpyGlass platform for its next generation ASIC projects. Using SpyGlass platform, including SpyGlass-Constraints and SpyGlass-DFT, Cray's design teams managed to address critical issues early at RTL on a 30-million-gate design, thus preventing a domino effect of delays and iterations later in implementation and verification phases. 'For our large SoCs, we needed a methodology to manage the increased complexity of the designs'.

'SpyGlass, combined with Constraints and DFT tools, is helping us jumpstart design closure at the RTL phase', said Peg Williams, Cray Senior Vice President of Research and Development.

'We selected Atrenta because its comprehensive tool suite was expected to help us resolve problems earlier in the design cycle, preventing costly downstream implementation issues'.

'SpyGlass-Constraints enabled us to detect and correct critical issues with our design constraints including verification of false and multi-cycle paths'.

'SpyGlass-DFT provided test coverage at the RTL-level and helped address scan and testability issues early in the design cycle'.

'Overall, the SpyGlass tool suite provided us with state-of-the-art design analysis'.

'We plan to continue its use into our next-generation SoCs'.

'We are excited to have the market leader for supercomputers adopt Atrenta's solution', stated Dr Ajoy Bose, Atrenta's Chairman, President and CEO.

'It reinforces our commitment to providing the best early design closure solution for critical design challenges'.

'Partnering with such industry leaders as Cray gives Atrenta a keen insight into the emerging design issues to help shape our roadmap for our next-generation solutions'.

SpyGlass is the industry standard for early design analysis with most in-depth analysis early at RTL design phase.

SpyGlass greatly reduces the late stage risks in developing complex multi-million-gate, nanometre-scale ICs, enabling companies to build better products, faster and more economically.

SpyGlass accurately detects design issues at the point of creation, which is at RTL.

SpyGlass-Constraints helps early design closure by ensuring high quality implementation through constraint analysis and management, reduced manual effort with first pass constraint creation, and reduced silicon timing risk through false path validation.

SpyGlass-DFT is the first solution enabling IC designers to build testability into their designs up-front, at the register transfer level (RTL).

Created specifically for logic designers, it lets users apply robust design-for-test methods and ensures high-test coverage without becoming test experts themselves.

SpyGlass-DFT not only detects testability issues - it can also automatically correct them.

Software provides iPort IP Engine users with immediate solution for GigE Vision and GenICam standards compliance, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with deployed iPort products.

Pleora Technologies, the vision industry's leading supplier of GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) connectivity products, today unveiled a new version of its iPort software that provides iPort IP Engine users with an elegant, low-risk, and immediate solution for GigE Vision and GenICam standards compliance, while maintaining full backwards compatibility with deployed iPort products. Working in concert with Pleora's eBust NIC (network interface card/chip) drivers, Release 2.3.0 of the iPort SDK (software development kit) allows users to operate GigE Vision-compliant cameras in the same system - and even in same application - as GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) cameras based on the proven iPort connectivity protocol. Moreover, with as little as a straightforward recompile, Release 2.3.0 allows applications built from previous versions of the SDK to be reused with any camera or system that incorporates a GigE Vision-compliant iPort IP Engine.

'Release 2.3.0 rounds out Pleora's end-to-end iPort solution for GigE Vision, complementing our compliant IP engines, AutoGEV tool, and eBus drivers', said George Chamberlain, President of Pleora Technologies.

'With this software in place, we are now accelerating roll out of the highest-performance, most flexible, and richly featured GigE Vision-compliant products in the industry'.

'Release 2.3.0 allows our customers to migrate at any time to GigE Vision with minimal disruption to their existing practices and applications'.

'They simply upgrade the firmware in their IP engine - which can be done in the field over the GigE link - and select the SDK option for GigE Vision protocol connectivity'.

'Everything else that needs to happen is completely transparent to them', said Alain Rivard, Vice-President of R and D at Pleora.

To comply with GigE Vision, camera vendors must provide users with an XML (extensible mark-up language) file that presents seven mandatory camera features in the syntax defined by the GenICam standard.

The XML file allows features of all GigE Vision-compliant cameras to be controlled from the GenICam programming interface.

The use of GenICam is not, however, mandated by the GigE Vision standard.

(For more information about the two standards, see the attached Backgrounder).

Many vision applications require access to features and capabilities not available through GenICam.

To ensure the needs of all applications are met, iPort SDK Release 2.3.0 allows users to choose between two GigE Vision-compliant camera control methods, one based on GenICam, the other leveraging the rich iPort SDK feature set.

In addition, Release 2.3.0 - like all previous versions of the software - delivers full support for connectivity and camera control using Pleora's proven high-performance iPort protocol.

With iPort SDK Release 2.3.0, Pleora is also introducing two key enhancements to improve the user experience.

First, the GUI (graphic user interface) for Coyote, a sample application for camera configuration, image acquisition, triggering, and many other functions, is now more intuitive to access and use.

Second, the iPort documentation package has been restructured to make it faster and easier for users to get up to speed.

Recycle America Alliance LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Waste Management Inc., has initiated new electronics recycling collection services in Wisconsin, adding e-cycling services to five of its materials recovery facilities (MRFs).

The Janesville, Milwaukee, Madison, Paper Valley and Superior MRFs will serve as collection depots (E-Depots) for electronics sourced from public and commercial customers and will accept computers, computer monitors, televisions and computer peripherals. The MRFs will also accept consumer electronics, such as stereos, VCRs and cell phones.

RAA has similar operations in Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

"We are excited to expand our recycling service offering for Wisconsin businesses and residents," says Jeffrey Fielkow, RAA's Upper Midwest director of operations.

RAA processes electronics collected at more than 85 recycling or disposal facilities nationwide and has three electronics processing facilities in Phoenix, Houston and Minneapolis. The company also has service contracts with Compucycle in Houston; ElectroniCycle in Gardner, Mass.; E-Recycling of California in Paramount; ReCellular Inc. of Detroit; Quicksilver Recycling Services in Tampa; and Sims Recycling Solutions in Hayward, Calif.

Electronics Boutique added to its European base of stores with the purchase of Spain's 141-store Jump Ordenadores chain. EB plans to introduce video game hardware and software to the merchandise mix of the consumer electronics chain during the next few months. The addition of Jump gives EB a foothold in Spain and bolsters its presence in Europe, where it has 600 stores in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. EB is expected to merge with chief rival GameStop this summer once federal regulators and shareholders approve the $1.5 billion deal.

If big-ticket buys like digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and LCD TVs are on your shopping list, you'll need a plan to find the best deals. Step one: Decide how high-tech you want to go. You want to be sure your investment won't be obsolete as soon as you leave the store. Some advice to help you shop smarter:

Research first, buy later. Check the Internet to help narrow your search. Every major manufacturer posts product information online. You can also browse competitive prices on Web sites such as cnet.com, pricewatch.com, bestwebbuys.com/electronics/and newegg.com.

Shop around. If you're a bargain hunter and your primary criterion is to find the best price, the big chains may be your best bet. For some consumers, service contracts and warranties, which bigger chains are more apt to offer, are essential. Larger chains also have huge inventories, so chances are the item you want will be in stock. On the other hand, national chains sometimes employ part-time sales associates who may not know which end of the box is up.

By contrast, independent electronics stores will likely offer great one-on-one service. They also take time to answer your ongoing questions with follow-up service. The drawback: Their prices may be slightly higher than national chains.
Be prepared to negotiate. Ask the salesperson, "Is this your best price?" If she's not authorized to cut a deal, ask to speak with the manager, if the price is nonnegotiable, inquire about other options--free delivery, a reduction in shipping costs, free or discounted accessories.

Real Intent has named Maojet Technology Corp of Taiwan its exclusive distributor for that region.

Real Intent has named Maojet Technology Corp of Taiwan its exclusive distributor for that region. Maojet delivers high calibre sales and technical support to the region's electronic design community. 'For distribution of verification solutions in Taiwan, Maojet is a recognised leader', said Prakash Narain, President and CEO of Real Intent.

'The technical capabilities of our distributors are extremely important to us, and in this area they are unsurpassed'.

Maojet General Manager, Ted Tsai, says Real Intent is a welcome addition to its portfolio.

'Real Intent has a broad line of formal verification solutions', Tsai said.

'With their large installed base and product portfolio we see large and growing opportunities for the Taiwanese market'.

Rich Faris has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Real Intent.

Rich Faris has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Real Intent, and will have responsibility for the company's marketing and strategic business development efforts. Faris reports to Real Intent founder and CEO Prakash Narain and was previously Real Intent's Director of Marketing. 'We are fortunate to have Rich as a member of our executive team', remarked Prakash Narain.

'His EDA experience and knowledge of the verification market have made a considerable impact on how we market our products, extend their reach to new electronic design applications, and support our customers'.

Before joining Real Intent in 2004, Faris was a marketing manger at Mentor Graphics, and held positions in marketing, services, customer support and information technology at Ikos Systems.

He received his BSEE from Northwestern University and his masters in computer architecture from the University of Southern California.