Antrim Design Systems Launches Platform for 'Spec-Driven' Mixed-Signal Design

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000--Antrim Design Systems, Inc., the mixed-signal synthesis company, has released Antrim®-ACV, a platform for the system-on-chip (SoC) design market. Antrim-ACV provides an automated method for analysis, characterization, verification and reuse of mixed-signal designs. The natural derivative of Antrim-ACV is ``specification-driven design,'' an industry first for mixed-signal.

Antrim-ACV supports mixed-signal development from design capture and test bench analysis through full SoC verification. Antrim-ACV automatically creates analysis plans. It increases design engineering productivity by making it easy to re-run suites of test benches.

Antrim-ACV supports reuse through plan-driven analysis and characterization. It separates the device under test (DUT) from test benches, providing a design reuse methodology for repeatable execution of analysis and characterization steps. It's easy to characterize a DUT over multiple processes and ranges of voltage, temperature and other parameters. Results validate performance and operational characteristics to specifications.

Using Antrim's patented Burst(TM) simulation capability, Antrim-ACV promotes increased design analysis and exploration because multiple test benches can be executed in parallel. Integrated with the Cadence Composer(TM) schematic capture environment, Antrim-ACV provides a familiar user interface while offering design management, analysis and documentation capabilities not available from any other manufacturer.

Antrim-ACV's specification-sheet driven flow automatically creates design review information. Design engineers can organize and manage data from single or multiple analyses. It reports pass/fail conditions from measurements and generates a specification sheet for documentation.

As a delivery vehicle for soft and hard IP, Antrim-ACV enables a methodology for the creation, reuse and quick porting of critical design-IP. All design information, including test benches, behavior, complete documentation and captured analysis plans are available for analysis within the context of a new design.

Pricing and Availability

Antrim-ACV is currently shipping on Sun Solaris and HP/UX platforms. Prices start at $50,000 and incorporate a dedicated simulator and integration into the Cadence Composer Design Environment.

About Antrim

Antrim Design Systems, Inc. has delivered the world's first complete mixed-signal synthesis system incorporating design software, intellectual property and expert design services. Targeting the communications, multimedia and consumer electronics markets, Antrim leverages the knowledge of mixed-signal designers in a system that maximizes optimization, reuse and retargetability. Telephone: 831/430-1900. On the web at http://www.antrim.com.