Artisan Components And Synopsys Announce Availability Of Libraries Supporting Comprehensive Signal Integrity Solutions

Collaboration Enables a Signal Integrity Flow for 130-Nanometer Designs and Below

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- November 14, 2002 -- Artisan Components, Inc., (Nasdaq: ARTI), a leading provider of semiconductor intellectual property (IP) and Synopsys Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), the technology leader for complex integrated circuit (IC) design, today announced that Artisan's widely-used libraries are available with signal integrity (SI) and noise analyses support using noise modeling capabilities in Synopsys' Liberty™ open library standard. The support of noise modeling for Artisan's libraries delivers more accurate modeling timing, crosstalk and noise analysis, which enables a more reliable 130-nanometer (nm) and below design flow.

System-on-a-chip (SoC) designers moving to nanometer geometries face SI challenges, such as crosstalk, noise and voltage (IR) drop on power supply lines that can substantially impair their designs' performance and functionality and impact time-to-market. In addition, voltage and temperature modeling accuracy is critical as designers implement advanced process technologies in a wide range of applications.

"Signal integrity is one of the most critical challenges designers need to overcome in 130- and 90-nm for SoC designs to achieve successful silicon results," said Kevin Kranen, director of strategic programs at Synopsys, Inc. "This announcement demonstrates the advantage of two industry leaders combining their unique set of core competencies to provide customers with a viable and quality SI solution for a first-time-right path to silicon."

Artisan and Synoysys have collaborated to define the new noise modeling capabilities in the Liberty open library standard and to implement and test these capabilities at tool and library levels. Beta testing for tools and libraries with mutual customers is expected to start before the end of 2002, initially with 130-nanometer (nm) libraries.

Additionally, Artisan libraries will support Synopsys' scalable polynomial delay model (SPDM) to increase the accuracy and capacity of timing analysis in Synopsys' industry-leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools. The solution addresses the need for increasingly accurate modeling of voltage and temperature effects without sacrificing tool efficiency and allows for advanced capabilities like IR drop analysis and multi-voltage design. SPDM libraries will be available from Artisan upon customer request.

"The complexity and clock speeds of SoC designs at 130-nanometer and below present signal integrity challenges that must be addressed before tapeout," said Neal Carney, Artisan's vice president of marketing. "Pairing Synopsys' strength in developing advanced EDA products with Artisan's leading libraries benefits a broad customer base by providing an integrated SI solution for their SoC designs."

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, that beta testing of Artisan and Synopsys' signal integrity solutions will commence before the end of 2002. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, whether there will be technical or other difficulties that delay or prevent the commencement of such beta testing before the end of 2002, and market acceptance of Artisan and Synopsys' signal integrity solutions. We refer you also to the documents that Artisan files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the section entitled "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in Artisan's annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q.

About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), headquartered in Mountain View, California, creates leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools for the global electronics market. The company delivers advanced design technologies and solutions to developers of complex integrated circuits, electronic systems, and systems on a chip. Synopsys also provides consulting and support services to simplify the overall IC design process and accelerate time to market for its customers. Visit Synopsys at http://www.synopsys.com.

About Artisan Components
Artisan Components, Inc. is a leading semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider. The company's design platforms are licensed to over 1000 companies worldwide. Artisan's design platforms provide IC designers with a common interface to a range of process technologies from the world's leading foundries. Built on Artisan's Process-Perfect™ memory generators, standard cell and I/O libraries, Artisan's design platforms include a comprehensive set of views and models supporting leading design tools and methodologies. Artisan's worldwide network of EDA, IP and design service partners extend the Artisan standard to a complete set of system level design and integration solutions. For more information, visit Artisan at http://www.artisan.com.

Artisan Components, Artisan and Process-Perfect are registered trademarks and SAGE-X is a trademark of Artisan Components, Inc. Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. Liberty is a trademark of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.