Iridium Technologies Releases Radiation Hardened Cell Library Designed Exclusively Using Simucad EDA Tools and PDKs

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO and SANTA CLARA, CA -- January 6, 2010 -- Iridium Technologies, an emerging supplier of radiation hardened ASICs, standard cell libraries, and digital/analog/mixed-signal ICs, today announced the availability of a standard cell digital library characterized and hardened in excess of 1 Mrad. This library was designed and simulated using Simucad's EDA tool flow and radiation hardening was designed and simulated with SmartSpice RadHard circuit simulator. Selected measured test data can be viewed at www.iridiumtec.com/SHARE.htm and the cell library is now available for US companies, contractors, and Government agencies.

"Simucad design tools provided a seamless and robust design, simulation, layout, and verification flow that achieved 1Mrad total-dose first-pass integrated circuit success," said Kevin Ryan, President of Iridium Technologies. "The enabling factors of foundry PDKs from Jazz Semiconductor, and the high performance affordable nature of Simucad's EDA tools, are making it possible to create a radiation-hardened integrated circuit product line that achieves optimal results, yet only requires a fraction of typical overhead, making Iridium Technologies, LLC uniquely competitive."

The designs for this effort were supported by The United States Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base through their Systematic Hierarchal Approach for Radiation hardened Electronics (SHARE) program. SHARE's objective was to deliver affordable EDA tools, matched with design kits, to facilitate access to onshore foundries like Jazz Semiconductor and American Semiconductor (Boise, ID). The prime contractor for the SHARE effort was L-3 Communications Electromagnetics & Electronics Division (San Diego, CA).

"In addition to using AccuCell, AccuCore, and SmartSpice Radhard, Iridium Technologies also uses UTMOST III to create SPICE models that support our research and development in the areas of radiation-hardened cryogenic and radiation-hardened sub-threshold integrated circuits," Ryan added. "Simucad is truly a one-stop-shop for all of our current integrated circuit design needs."

"Simucad is committed to supporting small businesses with excellent technology and support, and that is particularly true for the military and aerospace markets," said Mark Maurer, Director of Simucad's Government Business Division. "Our tools provide unique capabilities for radiation and reliability analysis that our customers depend on for their designs. Seeing Iridium's first-pass success validates our belief that small innovative organizations can produce superior products when given affordable access to foundries and design tools."

SmartSpice RadHard is exclusively available to US-based defense contractors, US Government agencies, and research laboratories that qualify for access under ITAR regulations.

About Iridium Technologies

Iridium Technologies is a privately held Limited Liability Company established in Colorado Springs, CO. Iridium Technologies originated to support industry need for more competitive radiation hardened digital, analog, and mixed-signal microelectronic solutions. The business has grown to provide complete customer and application support for all of their radiation hardened integrated circuit products, from acquisition to launch.

About Simucad

Simucad Design Automation is a leading provider of simulation and CAD software tools used for developing analog, mixed-signal, and RF integrated circuits. Founded in 2004 as a spin-off from Silvaco International, the company delivers products for circuit simulation, custom IC layout and verification, interconnect modeling, digital simulation, and IP characterization. The company provides a complete PDK-based design flow with interfaces to third-party design platforms. Simucad has a worldwide presence inherited from Silvaco's twenty years of business and is preparing for an IPO.