Enter Triad's ASIC Design Contest and Win a Free ASIC Spin

– Triad Semiconductor, Inc. the leading provider of mixed signal Via Configurable Array (VCA) solutions announces an ASIC design contest. Following the successful introduction of Triad’s newest platform, the VCA-4, designers and design teams are invited to submit ASIC applications that utilize the innovative analog and digital resources found on the VCA-4 platform. The winning designer will have the opportunity to have their design fabricated onto a VCA-4 ASIC for free ($25,000 approximate retail value).
 
The VCA-4 contains silicon-proven mixed signal resources for NanoPower™ analog processing, high precision analog to digital conversion, digital processing, non-volatile memory storage, and wired or wireless communication. With these resources designers can quickly create compelling, cost-effective solutions for medical devices, portable electronics, cold chain management, wireless sensors networks, data loggers, semi-passive RFID sensors, capacitive sensor interfaces and more.
 
The contest is meant to showcase the most innovative ASIC design concepts created using the resources of the VCA-4 NanoPower™ platform. Designers are invited to register for the contest at http://www.triadsemi.com/page/freeasic. Once registered, they can download Triad’s Mixed Signal Design Kit (MDK) containing documentation and libraries for the primitives within the VCA-4 platform. Designers then create and document their design utilizing the VCA-4 resources and submit the design to Triad via email before the contest deadline of June 30, 2006. Design entries will then be judged by a panel of qualified ASIC designers at Triad based on design thoroughness, innovation, and utilization of VCA-4 features. The winning designer will receive up to two days of VCA Design Training from Triad University at Triad’s Winston-Salem, NC facility and then have the opportunity to have their design fabricated onto a VCA-4 platform free of charge. “We got a lot of great input from the ASIC design community on the features that should be in the A-4 platform.” Stated Mike LoDebole, VP of Sales at Triad “We thought this contest would be a great way to show our appreciation and to give designers a chance to highlight their innovative designs and design skills.”
 
About Triad Semiconductor

Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, Triad Semiconductor is a fab-less semiconductor company providing mixed signal via configurable array (VCA) solutions. Triad’s unique and compelling approach pre-configures ASIC arrays with silicon proven analog and digital resources such as Op-Amps, A/D & D/A converters, digital logic, memory, EEPROM, etc. and then overlays these elements with a global routing fabric. These devices are then staged at the foundry where they can be configured by users with a single mask layer. Triad’s VCA approach provides for significant reduction in development time, cost, and risk compared to other methods of mixed signal IC development. Triad’s VCA technology is enabling traditionally underserved markets and customers to enjoy the benefits of mixed signal semiconductor integration.