Cadence and Xilinx Simplify SoC Development With Enterprise Verification Capabilities for FPGA Targeted Design Platforms

IEEE-Standard Encryption for SecureIP Models Offers 2X Performance Boost; Open Verification Methodology (OVM) to Increase Schedule Predictability and Quality

June 24, 2009 --  Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNS), the leader in global electronic design innovation, today announced that it has teamed with Xilinx to enable delivery of encrypted simulation models of Xilinx intellectual property (IP) in the latest 11.2 release of the Xilinx ISE Design Suite. The result is an expanded library of design IP and complementary simulation models supported by the Cadence® Incisive® functional verification platform for the new Xilinx Base Targeted Design Platform. Used in conjunction with the Open Verification Methodology (OVM) to provide multi-language verification and reuse, this approach can help mutual customers reduce risk and boost schedule predictability and quality.

Xilinx Targeted Design Platforms enable embedded, digital signal processing (DSP) and hardware designers alike to develop FPGA-based systems on chip (SoCs) faster with access to a wide array of silicon devices supported by open standards, common design flows, reusable IP, development tools, and run-time platforms. Using the high-performance IEEE-standard encryption donated by Cadence, Xilinx is now able to deliver Xilinx SecureIP models to speed development of designs targeting its latest Virtex®-6 FPGAs and Spartan®-6 FPGAs.

"Our customers have been building larger and more complex FPGA-based SoCs, which require more advanced verification techniques," said Tom Feist, senior marketing director for ISE Design Suite at Xilinx. "Working closely with Cadence, we are able to deploy our SecureIP models using the new IEEE encryption with users gaining 2X performance improvements in simulation. When used in conjunction with the OVM, this enables greater verification efficiency throughout the FPGA development ecosystem."

"Advances in technology announced by Xilinx and Cadence can translate into real time-to-market and quality boosts for our mutual customers," said Michal Siwinski, marketing group director of Enterprise Verification at Cadence. "Xilinx Targeted Design Platforms enable rapid creation of SoCs that scale to the sweet spot for both the OVM and the Cadence Incisive functional verification, helping customers to reduce overall project costs and risks."

About Cadence

Cadence enables global electronic design innovation and plays an essential role in the creation of today's integrated circuits and electronics. Customers use Cadence software and hardware, methodologies, and services to design and verify advanced semiconductors, consumer electronics, networking and telecommunications equipment, and computer systems. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world to serve the global electronics industry. More information about the company, its products, and services is available at www.cadence.com.