Ciranova, Inc. announced today that it has signed a license agreement with STMicroelectronics (ST), one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, to support ST’s deployment of Ciranova’s interoperable PyCells for advanced silicon technologies at 32/28nm and beyond. STMicroelectronics intends to provide PyCell-based Physical Design Kits (PDKs) to both its internal and external customers.
PyCells are a form of “parameterized cell,” a basic building block for analog and mixed-signal IC layout. Under the agreement, Ciranova will provide training and consultation, as well as contract PyCell development.
“We’ve been evaluating PyCells for more than a year, and we’ve been quite impressed by their capability to handle the complexity of leading-edge silicon design rules,” said Vincent Varo, CMOS and Derivative PDK Manager, Technology R&D, STMicroelectronics “In some cases, using Ciranova’s API (Application Programming Interface) and PyCells have helped in reducing cycle time by several weeks in generating differentiated RF and analog elements, such as inductors, into ST’s first advanced 32/28nm RF PDKs. This has enabled our designers to start optimizing right away off the shelf 32/28nm analog and mixed-signal IPs ported from previous technology nodes.”
PDKs are a fundamental enabler and vital ingredient in integrated circuit (IC) design; reduction in PDK generation cycle time contributes ultimately to shorter time to market. Ciranova PyCells complement ST’s already-existing interoperable PDK environments, by enabling faster support of a wide range of complex devices for multiple foundry processes across a myriad of third-party tools (technology rules & electrical models). PyCell Studio also integrates an efficient and user-friendly IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
“STMicroelectronics is one of the world’s most sophisticated developers of analog and mixed-signal IC technology, with vast experience in PDK and custom layout methodology,” said Eric Filseth, CEO of Ciranova. “We’re delighted to be working with them in this area.”
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today’s convergence markets. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2008, the Company’s net revenues were $9.84 billion. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com.
Ciranova is electronic design automation (EDA) company focused on very large productivity improvements in RF, analog and mixed-signal IC physical design. Complementary to existing design flows, Ciranova technology dramatically reduces the time and effort needed to develop device-level layout at both the circuit and PDK levels. Ciranova supports the Si2 OpenAccess database.
Ciranova’s interoperable PyCells are a next-generation approach to parameterized cell development for custom IC design. The PyCell approach is fully object-oriented and generates DRC-correct device geometry automatically; the result is a dramatic reduction in the time needed to bring up nanometer process design kits (PDKs). PyCells run in any OpenAccess-capable EDA tool, and were selected by the Interoperable PDK Alliance (http://www.iplnow.com) as its physical foundation. The PyCell Studio development system is a free download from http://www.ciranova.com.
