EDA tools for FPGAs running out of gas

Mark LaPedus, EE Times
(12/10/2008 6:21 PM EST)

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The field-programmable gate array (FPGA) market has experienced lackluster and flat growth in recent times. But now, the sector faces a set of new challenges that could threaten the business.

Like most chip makers, FPGA suppliers face the current and steep IC downturn. In one form or another, Actel, Altera, Lattice, Xilinx and others have been impacted by the downturn.

Simon Bloch, vice president and general manager of the Design and Synthesis Division for Mentor Graphics Corp., also said the FPGA business faces four other major challenges: growing design complexity; lower power methodologies; a shortage of IC designers; and the fact that the EDA tools are running out of gas.

''At same point, the tools don't scale anymore,'' Bloch warned. ''You need (new and) disruptive tools in the flow.''

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