Virage Logic Is the First IP Company to Ensure Plug-and-Play SoC Core Testing

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to ensure the interoperability that supports true plug-and-play testing of embedded cores, Virage Logic Corp., a global leader in embedded memory for system-on-a-chip (SoC), today announced its support of the IEEE P1500 standard for embedded core test. With its SRAM-based Self-test and Repair (STAR) Memory System IP, Virage Logic delivers the first commercial IP product to support the emerging standard.

Virage Logic is taking the SoC interoperability issue head-on and is paving the way for other IP companies to follow by going to great lengths to ensure the successful integration and manufacturability of its memories with the rest of SoC. With Virage Logic's STAR technology supporting the P1500 standard, system designers now have a proven solution that dramatically improves SoC wafer yields by embedding optimized test and repair in the IP, while ensuring a simple handshake through the P1500 Wrapper Instruction Register.

"It is important for the adoption of the IEEE P1500 standard that a leading IP company such as Virage Logic supports the standard, especially as embedded memory becomes the dominant core on the SoC," said Paolo Prinetto, the chair of IEEE Test Technology Technical Council, which oversees this standardization effort. "The use of P1500 interface with the STAR Memory System will be instrumental in facilitating its interoperability with the rest of the design-for-test (DFT) infrastructure on chip."

The P1500 standard embodies a Core Test Wrapper and an Information Model in order to facilitate easy integration with the rest of the design. The Information Model described in the Core Test Language (CTL) allows design software to understand the built-in test features of embedded cores so that its full capabilities can be utilized. The P1500 Wrapper allows the core to be integrated easily with the rest of the SoC design in software and hardware. The STAR Memory System incorporates the P1500 interface, which is expected to be adopted as an industry standard in the near future. The P1500 interface, in combination with the IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port, enables the STAR Memory System's embedded test and repair processor to communicate with the chip's other IP cores. Virage Logic also works closely with partners who supply test, foundry and design services and products to make sure the system is part of a complete SoC test solution.

According to Dr. Yervant Zorian, chief scientist and vice president at Virage Logic, the support of the P1500 standard with its STAR Memory System is an industry first that sets a new standard for ensuring the highest yield possible for SoC designs. In addition the company has designed out the complexity of integrating disparate test interfaces in order to simplify testing and repairing system chips. More importantly, this enables customers to ramp to volume very quickly.

The STAR Memory System is the industry's first complete self-test and repair embedded memory system that includes on-chip redundancy allocation and hard or soft repair. Because the company has built intelligence into the chip itself, there is no need for expensive external testers or laser equipment that can cost millions of dollars. As a result, the system greatly reduces test development time and costs, which saves the customer critical time to market.

Today, over a dozen customers have successfully integrated Virage Logic STAR Memory System with the P1500 interface with many having proven-silicon. The Virage Logic STAR Memory System pricing starts at $170,000 (U.S. list price). The business model includes both a license fee and royalty per chip.

About Virage Logic

Virage Logic is a global technology and market leader in embedded memory for SoC applications. To meet customer design goals with the highest level of quality, Virage Logic products are silicon proven and production ready, and optimized for area, power and speed. These products include embedded memory cores, which are critical components of communications, consumer and computer products including switches, routers, modems, cellular phones, set-top boxes, HDTVs, DVD players and PCs. In addition, the company offers software tools and custom memory design services. The company's customers include fabless semiconductor companies who use pure-play foundries and other semiconductor companies. Founded in January 1996, the company has over 200 employees and is located at 46501 Landing Pkwy., Fremont, Calif., 94538. Telephone: 877-360-6690 (toll free) or 510-360-8000. Fax: 510-360-8099. For more information, please visit www.viragelogic.com.