Sagantec Tool Suite Chosen by Virage Logic for Next-Generation Memories

Sagantec's SiClone Chosen to Accelerate Migration to 130 and 90nm Advanced Process Technologies

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2002--Sagantec, a leading provider of full-custom physical design acceleration solutions, announced today that Virage Logic Corp., the leader in embedded memories(1), has standardized on Sagantec's migration and optimization tools to accelerate the implementation of Virage Logic's memory compiler products in the latest process technologies.

After an extensive evaluation, Virage Logic decided to adopt Sagantec's physical design tools. The deployment has begun with SiClone(TM), Sagantec's automatic and hierarchical physical design migration tool.

"With the increasing need to support many customers moving to the newest technologies, we needed to automate and optimize our memory implementation process," said Raymond Leung, vice president of engineering operations at Virage Logic. "SiClone's hierarchical migration features provide the acceleration factor necessary for us to expedite our physical design methodology, in turn allowing us to use a minimum of resources and offer a greater variety of products in a shorter time frame."

"We are pleased that Virage Logic, the fastest-growing U.S. semiconductor IP company(1), has chosen Sagantec tools to accelerate the delivery of their innovative memory products," said Coby Zelnik, senior vice president of business development at Sagantec. "Memories comprise full-custom circuits that are designed using handcrafted, optimized structures. They require significant design effort and time. Virage Logic's choice of Sagantec tools underscores the capability of our solutions for fast implementation of complex designs in the newest technologies."

SiClone Speeds Up Physical Design

As a semiconductor IP supplier for both integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) and fabless customers, Virage Logic has to continuously develop and offer memory IP in the latest process technologies. One of the most costly and labor-intensive tasks in developing memories is physical design, which becomes increasingly more complex in the newer deep submicron technologies.

With SiClone, memory compilers and embedded memory blocks can be ported automatically to the newest process technologies, cutting design time and engineering costs by an order of magnitude. SiClone maintains the complete hierarchy and automatically handles all abutment, alignment and pitch-matching requirements. The result is a finished physical design implemented correctly and optimally using the most advanced line widths and design rules of the latest technology.

About Sagantec

Sagantec provides software, methodologies and services that enable rapid physical implementation, reuse, design closure and manufacturability for full-custom physical designs in subwavelength technologies. The company is working closely with its semiconductor partners and customers to ensure that its products work with the most aggressive technologies of 0.13 micron and below. Sagantec products are specifically designed to accelerate the physical design process of high performance/low power CPUs, and DSPs, dedicated and embedded memories, and analog/mixed-signal circuits. Privately held and funded, Sagantec was founded in 1993 in Israel. Its corporate headquarters is located at 46485 Landing Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538. Telephone: 510/360-5200. Facsimile: 510/360-5255. On the Web at: http://www.sagantec.com.
(1) Dataquest Worldwide Semiconductor Intellectual Property Market Share Rankings 2001, by Jim Tully, April 12 2002.

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