Asahi Kasei Microdevices Switches to Synopsys' Custom Compiler

Innovative Assistants Provide Productivity Boost

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- March 30, 2016 -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) today announced that Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has selected the new Custom Compiler™ (see today's news release) to replace its existing custom design tools. AKM is a leading provider of sensors and mixed-signal chips for automotive and consumer products. To maintain leadership in a highly competitive market, AKM mandated that its design teams significantly reduce custom design time. AKM evaluated a number of commercial tools and selected Custom Compiler to replace its existing custom flow, including schematic entry, simulation environment and layout editing.

"After evaluating a number of custom design tools, we selected Custom Compiler to replace our previous solution," said Takanobu Hamazaki, general manager of AKM. "It is easy to adopt and customize to our needs due to its open environment, based on open standards. By automating routine tasks, Custom Compiler will help us meet our custom design time reduction goal."

A clear demonstration of reduction in custom design time was a critical factor in AKM's selection of Custom Compiler. Particularly effective are the Template Assistants, which enable designers to quickly implement complex layout topologies and save them as patterns for reuse by the team. Because AKM had developed many customized features and utilities for their previous solution, Custom Compiler's ease of customization is absolutely critical to enabling fast and broad deployment. Custom Compiler is extensively customizable using non-proprietary, open languages such as TCL and Python. This made porting the AKM environment to Custom Compiler very straightforward.

"AKM's decision to select Custom Compiler is testimony to the capabilities and competitiveness of the tool suite," said Antun Domic, executive vice president and general manager of the Design Group at Synopsys. "Custom Compiler has unique visually-assisted automation functionality, specifically tailored to improve custom design productivity and simplify design reuse. We're working with AKM so they will be able to apply Custom Compiler to their unique requirements in the advanced mixed-signal and sensing market."

About Custom Compiler

Custom Compiler shortens the time it takes to complete FinFET design tasks from days to hours. Its visually-assisted automation leverages the graphical use model familiar to layout designers while eliminating the need to write complicated code and constraints. With Custom Compiler, routine and repetitive tasks are dealt with automatically without extra setup. Custom Compiler's visually-assisted automation provides four types of assistants: Layout, In-Design, Template and Co-Design. Layout Assistants speed layout with user-guided automation of placement and routing. In-Design Assistants reduce design iterations by catching physical and electrical errors before signoff verification. Template Assistants help designers reuse existing know-how by making it easy to apply previous layout decisions to new designs. Co-Design Assistants combine the IC Compiler™ place and route system and Custom Compiler into a unified solution for custom and digital implementation. Custom Compiler is based on the industry standard Open Access database. It provides an open environment spanning schematics, simulation analysis and layout. Unified with Synopsys' circuit simulation, physical verification and digital implementation tools, Custom Compiler provides a comprehensive custom design solution. For more information about Custom Compiler, visit www.customcompiler.info.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is the Silicon to Software™ partner for innovative companies developing the electronic products and software applications we rely on every day. As the world's 16^th largest software company, Synopsys has a long history of being a global leader in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP and is also growing its leadership in software quality and security solutions. Whether you're a system-on-chip (SoC) designer creating advanced semiconductors, or a software developer writing applications that require the highest quality and security, Synopsys has the solutions needed to deliver innovative, high-quality, secure products. Learn more at www.synopsys.com.