Synopsys and ARM Team Up to Deliver System-Level Design Solution for ARM Powered Applications

SystemC Models Collaboration Reduces Overall ARM Core-based Design Cycle Using Synopsys’ System Studio

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., AND CAMBRIDGE, UK– Apr. 21, 2004 - Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), the world leader in semiconductor design software, and ARM [(LSE:ARM)]; (Nasdaq:ARMHY)], the industry’s leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, today announced the availability of a joint system-level design solution that enables earlier software development and verification of ARM Powered® systems-on-chips (SoCs). The two companies have integrated ARM® RealView® Model Library SystemC™ processor models with Synopsys’ System Studio system-level design tool to deliver faster and more accurate system-level design. Developers can now create and analyze SystemC versions of AMBA™ interconnect-based SoCs more quickly and easily using System Studio, and optimize their SoC architecture. These system-level models then enable developers to concurrently develop the SoC hardware and software and, therefore, reduce total design time.

“ARM and Synopsys have collaborated to ensure our processor models work with System Studio-based design flows,” said Tim Holden, EDA Relations manager at ARM. “Our mutual customers can be assured that the SystemC models of our cores closely match the RTL behavior and interface correctly with the Synopsys DesignWare® AMBA SystemC transaction-level bus models. ARM is committed to making all of its processor models available for use within EDA tools like System Studio.”

This collaboration adheres to the AMBA 2 Transfer-Layer SystemC specification to ensure interoperability and illustrates the continued progress in the ecosystem for platform-based design solutions from ARM and Synopsys. System-level models of AMBA interconnect-based SoCs can now be created and analyzed more effectively using Synopsys’ DesignWare SystemC transaction-level models for the AMBA on-chip bus and System Studio, which provides powerful and intuitive analysis of such designs.

“The ARM and Synopsys system-level collaboration helps ensure full compatibility between cores and on-chip buses,” said Martin Vorbach, chief technology officer of PACT XPP Technologies, a leader in re-configurable parallel processing solutions. “The ARM-Synopsys development environment provides the solution we require to optimize and validate our design platforms through System Studio, and helps us and our customers to significantly reduce the SoC design cycle.”

“ARM and Synopsys engineers have worked closely together to ensure that our combined solution enables the rapid and effective design and verification of ARM Powered SoC designs,” said Farhad Hayat, vice president of marketing, Synopsys Verification Group. “When combined with System Studio and DesignWare AMBA SystemC models, this solution lets our mutual customers rapidly explore alternative architectures.”

Availability
The ARM-Synopsys system-level design solution is available immediately for the ARM926EJ-S™ core, the ARM946E-S™ core, the ARM1136J-S™ core and the ARM1136JF-S™ core. The ARM RealView Model Library processor models are available from ARM. System Studio and the DesignWare AMBA SystemC Library transaction-level bus models are available from Synopsys.

About ARM
ARM is the industry’s leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions. The company licenses its high-performance, low-cost, power-efficient RISC processors, peripherals and system-chip designs to leading international electronics companies. ARM also provides comprehensive support required in developing a complete system. ARM’s microprocessor cores are rapidly becoming the volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held computing, multimedia digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is the world leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading integrated circuit (IC) design and verification platforms, and IC manufacturing software products to the global electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex SoCs. Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at www.synopsys.com.

Synopsys and DesignWare are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc.

ARM, RealView and ARM Powered are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM926EJ-S, ARM946E-S, ARM1136J-S, ARM1136JF-S and AMBA are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. “ARM” is used to represent ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY); its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co.Ltd.; and ARM Belgium N.V. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.