As part of the flow migration, the companies collaborated to build a customized regression system that automatically generates simulation jobs, compares results with previous runs, and reports failures. Alphawave also deployed Synopsys' Custom Compiler™ Quick Start Kits to optimize the productivity of its layout team with process-specific flows and tool settings.
"Synopsys gave us a superior solution for advanced node custom design, which helped us meet aggressive power, performance and area targets for our high-speed connectivity IP," said Tony Pialis, Alphawave founder and CEO. "Through close collaboration, we were able to complete our first tapeout with the Synopsys solution within three months of deploying it."
The Synopsys Custom Design Platform is based on the Custom Compiler design and layout environment and includes HSPICE® circuit simulator, FineSim® circuit simulator, and CustomSim™ FastSPICE circuit simulator, Custom WaveView™ waveform display, StarRC™ parasitic extraction, and IC Validator physical verification.
"Leading-edge custom design teams, such as Alphawave, are looking for an alternative to the outdated design solutions of the past," said Aveek Sarkar, vice president of engineering at Synopsys. "The Synopsys Custom Design Platform is a proven solution that delivers better designer productivity and has been adopted by thousands of designers worldwide across a broad range of mature and advanced node process technologies."
Key features of the Custom Design Platform include reliability-aware verification, Fusion Technology for extraction and visually assisted layout. Reliability-aware verification ensures robust analog/mixed-signal (AMS) design with signoff-accurate transistor-level EM/IR analysis, large-scale Monte Carlo simulation, aging analysis, and other verification checks. Fusion Technology for extraction with StarRC parasitic extraction reduces design closure time by enabling accurate parasitic simulation before layout is complete. Visually assisted automation is a pioneering approach to reducing layout effort that is proven to deliver higher productivity.
