National Semiconductor and Synopsys Collaborate for PowerWise Technology

Jun 18, 2003 12:00 PM, Edited by PETech Staff

6/18/2003

Edited by PETech Staff

National Semiconductor and Synopsys Collaborate for PowerWise Technology

National Semiconductor Corp. and Synopsys Inc. recently announced they are collaborating to develop a reference design flow supporting National Semiconductor’s energy-efficient PowerWise™ technology for handheld portable devices. The PowerWise reference design flow, based on Synopsys’ proven Galaxy™ Design Platform, facilitates faster implementation of the PowerWise technology among IC designers as well as wide adoption by handset manufacturers worldwide.

Energy efficiency has rapidly become a key differentiator for handheld portable devices. National Semiconductor’s PowerWise closed-loop Adaptive Voltage Scaling (AVS) technology increases energy efficiency significantly over existing open-loop voltage scaling schemes, achieving the lowest possible voltage at which an application can still meet its performance requirements. After jointly developing a methodology for designs with variable voltage supplies during the first phase of this collaboration, the two companies are now proceeding with the development of the PowerWise reference design flow.

As part of this effort, Synopsys is integrating support for variable voltage supplies in its Galaxy Design Platform, while National Semiconductor is providing libraries that utilize Synopsys’ advanced Liberty™ library format. These libraries make use of Liberty’s Scalable Polynomial Delay Model (SPDM), a delay model that offers a more accurate timing representation and reduces memory requirements, Scalable Polynomial Power Model (SPPM), and Scalable Polynomial Leakage Model (SPLM). National Semiconductor is also contributing key intellectual properties (IPs) and test cases.

“Energy efficiency is a key problem for many of our customers,” said Antun Domic, senior vice president and general manager of Synopsys’ IC Implementation business unit. “Our work with National takes full advantage of the most advanced variable supply voltage capabilities of the Galaxy Design Platform, implemented in synthesis, timing analysis and physical design. It has helped us to improve energy-efficient design techniques and will accelerate their adoption among our customers.”

“The addition of variable supply voltage capabilities in the Synopsys Galaxy Design Platform will enable the design of SoCs exhibiting a significant reduction in power consumption,” said Peter Henry, vice president for portable power products, National Semiconductor. “There has been tremendous interest in National Semiconductor’s PowerWise technology since its launch last November. The collaboration between two leaders in power management and EDA software will streamline the development of PowerWise-based applications.”

For more information, visit www.national.com.