Cadence and ARM Upgrade Quality of Silicon Results for ARM Partners with RTL Compiler Synthesis

Cadence and ARM Upgrade Quality of Silicon Results for ARM Partners with RTL
Compiler Synthesis
Open Collaboration Delivers New Generation Digital Reference Methodology


SAN JOSE, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, England, Feb. 16  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.  and ARM , the industry's leading provider of
16/32-bit embedded RISC processor solutions, today announced the availability of
the upgraded ARM-Cadence Encounter(TM) Reference Methodology, which now
incorporates Encounter RTL Compiler synthesis.  This completes yet another
milestone in the first year of the design chain collaboration between ARM and
Cadence.  The latest collaboration further demonstrates their commitment to
optimizing the silicon design chain by providing betterquality of silicon (QoS)
to Partners using ARM(R) cores.

At 130nm and below, wires dominate the performance and present a host of signal
integrity problems to be solved in order to achieve first silicon success.  The
upgraded ARM-Cadence Reference Methodology, based on the Cadence(R) Encounter
digital IC platform, provides an integrated, wire-centric RTL-to-GDSII
implementation for ARM Partners.

The Encounter platform integrates new generation technology for wire-centric
design with RTL Compiler for synthesis, First Encounter for silicon virtual
prototyping, NanoRoute(TM) for signal-integrity aware routing, CeltIC(TM) and
VoltageStorm(TM) for signal-integrity signoff.  This upgraded release of the
Reference Methodology enables customers to achieve improved QoS, the new metric
of silicon quality, measured after wires for accuracy.

"The ARM-Cadence Encounter Reference Methodology is now available in limited
release for some ARM9(TM) family cores. This release delivers significant
performance results over the current Cadence methodology as a result of the
addition of Encounter RTL Compiler," said John Goodenough, global methodology
manager, ARM.  "This open collaboration demonstrates the commitment of ARM and
Cadence to increase the access to new-generation nanometer solutions for our
mutual customers."

The new-generation technology behind Encounter RTL Compiler delivers global
optimization for timing closure using a patented set of global focus algorithms
that produce outstanding results ateach stage of implementation including a
better starting point for routing complex, wire-centric designs. Encounter RTL
Compiler is used throughout the silicon design chain by application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC) and intellectual property (IP) vendors, and IC
designers to help increase overall chip speed, and can help to reduce turnaround
time.

"The momentum of the ARM-Cadence alliance in the past year has given ARM
Partners an open choice of solutions and an open path to the future.  Today,
using the upgraded Reference Methodology, our mutual customers will be able to
achieve outstanding quality of silicon in less time," said Jan Willis, senior
vice president of industry marketing, Cadence Design Systems. "Our collaboration
with ARM will continue to focus on new-generation technology, open standards and
optimizing the silicon design chain to deliver the critical solutions needed for
nanometer design."

Availability

The reference methodology supports the ARM926EJ-S(TM) core, the ARM966E-S(TM)
core, and the ARM946E-S(TM) core. The ARM-Cadence Encounter Reference
Methodology with RTL Compiler is available in limited release from ARM. It is
available at http://www.arm.com/products/CPUs/rfcadence.html

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 a
volume RISC standard in such markets as portable communications, hand-held
computing, multi-media digital consumer and embedded solutions. More information
on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com/ .

About Cadence

Cadence is the largest supplier of electronic design technologies, methodology
services, and design services. Cadence solutions are used to accelerate and
manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and
telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other
electronics-based products. With approximately 4,800 employees and 2003 revenues
of approximately $1.1 billion, Cadence hassales offices, design centers, and
research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose,
Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More
information about the company, its products and services is available at
http://www.cadence.com/.

NOTE:  Cadence, the Cadence logo and First Encounter are registered trademarks
of Cadence Design Systems. Encounter, NanoRoute, CeltIC and VoltageStorm are
trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. in the U.S. andother countries.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. ARM9, ARM926EJ-S, ARM946E-S and
ARM966E-S are trademarks of ARM Limited. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings
plc; 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. 

DATASOURCE: ARM



CONTACT:  Karin Gilles of The Hoffman Agency, [phone], or

, for Cadence Design Systems; or Matthew Rodriguez ofText

100, [phone], or , for ARM



Web site:  http://www.cadence.com/ 

Web site:  http://www.arm.com/ 

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