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Synopsys, Inc. Corporate Backgrounder - December 2004
Introduction
Synopsys is the leading provider of electronic design automation (EDA) software and services used to design complex integrated circuits (ICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and systems-on-chips (SoCs) for the global semiconductor and electronics industries. Synopsys solutions include pre-designed and pre-verified blocks of intellectual property (IP) that can be easily inserted into design flows, as well as technology to address yield and manufacturing issues early in the design process.
Compute power, multi-media, graphics and communications features are converging in consumer products, putting additional pressure on engineers to create designs that are especially sensitive to cost, power consumption and size. Synopsys gives its customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. From high-level synthesis to silicon, Synopsys provides solutions to the most difficult challenges that confront engineers who are pushing electronic design to the limit. Synopsys technology can be found in virtually every chip in the world.
History
During the past 17 years, Synopsys has grown from a small one-product start-up to a diverse company that is the technology leader in IC design tools, offering a complete solution from concept to silicon. The company was founded in 1986 by Dr. Aart J. de Geus and a team of engineers from General Electric’s Microelectronics Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. First established as “Optimal Solutions,” Synopsys was chartered to develop and market the synthesis technology developed by the team at General Electric. Synopsys proceeded to pioneer the commercial application of logic synthesis that has since been adopted by every major electronics company in the world.
Recent Mergers and Acquisitions
Throughout its history, Synopsys has accelerated its technology strategy by adding to its internally developed products with technology gained from mergers and acquisitions. Key acquisitions in 2004 include the following:
On November 2, 2004, Synopsys acquired Integrated Systems Engineering AG (ISE), a privately held company offering Technology CAD (TCAD) software products and services that expand Synopsys’ DFM portfolio. DFM has become increasingly important to customers because such products reduce costs and minimize risks before an IC moves into the production stage. TCAD software includes the simulation of semiconductor wafer manufacturing process steps and the modeling of transistor (device) structures.
On October 18, 2004, Synopsys acquired Cascade Semiconductor Solutions, Inc., a privately held provider of PCI Express™ digital IP solutions. The acquisition completed Synopsys’ PCI Express IP portfolio and extends the company’s leadership in PCI the family of IP.
On February 23, 2004, Synopsys acquired Accelerant Networks, a privately held company providing a highly efficient technology for high-speed serial interfaces. The acquisition expanded Synopsys’ IP portfolio to provide a comprehensive offering of standards-based and chip infrastructure IP. By combining Accelerant’s unique, proven SERDES-based (serializer-deserializer) cores with Synopsys’ complementary digital cores, Synopsys can offer customers low-risk, integrated analog and digital IP solutions.
On February 26, 2004, Synopsys acquired substantially all of the assets of Analog Design Automation, Inc. (ADA), a leading provider of automated circuit optimization solutions for analog, mixed-signal and custom integrated circuits, thereby extending its analog and mixed-signal offering. Through this acquisition, Synopsys is introducing new and innovative analog and mixed-signal design technologies.
Products and Technology
Synopsys products span the entire design flow, allowing its customers to use integrated best-in-class technology from design specification to silicon fabrication. Synopsys primarily develops and supports products based on two major platforms, the Galaxy™ Design Platform and the Discovery™ Verification Platform. These platforms provide customers with an integrated suite of tools for advanced IC design and verification.
Synopsys solutions include:
- System Creation
- System Verification and Analysis
- Design Planning
- Physical Synthesis
- Design for Manufacturing
- Design for Verification
- Analog and Mixed-Signal Design and Verification
- Test Automation
- Deep Submicron, Signal and Layout Integrity
- Low Power Optimization
- Intellectual Property and Design Reuse Technology
- Standard and Custom Block Design
- Chip Assembly
- Final Verification
- Fabrication and Packaging
- Technology CAD
Programs and Services
Professional Services
Synopsys Professional Services contributes directly to the success of leading electronics firms worldwide by delivering the technology, methodology and expertise to solve their most demanding SoC development challenges. Synopsys’ comprehensive portfolio of services covers all critical phases of the SoC development process. Leading-edge development demands close collaboration, and customers are offered a variety of engagement models, from methodology-driven project assistance to full turnkey development, to best fit their business and project needs.
Interoperability and Standards
Synopsys is a leader in interoperability and standards. The company demonstrates its leadership by actively participating in industry organizations, partnering with other EDA companies, and making its own technology available through open-source licensing or donation to standards groups. Synopsys works with standards bodies and industry organizations to lay the groundwork for tool interoperability throughout the EDA industry. Through its in-Sync program, Synopsys establishes relationships with other EDA vendors to create a smooth, predictable path between Synopsys tools and its in-Sync partners’ products. Synopsys’ TAP-in program encourages interoperability by making important Synopsys-engineered formats available to all EDA, semiconductor and library vendors. Synopsys is committed to making tool interoperability a reality.
In February of 2003, Synopsys opened its production-proven Milkyway™ design database to third parties who wish to link their tools directly into the Milkyway environment. A new program, MAP-in, was introduced at the same time to make the Milkyway environment available to all EDA vendors. MAP-in gives members free access to a copy of the Milkyway environment documentation and software, a runtime license for the APIs for integration development, an invitation to Synopsys’ EDA Interoperability Developers’ Forums, access to Synopsys’ Secured User Research Facility and an online Milkyway discussion forum.
Synopsys University Program
Synopsys is committed to providing educational institutions access to the tools and the technology needed to develop well-educated students who can meet the difficult challenges of IC and SoC design. Prior to entering the workforce, engineering students receive hands-on experience—in the classroom and in graduate-level research programs—with Synopsys’ industry-leading EDA tools. Synopsys began partnering with universities in 1986, formally establishing the Synopsys University Program in 1996. Synopsys software is currently installed in more than 450 educational institutions worldwide. The Synopsys University Program reaches thousands of students and professors across the globe every year.
Partnership Programs
No single company is likely to solve all of the problems and issues involved in complex SoC design. Synopsys recognizes that it is imperative for the companies laying the foundation for SoC design to work cooperatively in pursuit of solutions that will benefit mutual customers. To this end, Synopsys has formed several strategic partnership programs to solve the many challenges encountered on the advancing frontiers of electronic design.
These include:
- The Semiconductor Vendor Program (SVP): Aimed at enabling our semiconductor vendor partners to produce the best quality libraries and design flows for joint customers.
- The Synopsys SoC Venture Fund: Providing capital investment for start-up companies to accelerate their products to market.
- Platform Program: Partnering with hardware computer manufacturers to ensure that Synopsys software works optimally on computing platforms.
- IP Catalyst: Providing tools and methodology to the emerging players in the SoC intellectual property market
Synopsys Community Relations
Synopsys is helping inspire the next-generation of technology leaders by reaching out to local communities to foster education and science programs. Synopsys provides financial donations and encourages employee leadership and participation through a variety of corporate programs at its offices around the world. In 1999, Synopsys established the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Outreach Foundation to promote interest in math and science through science fair participation for students in grades K-12. Since its inception, program participation has grown from 1,200 students to more than 26,000 students. By focusing its resources on education initiatives, Synopsys hopes to make a lasting and measurable difference in the fields it knows best.
Management Team
- Dr. Aart J. de Geus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- Dr. Chi-Foon Chan, President and Chief Operating Officer
- Vicki Andrews, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales
- Dr. Raul Camposano, Senior Vice President, Technology and Information Systems and Chief Technical Officer
- John Chilton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Solutions Group
- Dr. Antun Domic, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Implementation Group
- Manoj Gandhi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Verification Group
- Deirdre Hanford, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Application Services
- Jan Collinson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Facilities
- Jay Greenberg, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Official web-site: http://www.synopsys.com
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