Mentor Graphics Corporation announced that collaborative efforts with National Instruments have resulted in a solution that provides test-oriented feedback to design teams at every step of the design process. The new SystemVisionT SVX Client environment (from Mentor) for the NI LabVIEW software (From National Instruments) allows designers to develop their test bench against a virtual prototype based upon their specification, and then use the exact same test bench in the NI LabVIEW software on physical prototypes. This process allows test bench development to be done in parallel with system development and prototyping, speeding time to market and time to certification.

Magma® Design Automation announced that Telairity has adopted the FineSim™ SPICE circuit simulator. Telairity is using FineSim SPICE to design innovative real-time video compression integrated circuits (ICs) and selected it because FineSim delivers SPICE-accurate results significantly faster than competitive products.

Synopsys, Inc. announced that Foveon Inc., a company involved in the design and development of image sensors and image capture systems, has taped out its newest-generation direct image sensor using Synopsys' Galaxy Custom Designer® solution. The Foveon X3® direct image sensor, used in high-end consumer cameras such as Sigma's SD15 digital SLR camera, has over 14 million pixels and is implemented on a 180-nanometer (nm) CMOS die. Foveon chose Synopsys' custom design solution to replace its existing solution to accelerate time-to-tapeout. The open environment of the Custom Designer solution provided Foveon with a rapid, low-risk path to migrate from its incumbent solution and complete tapeout in fewer than two months.

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

I have learned a lot in the last twenty-four hours. I am referring to the discussions I have had regarding Mentor's assertion that it is the second largest EDA vendor in terms of revenue. As you might remember, I wrote an article, you can find it here, regarding Jay Vleeschhouwer analysis of the four largest publicly traded EDA companies in 1Q10. In it I questioned Mentor's assertion that they are number 2 in terms of revenue. Iwas looking at total revenue for the year. I have since learned that is not what I was supposed to do. Read on for the full explanation.

In a recurring scenario that has become much too common in the emulation market, Mentor and EVE are once again entering into legal proceedings regarding infringements of intellectual property. This is as old a story as the introduction of an emulation product by a company different from the one that had the first product on the market. Patent infringement claims go back twenty years or more, drag on for a very long time with the intent of bleeding the smaller of the adversaries, and almost always result in either an out-of-court settlement or in finding of innocence. It is interesting that this time the battle ground of choice is Japan. What commercial interests are in danger there? As you can read, Mentor's press release is at best laconic in detailing the cause of such action. Has EVE introduced a new product that uses different architecture from its legal products anywhere else in the world? Or does Mentor market a variation on its products in Japan that contains IP not found in the rest of the world?

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. today announced a broadening of its existing collaboration with ARM to develop an optimized System Realization solution for ARM processors that will enable an end-to-end flow including a full set of interoperable tools, ARM® processor and physical IP, services and methodology from embedded Linux to GDSII. To accelerate adoption of this solution, Cadence will provide a full complement of tutorials and education materials including two methodology reference books and extend their ecosystem of service, methodology and training providers.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. announced that, with the assistance of Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and Fujitsu VLSI Limited (hereafter collectively called Fujitsu), Cadence has developed a standardized die model that provides ASIC and microcontroller (MCU) designers with a comprehensive chip-package-board co-design solution.

It may have been Gabe Moretti’s career foray into the newspaper business as a college student that piqued a long-held interest in reporting and analysis. For when an opportunity arose to chronicle the EDA and semiconductor industries for EDN Magazine in 1999, he couldn’t resist the chance to get his fingertips stained with ink.
Let’s begin Gabe’s story in 1966 with IBM, but first, a few particulars. Born in Turin, Italy, during World War II, Gabe came to the United States as an exchange student in 1960, spending 11 months in Torrance, Calif. Back in Italy, he worked for the American consulate in Turin after graduating from high school. In 1964, he returned to the U.S. with a full scholarship to the California Institute of Technology, otherwise known as CalTech.

Brian C. Toohey took office today as president of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Toohey, 42, succeeds George Scalise, who has led the association since 1997. SIA is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, America’s number-one export industry over the past five years.