SAGANTEC LAUNCHES NEW DESIGN ENVIRONMENT FOR HARD IP REUSE

EnCORe to Become the Foundation for All Types of Hard IPDesign Migration

MUNICH, Germany, March 8, 1999 -- A graphical Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software environment that builds a foundation for physical design reuse and migration was introduced today by Sagantec of Fremont, Calif., during the Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE99) Conference and Exhibition here.

EnCOReTM (Environment for Core Optimization and Reuse) is a flexible graphical user interface (GUI) for
hard intellectual property (IP) migration, making it easier for designers of all skill levels to set up technology and design migration parameters. All of Sagantec's design migration and optimization tools utilize EnCORe's common process database, including Design Rule Enforcement and Migration (DREAMTM) and the newly introduced HurricaneTM. It also interfaces to other industry-standard analysis and optimization tools.

"EnCORe sets the foundation for reuse of digital, mixed signal and analog designs," says Mahendra Jain, vice president of worldwide marketing at Sagantec. "This will further accelerate the implementation of system-on-chip."

Demonstrations of EnCORe and Hurricane, next-generation software for hard IP design reuse, also introduced during DATE99, will be shown continuously Wednesday, March 10, through Friday, March 12, during DATE99 at Internationales Congress Centre (also known as The Neue Messe), in the Sagantec Booth #A4.

EnCORe is a GUI for all hard IP reuse tools that do the actual migration. Its common process database provides one central repository where all tools access the same technology, process and user-specified information. Data is entered only once and is kept in one database and in one format.

"As a result," adds Jain, "EnCORe makes hard IP easier to migrate, and shrinks the overall physical design migration time."

With foundries requiring new rules for ultra deep submicron design -- including wide metal spacing, minimum area or preferred design rules -- EnCORe gives designers the ability to easily implement these new rules using templates and wizards. EnCORe controls the setup data and process technology files to run a migration job. It enables designers to separate design or block-specific settings from technology data. This allows for technologies to be characterized and fully debugged for DREAM or Hurricane once, though the description can be used in many different migrations. Starting a new migration involves selecting the target process and its description file, followed by block specific settings.

It starts the migration tools in the proper order, and with proper input and output files. As a result, it's easier to restart the migration process at any intermediate stage.

Designers can graphically enter layer tables, design rules, device definitions and sizing parameters, re-contacting parameters and wide metal definitions and "job specific" data, including compactor controls and input/output files.

Pricing and Availability

EnCORe comes bundled with Sagantec's DREAM and Hurricane. Available in July 1999, it will support Sun Microsystems SparcStation and Sun Ultra running Solaris and HP 9000/700 running UX operating systems. For more details, contact sales at (888) SAGANTEC or via email at info@sagantec.com.

About Sagantec

Sagantec is the leading supplier of software, methodologies and services that enable the reuse and re-layout of hard IP for deep submicron design. Its tools ensure designers can efficiently implement systems on silicon; meet time to market and time to volume requirements; and take full advantage of the latest process technology, while being assured true process independence. Privately held and funded, Sagantec was founded in 1993 in Israel. Corporate headquarters for its worldwide sales, marketing, technical services and applications organization is located at 46505 Landing Parkway, Fremont, Calif. 94538. Telephone: (510) 360-5200. Facsimile: (510) 360-5255. Its Web Site is located at: http://www.sagantec.com.

Sagantec acknowledges trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products and services.

For more information, contact:
Nanette Collins
(617) 437-1822
nanette@nvc.com