TSMC uses SpringSoft's Laker in 28nm AMS reference flow

By Anne-Francoise Pele
EDA DesginLine

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) announced it has licensed the Laker custom layout automation system from SpringSoft Inc. for the company's 28-nanometer Analog and Mixed-Signal (AMS) Reference Flow 1.0.SpringSoft (Hsinchu, Taiwan) said its Laker software tool targets analog, mixed-signal, memory and custom digital IC design. It is claimed to provide an intuitive methodology and controllable automation to accelerate and improve layout results.

The integration of Laker design software into the TSMC AMS Reference Flow enables a layout dependent effect (LDE) aware implementation methodology that improves layout quality and design flow productivity, SpringSoft continued.

"TSMC's 28nm AMS Reference Flow is a critical milestone for the semiconductor industry, especially for custom chip designers looking to capitalize on the scalable performance, density and power advantages possible at this node," commented Duncan McDonald, director of custom IC product marketing for SpringSoft.

He added: "With full production support for the OA standard and TSMC's iPDK, Laker seamlessly integrates with tools from other vendors in the TSMC 28nm AMS flow and delivers LDE-aware automation technologies to ensure the highest quality layout and most efficient design flow."

The TSMC 28nm AMS Reference Flow is based on the industry-standard OpenAccess (OA) database and uses the TSMC Interoperable Process Design Kit (iPDK) with an advanced phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit reference design operating at 1.6 GHz.

Recently, TSMC announced it had integrated Mentor Graphic's verification solutions into its 28nm AMS Reference Flow 1.0.

Mentor Graphics then specified that its support includes analog IC simulation, physical and electrical verification, high-accuracy extraction and Design for Manufacturing (DFM).

Read Article - Click Here