TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Products and services for system design

ESDA tool i-Logix introduced Rhapsody, an object-oriented analysis, design, and implementation tool. Rhapsody is based on the emerging Unified Modeling Language (UML) standard to produce full production code from graphic designs and visually animate execution behavior. With Rhapsody, developers can generate production code from designs, shifting the focus of work from low-level coding to design. A graphical animation capability allows the design focus to be extended to the debugging, validation, and implementation stages. In addition to UML, Rhapsody supports C++, and provides open frameworks for code generation and operating system support. Open frameworks make Rhapsody's support for real-time operating systems user-extensible. Rhapsody supports Windows 95, Windows NT, SunOS, and Solaris. First seats of Rhapsody start at $2,495, with discounts available for multiple seats. i-Logix Inc., Andover, MA. Contact (508) 682-2100 or www.ilogix.com.

CMOS SRAM Paradigm Technology announced the availability of a 7-ns access time, 256-Kbit CMOS SRAM. The PDM41256SA/LA7SO/T is pin-compatible with existing 32Kx8 designs and is packaged in a 300-mil 28-pin SOJ and a space saving TSOP. The part is also suited for high-speed telecommunications and networking applications, and in the case of the TSOP package, for portable applications. Priced at $9.00 in 1,000-unit quantities, the 256-Kbit SRAM is available in both samples and limited production quantities. Furthermore, it is available in low and standard powers as well as commercial and industrial temperature grades. Full production will begin in Q2 of 1997. Paradigm Technology Inc., San Jose, CA. Contact www.prdm.com.

High-density EPROM Cypress Semiconductor introduced two new EPROM devices: the 512-kbit CY27C512 and the 1-Mbit CY27C010. The new products address low-speed applications with high-density requirements. Cypress also offers the 256-kbit CY27C256 for lower-density applications. The new devices, available immediately in production volumes, are offered in speed grades ranging from 70 to 200 ns. The CY27C512 and CY27C010 are available in production volumes now. The CY27C512 is available in industry-standard 28-pin DIP, 32-pin LCC and PLCC, and 28-pin TSOP packages. The CY27C010 is offered in 32-pin DIP, LCC, PLCC, and TSOP packages. Both devices use industry-standard programming algorithms and can be programmed on all leading programmers. Pricing for the CY27C512 starts at $1.25 each in 50,000-piece quantities, and pricing for the CY27C010 starts at $1.50 in 50,000-piece quantities. Cypress Semiconductor Corp., San Jose, CA. Contact (408) 943-2600 or www.cypress.com.

Physical analysis tools Cadence Design Systems announced Vampire RCX and ConcICe for parasitic extraction and analysis used in the physical design verification of ICs. Vampire RCX and ConcICe employ a combination of technologies that provide full-chip extraction and analysis. Vampire RCX features a full-chip 3-D formula extraction engine with a hierarchical implementation that scales to the largest capacity designs, a streamlined graphical process for selecting and analyzing potential problem nets, and a user customization of extraction equations supporting IC process technologies and interconnect extraction requirements. Additionally, Vampire RCX has a built-in co-efficient generator utilizing a 3-D field solver. ConcICe deploys patent-pending reduction algorithms that minimize the size of full-chip extracted data files for easier analysis. Vampire RCX is offered as a standalone tool within the Vampire product line and is $110,000. ConcICe, available as an option to Vampire and Dracula, is $25,000. Both products are available immediately on Unix-based workstations. Cadence Design Systems Inc., San Jose, CA. Contact (800) 746-6223, (408) 943-1234, or www.cadence.com.

Waveform viewing and analysis Design Acceleration released DAI Signalscan DX, incorporating the new SST2 simulation database and Turbo Compression database compression. DAI Signalscan DX is a complete waveform viewing, simulation analysis, and tightly coupled source-code debugging environment for Verilog and mixed Verilog/analog simulation. Signalscan provides many different views into the simulation results, including waveform, register, source code, design browser, and trace browser. Existing DAI Signalscan customers under maintenance will automatically be upgraded to DAI Signalscan DX. Single unit pricing for DAI Signalscan DX starts at $4,995, and the Turbo Compression option is $1,500. DAI Signalscan DX and the Turbo Compression option are available now. Design Acceleration Inc., San Jose, CA. Contact (408) 559-8500, info@designacc.com, or www.designacc.com.

High-density PLD family Lattice Semiconductor announced its new generation of 3.3-V PLDs, the ispLSI 2000V Family. The members of Lattice's ispLSI 2000V Family (ispLSI 2032V, ispLSI 2064V, ispLSI 2096V, and ispLSI 2128V) offer system designers a choice of four logic densities from 32 to 128 macrocells with multiple I/O and package options to support 3.3-V electronic system designs. The 32-macrocell, 44-pin ispLSI 2032V features 7.5-ns logic propagation delay (Tpd) and a 100-MHz operating frequency (Fmax). The 64-macrocell ispLSI 2064V also supports a 7.5-ns Tpd and 100-MHz Fmax, while the 96-macrocell ispLSI 2096V and 128-macrocell ispLSI 2128V support a 10-ns Tpd and 80-MHz operating frequency. Pricing starts at $17.35 for 1,000-piece quantities of the ispLSI 2032 in a 44-QFP package. Lattice Semiconductor Corp., HIllsboro, OR. Contact (503) 681-0118 or www.lattice.com.

FPGA Actel announced the expanded availability of its FPGAs in 84-pin plastic leaded chip carriers. With the introduction of the 14-kgate A32140DX-PL84, designers are now able to advance from 25 kgates to 14 kgates using pin-compatible PL84 packages. Included in Actel's PL84 series are the previously released 25-kgate A1225XL; 4,000-gate A1240XL; 65-kgate A3265DX; and 80-kgate A1280XL, and now the 14-kgate A32140DX. Samples of the A32140DX-PL84 are available now. Production quantities will be available in March of 1997 at $69.90 in quantities of 5,000. Actel also unveiled the 30-kgate A32300DX Integrator Series FPGAs and announced their immediate availability. The A32300DX combines all of the same antifuse- and SRAM-based architecture features as the A32200DX, but with 50 percent greater capacity. The antifuse architecture makes the A32300DX attractive to logic designers who seek to integrate complex system logic into a single programmable device. The A32300DX comes in 208-pin and 240-pin Power Quad Flat Packs (RQFP), which are pin compatible with Actel's 32200DX devices to provide an easy migration from the 20-kgate device to a 30-kgate device without PCB redesign. Pricing for the A32300DX-RQ208C starts at $299. Actel Corp., Sunnyvale, CA. Contact (408) 739-1010 or www.actel.com.

PCB placement tool ACCEL Technology introduced Accel Relay, a pre-placement and pre-routing engineering aid for critical PCB design. It provides engineering, design, mechanical, test, and manufacturing team members with expedient access to design data. The tool works with other schematic entry tools such as Viewlogic 's Workview and OrCAD's Capture. ACCEL Relay version 12.1 operates on Windows 3.1, 95, or NT platforms. It is available immediately for $1,495 or $995 if purchased with ACCEL Schematic. ACCEL Technology Inc., San Diego, CA. Contact (800) 488-0680, (619) 554-1000, or www.acceltech.com.

integrated system design  April 1997