The IPL Alliance has defined the first open standard for interoperable iPDKs for analog/mixed signal designs. The iPDK is based on the OpenAccess database and uses standard languages and unified architecture that ensure interoperability among all EDA vendor tools.

TowerJazz said it is developing iPDKs that derive from this standard. Its first iPDK is expected by June 2010.

Among the benefits of iPDKs for customers over traditional proprietary PDKs, TowerJazz cited improved performance, increased reuse and portability through use of standards and broader EDA tool support.

The pilot process for TowerJazz iPDKs will be its TS18 power management process. The roadmap will, however, cover all of its processes, and TowerJazz said its customers will be able to choose which types of EDA flow to use.