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Cadence Digital and Custom/Analog Tools Achieve TSMC Certification for 16FF+ Process

3rd October 2014

Jacqueline Regnier

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Cadence Design Systems, Inc announced that its digital and custom/analog tools have achieved V0.9 Design Rule Manual (DRM) and SPICE certification from TSMC for its 16FF+ process, enabling systems and semiconductor companies to take advantage of the 15 percent speed improvement with the same total power compared to 16nm FinFET, or 30 percent total power reduction at the same speed compared to 16nm FinFET. 16FF+ V1.0 certification is on track to be concluded by November 2014. Cadence also collaborated with TSMC to make several enhancements to its Custom Design Reference Flow (CDRF) for the 16FF+ process. Additionally, Cadence and TSMC are collaborating on the 10nm FinFET process, and Cadence solutions are ready to support 10nm early customer design starts.

The Cadence custom/analog and digital implementation and signoff tools have been validated by TSMC on high-performance reference designs in order to provide customers with the fastest path to design closure. Cadence tools certified for 16FF+ include Encounter® Digital Implementation System, Tempus™ Timing Signoff Solution, Voltus™ IC Power Integrity Solution, Quantus™ QRC Extraction Solution, Virtuoso® custom design platform, Spectre® simulation platform, Physical Verification System, Litho Physical Analyzer and CMP Predictor.

Enhancements to the CDRF include an exclusive TSMC application programming interface (API) incorporated into Virtuoso Analog Design Environment GXL that speeds up statistical simulation flow, a new design methodology leveraging module generator (ModGen) technology for designing FinFET arrays to avoid density gradient effects, and the introduction of the electrically aware design (EAD) platform to extract and analyze real-time parasitics and electromigration (EM) violations during design implementation. Cadence tools in the flow include Virtuoso custom design platform, Integrated Physical Verification System, Physical Verification System, Quantus QRC Extraction Solution, Spectre simulation platform, Voltus-Fi Custom Power Integrity Solution and Litho Electrical Analyzer.

Cadence also announced today a broad portfolio of intellectual property (IP) for TSMC’s 16nm FinFET Plus (16FF+) process. Click here for more information.

“We worked closely with Cadence to certify tools for customers to enjoy the benefits of higher performance and lower power consumption of TSMC’s 16nm FinFET Plus process,” said Suk Lee, TSMC senior director, Design Infrastructure Marketing Division. “The design tools and manufacturing process have been tested to ensure they work seamlessly together so that customers can achieve reduced iterations and improved predictability. Moreover, we are actively collaborating with Cadence on the 10nm FinFET process, and the joint flow is ready for early customer designs.”

“Innovation is at the core of our business, and that’s why we continue to invest in our partnership with TSMC and the development of 16nm and 10nm FinFET technologies,” said Dr. Chi-Ping Hsu, senior vice president, chief strategy officer, EDA and chief of staff to the CEO at Cadence. “TSMC and Cadence work closely together to drive advancements that help our customers stay at the forefront of silicon technology. Customers that create chips for the world’s newest mobile devices are already tapping into the benefits of the 16nm FinFET Plus design flows and can start to adopt 10nm FinFET solutions to overcome design complexity and get to market faster.”