Digital and signoff tools enabled for 7LP process node

GF has enabled the Cadence implementation tools and reference flow for the 7LP platform, providing high-volume customers with the ability to create reliable, advanced-node chips for the high-performance compute (HPC), server/datacentre, premium mobility AP, machine learning and vision processing markets.

Cadence collaborated with GF on the development of the 7LP Process Design Kit (PDK), which is available for early customer designs. The tools in the flow include:

• Innovus Implementation System: An advanced physical implementation tool, incorporating a massively parallel architecture that helps designers deliver high-quality SoCs in less time with PPA
• Genus Synthesis Solution: An RTL synthesis and physical synthesis engine that improves productivity challenges faced by RTL designers, delivering up to five times faster synthesis turnaround times
• Tempus Timing Signoff Solution: A complete timing analysis tool that improves signoff timing closure via massively parallel processing and physically aware timing optimisation
• Quantus QRC Extraction Solution: A parasitic extraction tool that provides faster runtimes for single- and multi-corner extraction and accuracy versus foundry golden
• Voltus IC Power Integrity Solution: A cell-level power integrity solution supports comprehensive electromigration and IR drop (EM/IR) design rules and requirements while providing full-chip SoC power signoff accuracy
• Voltus-Fi Custom Power Integrity Solution: A transistor-level power integrity solution supports comprehensive EM/IR design rules and requirements while providing SPICE-level power signoff accuracy for analogue, memory and custom digital IP blocks
• Physical Verification System: Includes advanced technologies and rule decks to support design rule checks (DRCs), layout versus schematic (LVS), advanced metal fill, yield-scoring, voltage-dependent checks and in-design signoff
• Manufacturability and Variability Solutions (MVS): Delivers design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and variability analysis and optimisation, including in-design detection and automated fixing
• Spectre Classic Simulator, Spectre Accelerated Parallel Simulator (APS) and Spectre eXtensive Partitioning Simulator (XPS): These products deliver fast and accurate circuit simulation of complex analogue, radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal circuits with full support for advanced-node device models and parasitics
• Virtuoso Analog Design Environment (ADE) Product Suite: Enables engineers to fully explore, analyse and verify designs, ensuring that variation is addressed and design quality is fully optimised within compressed design cycles
• Virtuoso Layout Suite: Supports custom/analogue, digital, and mixed-signal designs at the device, cell, block, and chip levels, offering accelerated performance and productivity
• Virtuoso Schematic Editor: Provides numerous capabilities to facilitate fast and easy design entry, including design assistants that speed common tasks by as much as five times
• Virtuoso Liberate Characterisation Solution: An ultra-fast standard cell, I/O, memory and complex multi-bit-cell library characterisation solution that generates electrical cell views for timing, power and signal integrity, including advanced current source models (CCS and ECSM)

“High-volume semiconductor companies working to migrate to advanced-node designs can begin to use our 7LP process now,” said Alain Mutricy, Senior Vice President of product management at GF. “We’ve collaborated with Cadence to ensure that its tools are supported at advanced nodes, enabling customers to create high-performance products for servers and datacentres, 5G connectivity, vision processing, and automotive.”

“Cadence custom/analogue, digital and signoff customers can engage with us now to start realising the benefits of the GF 7LP process node and achieve power, performance and area goals,” said Dr. Anirudh Devgan, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Digital & Signoff Group and System & Verification Group at Cadence. “Our work with GF demonstrates our joint commitment to enabling customers to create innovative SoCs that meet advanced technical requirements and aggressive time-to-market deadlines.”