Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS), a world leader in semiconductor design software, and X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG, one of the world's leading independent analog mixed-signal semiconductor foundries, today announced that the two companies have collaborated to deliver a Foundry Technology Kit (FTK) for Synopsys' analog mixed-signal design flow supporting X-FAB's 0.6-micron CMOS process (XC06). The comprehensive design kit provides the infrastructure, components, and an efficient path from design to physical implementation, thus reducing time-to-market and risk.

With the FTK, designers using the X-FAB process can accurately simulate their designs with Synopsys products and capabilities: specifically, the HSPICE® simulator, physical implementation features in the Cosmos™ custom design system, Hercules™ physical verification and the Star-RCXT™ 3D parasitic RC extractor. The FTK is a comprehensive design kit that includes SPICE models, technology files, schematic symbols, p-cells, DRC/LVS runsets and parasitic RC extraction files.

"X-FAB and Synopsys have teamed to give our customers access to a complete, validated tool flow for our XC06 process," said Dr. Jens Kosch, chief technical officer at X-FAB. "This provides them with a tested path from design to physical implementation and helps ensure that their designs get to market as quickly as possible."

XC06 is a single poly, double or triple metal n-well CMOS process with very flexible combinable modules that include a wide variety of medium- and high-voltage MOS transistors, passive elements, and embedded EEPROM and Flash blocks. The XC06 0.6-micron process typically is used in applications such as industrial, automotive and telecommunication products.

"Synopsys collaborates with our foundry partners to deliver qualified design flows for our analog mixed-signal customer base," said Edmund Cheng, vice president of marketing, Silicon Engineer Group at Synopsys. "Our continuing efforts with X-FAB will deliver additional FTKs in the future and broaden our joint solutions in this growing market."

  Availability
  The Synopsys/X-FAB FTK is available now from X-FAB.

  About X-FAB

X-FAB is a leading pure-play foundry that specializes in analog mixed- signal applications. With its three manufacturing sites in Germany, the U.K., and the U.S., X-FAB has a combined capacity of more than 28,000 8-inch equivalent wafer starts per month. When manufacturing silicon wafers for analog mixed-signal ICs, X-FAB combines leading-edge CMOS and BiCMOS process technologies with world-class technical support during IC development throughout the entire product development cycle. Visit X-FAB online at: http://www.xfab.com/ .

About Synopsys AMS

Synopsys offers a complete front-to-back custom IC design flow and the industry's most comprehensive analog mixed-signal simulation products. With Cosmos, designers can efficiently capture and implement their custom blocks using advanced schematic-driven layout capabilities that can significantly increase productivity over traditional layout methodologies. Along with the industry-leading golden HSPICE, NanoSim®, HSIM®, and VCS® simulators, designers can quickly and accurately design and verify their ICs with the flexibility of simulating design abstractions in any combination of Verilog, SPICE, Verilog-A and Verilog-AMS. At the back end of the design flow, the Hercules physical verification suite provides high performance physical verification for any hardware configuration with its distributed processing technology and Star-RCXT provides highly accurate 3D parasitic RC extraction.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. is a world leader in EDA software for semiconductor design. The company delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has offices in more than 60 locations throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/ .

NOTE: Synopsys, HSPICE, NanoSim, VCS, and HSIM are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. Cosmos, Hercules, and Star-RCXT are trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

   Editorial Contacts:

   Madelyn Miller                     Thomas Hartung
   Synopsys, Inc.                     X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG
   650-584-8832                       +49-361-427-6160
   madelynm@synopsys.com              thomas.hartung@xfab.com

   Melissa Chanslor                   Sarah Miller
   Edelman                            ThinkBold Corporate Communications
   650-968-4033                       231-264-8636
   melissa.chanslor@edelman.com       sarah@thinkbold.com

SOURCE: Synopsys, Inc.

CONTACT: Madelyn Miller of Synopsys, Inc., +1-650-584-8832, or
madelynm@synopsys.com; or Melissa Chanslor of Edelman, +1-650-968-4033, or
melissa.chanslor@edelman.com, for Synopsys, Inc.; or Thomas Hartung of X-FAB
Semiconductor Foundries AG, +49-361-427-6160, or thomas.hartung@xfab.com; or
Sarah Miller of ThinkBold Corporate Communications, +1-231-264-8636, or
sarah@thinkbold.com, for X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG

Web site: http://www.xfab.com/

Web site: http://www.synopsys.com/