Entropic Communications Tapes Out Home Networking Device Using New Zroute Technology in Synopsys IC Compiler
Zroute Delivers Superior Quality of Results; Speeds Turnaround Time for Complex Home Networking Chip
PRNewswire-FirstCall
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.
(NASDAQ:SNPS)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, today announced that Entropic Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENTR), a leading provider of silicon solutions to enable connected home entertainment, has successfully taped out its latest home networking chip using Zroute, Synopsys' new routing technology in IC Compiler. Zroute's unique architecture with state-of-the-art routing algorithms and native multi-threading support enabled Entropic to improve routing runtimes while still delivering high quality of results in timing, area and manufacturability. Compared to traditional routers, Zroute delivered higher quality of results, a zero-DRC (design rule check) layout with fewer wires and total vias, improved redundant via rate for better manufacturability and a significantly smaller die size.

"As a pioneer in connected home entertainment technologies, Entropic is always looking to take advantage of the latest advances in design tools," said Bill Lind, director of Engineering at Entropic. "As a Zroute early adopter, we saw significant improvements in runtime and manufacturability, particularly in via optimization. Based on these results, we decided to deploy Zroute for the tapeout of our latest home networking chip. Zroute was a key factor in further reducing the die size while still meeting timing and manufacturability goals."

Zroute was architected from the ground up to take advantage of best-in-class routing technologies and meet the demands of companies like Entropic that are developing complex, high-performance chips. Utilizing concurrent design-for-manufacturability (DFM) optimization techniques, including soft rules, via redundancy, and wire spreading and widening, Zroute makes an efficient trade-off between manufacturability and the traditional design goals of timing, area, power and signal integrity. In addition, Zroute's native multi-threading support takes advantage of the latest multi-core microprocessor architectures to deliver near-linear scalability of runtimes as the number of threads increases.

"Synopsys continues to invest in new technologies to meet customers' evolving needs," said Antun Domic, senior vice president and general manager of Synopsys' Implementation Group. "Zroute technology in IC Compiler is already driving customer success, and Entropic's tapeout is an excellent example of the differentiated performance and productivity enabled by the innovative Zroute architecture."

Zroute was announced in May 2008 and is targeted for general production availability as a standard feature in the September 2008 release of IC Compiler.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications, Inc. is a leading fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets systems solutions to enable connected home entertainment. The company's technologies significantly change the way high-definition television-quality video and other multimedia content such as movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. For more information, please visit http://www.entropic.com/

About IC Compiler

IC Compiler provides hand-craft-quality macro placement, intelligent power network support, and MinChip technology for automatic die-size reduction, all on a single timer foundation that enables faster time to closure with higher quality of results (QoR). For complex designs, a concurrent flow that seamlessly blends planning and implementation tasks and offers an integrated environment with a single timer and high correlation with sign-off is critical. Concurrent planning and implementation replaces the traditional "plan-then-implement" methodology, resulting in faster time to tapeout and reduced design cost.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has more than 60 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the expected benefits, availability, and performance characteristics of Zroute. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described by these statements due to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, engineering difficulties, uncertainties attendant to any new product release, and other risks as identified in the section of Synopsys' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, and subsequent forms 10-Q, entitled "Risk Factors."

Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

   Editorial Contacts:
   Sheryl Gulizia
   Synopsys, Inc.
   650-584-8635
   sgulizia@synopsys.com

   Lisa Gillette-Martin
   MCA, Inc.
   650-968-8900 ext. 115
   lgmartin@mcapr.com

SOURCE: Synopsys, Inc.

CONTACT: Sheryl Gulizia of Synopsys, Inc., +1-650-584-8635,
sgulizia@synopsys.com; or Lisa Gillette-Martin of MCA, Inc., +1-650-968-8900
ext. 115, lgmartin@mcapr.com, for Synopsys, Inc.

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