Xpedion Design Systems Inc., a provider of next generation RFIC simulation, and Jazz Semiconductor, an independent wafer foundry focused primarily on specialty CMOS process technologies, announced a partnership to deliver a qualified model and simulation environment for next generation RFIC design.
"One of the biggest challenges in completing functional RF transceiver design is the multi-tone simulation of full transmit and receive chains post layout parasitic extraction. Delays of weeks, if not months, are incurred due to either simulator capacity limitations or simulations that just fail to converge. Failure to properly account for these parasitics usually translates into multiple re-spins of the product to achieve full functionality," said Paul Colestock, director of technical marketing and applications engineering at Jazz Semiconductor. "Jazz and Xpedion have been collaborating to validate Xpedion's GoldenGate Multi-tone Simulation capability and have seen a dramatic improvement in completing tape outs on schedule and achieving first time design success on sophisticated RF Systems on a Chip. This success has led Jazz to now include the GoldenGate simulator in our Model QA process, so Jazz customers take advantage of GoldenGate's capacity, speed and accuracy to finish designs on time and also be assured that new releases of Jazz Design Kits will be fully tested with GoldenGate."
Fabless RFIC semiconductor companies are faced with very short design cycles and increasing integration rates due to the pressures of the consumer marketplace. Two critical variables in this equation are high quality device and statistical process models and a simulation environment that can verify the entire radio. Jazz Semiconductor and Xpedion Design Systems provide the components necessary to reduce design spins and meet high volume targets.
"Meeting tight specifications and manufacturing reliably in high volume are critical for today's consumer-oriented RFIC designs," said Pete Rodriguez, chief executive officer of Xpedion Design Systems. "Jazz, a leading RFIC foundry, has continued to support both the quality of models delivered to customers as well as reliable manufacturing capabilities for high volume ramp. Xpedion is pleased to work with Jazz to combine modeling and simulation expertise to provide our customers the environment needed for complex consumer RFIC designs."