HSINCHU, Taiwan and
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.,
Feb. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:
- Collaboration between Synopsys, Realtek and UMC results in
first-pass silicon success of Realtek's 4K2K UHD Smart TV SoC,
winner of the "Best Choice Golden Award" at COMPUTEX 2013
- Low-power features in Synopsys' DesignWare Logic Libraries and
Embedded Memories, and in the Galaxy Implementation Platform
enabled design team to optimize for high performance and low power
consumption
- System-on-Chip (SoC) manufactured in UMC's cost- and
power-optimized 40-nm process technology
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), a global leader providing
software, IP and services used to accelerate innovation in chips
and electronic systems, Realtek Semiconductor Corp. (TWSE:
2379.TW), one of the world's leading network and multimedia IC
providers, and United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC;TWSE:
2303) ("UMC"), a leading global semiconductor foundry, today
announced that their collaboration has resulted in first-pass
silicon success of Realtek's RTD2995 UHD Smart TV Controller SoC
implemented in UMC's 40LP, the foundry's volume production,
low-power 40-nanometer (nm) process technology. The new Smart TV
SoC is the industry's first single-chip implementation with support
for the "4K2K" Ultra High Definition video format. Realtek used
Synopsys' DesignWare® Embedded Memories and Logic Libraries,
Galaxy™ Implementation Platform and Professional Services to help
them meet their aggressive performance, power and schedule
goals.
"Our RTD2995 smart TV controller was the industry's first
comprehensive single-chip solution in mass production. It combines
4K2K video decoding and 1080p encoding with a powerful multi-core
ARM® microprocessor and a high-performance multi-core 3D
GPU to deliver extremely high-resolution images for life-like image
clarity," said Jessy Chen, vice
president and spokesman for Realtek. "By collaborating with
Synopsys and UMC we were able to take advantage of a total solution
including silicon, logic library and embedded memory IP, EDA tools
and experienced design consultants, which helped us bring our chip
to market in record time."
UMC is a leading foundry provider of 40-nm technology,
delivering customer products on this advanced process since 2008.
UMC realizes approximately 20% of its revenue from 40-nm products,
and is among the top foundries worldwide for total 40-nm production
capacity. UMC's 40-nm process provides seamless design migration
continuity between 55-nm and 28-nm technologies, and features
robust versatility to target a wide range of applications including
DTV controller and demodulator, feature phone SoC, smartphone
connectivity and RF transceiver, FPGA, etc. Furthermore, the
Synopsys 40-nm standard cell libraries and memory compilers used
for Realtek's chip are available free-of-charge from Synopsys for
qualified customers designing into this process node.
"The success of this cooperation with valued partners Realtek
and Synopsys embodies UMC's 'United for Excellence' philosophy.
Through this approach, UMC remains committed to uniting with our
ecosystem partners for close, integrated working relationships to
attain heightened competitiveness and realize shared goals, further
substantiated with the collaborative success of this 40-nm UHD
smart TV SoC," said Steve Wang, vice
president of IP development and design support for UMC. "We believe
that our experience and execution at 40-nm has resulted in the
industry's most competitive 40-nm process in terms of cost vs.
performance, and look forward to continuing our partnerships with
Realtek and Synopsys to achieve new milestones in the near and
distant future. The combination of our high-yielding 40-nanometer
low-power process and Synopsys' comprehensive portfolio of logic
libraries and memory compilers, along with their complete EDA
platform and services offering, enables us to continue to deliver
innovative semiconductor solutions to market-leading customers such
as Realtek."
Realtek took advantage of a combination of Synopsys DesignWare
IP, Galaxy Implementation Platform and Professional Services to
realize their RTD2995 SoC project goals. The high-speed,
high-density and low-power standard cell libraries and memory
compilers enabled the Realtek design team to optimize their SoC for
the optimal balance of power, performance and area. Design
consultants from Synopsys Professional Services assisted Realtek's
engineers with the physical implementation of an ARM microprocessor
and helped Realtek achieve their performance target, while reducing
core area and leakage power. The integrated project team took
advantage of the complete Synopsys Galaxy Implementation Platform
for synthesis through physical design, including the Lynx Design
System and use of DC Explorer to accelerate design exploration
runtime.
"The close collaboration between Synopsys, Realtek and UMC on
this chip demonstrates our commitment to providing mutual customers
superior performance and power results," said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP
and systems at Synopsys. "The combination of Synopsys' DesignWare
Logic Library and Embedded Memory IP, Galaxy Platform and Synopsys
Professional Services, and UMC's advanced 40-nanometer process
enabled Realtek to achieve first-pass silicon success for their
award-winning UHD Smart TV controller SoC and meet their
time-to-market schedule."
Availability
The DesignWare Embedded SRAM Compilers
and Logic Libraries on UMC's 40LP process are available now at no
cost to qualified licensees as part of Synopsys' Foundry-Sponsored
IP program.
About Realtek
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. is one of the world's leading IC
providers. Realtek designs and develops a wide range of IC products
for communications network, computer peripheral, and multimedia
applications. Products include 10/100/1000M Ethernet
Controllers/PHYs, 10/100/1000M Ethernet Switch Controllers/Media
Converter Controllers/Gateway Controllers, Wireless LAN Controllers
& AP/Router SoCs, DSL Chips, VoIP Solutions, High Fidelity
Audio Solutions for Mobile and PC Applications, Clock Generators,
Card Reader Controllers, Web Camera Controllers, LCD
Monitor/ATV/DTV Controllers, and Digital Home Center Controllers.
With advanced design expertise in RF, analog, and mixed signal
circuits, and with strong manufacturing and system knowledge,
Realtek offers full-featured, high-performance, and competitive
total solutions. More information on Realtek can be found on our
website: www.realtek.com.
About UMC
UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading
global semiconductor foundry that provides advanced technology and
manufacturing for applications spanning every major sector of the
IC industry. UMC's robust foundry solutions allow chip designers to
leverage the company's leading-edge processes, which include 28nm
poly-SiON and gate-last High-K/Metal Gate technology, mixed
signal/RFCMOS, and a wide range of specialty technologies.
Production is supported through 10 wafer manufacturing facilities
that include two advanced 300mm fabs; Fab 12A in Taiwan and Singapore-based Fab 12i. Fab 12A consists of
Phases 1-4 which are in production for customer products down to
28nm. Construction is underway for Phases 5&6, with future
plans for Phases 7&8. The company employs over 15,000 people
worldwide and has offices in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the
United States. UMC can be found on the web at
http://www.umc.com.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS)
accelerates innovation in the global electronics market. As a
leader in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP,
its software, IP and services help engineers address their design,
verification, system and manufacturing challenges. Since 1986,
engineers around the world have been using Synopsys technology to
design and create billions of chips and systems. Learn more
at http://www.synopsys.com.
Note from UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward
looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws,
including statements about future outsourcing, wafer capacity,
technologies, business relationships and market conditions.
Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ
materially from these statements as a result of a variety of
factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market
and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and
technological and development risks. Further information concerning
these risks is included in UMC's filings with the U.S. SEC,
including on Form F-1, F-3, F-6 and 20-F, each as amended.
Editorial Contacts:
Monica Marmie
Synopsys, Inc.
650-584-2890
monical@synopsys.com
Tracy Ho
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
886-3-5780211, ext 5201
tracy_ho@realtek.com
Stephen Brennan
MCA, Inc.
650-968-8900, ext.114
sbrennan@mcapr.com
Richard Yu
United Microelectronics Corp.
886-2-2658-9168, ext 16951
richard_yu@umc.com
SOURCE Synopsys, Inc.