Cadence Design Systems Case Studies Spansion and Cadence: A Case Study on Improving Designer Productivity and Time to Market

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	Spansion and Cadence: A Case Study on Improving Designer Productivity and Time to Market Cadence Design Systems

Spansion and Cadence: A Case Study on Improving Designer Productivity and Time to Market

Cadence Design Systems

Technology Category	Sensors - Flow Meters Sensors - Liquid Detection Sensors
Applicable Industries	Automotive Electronics
Applicable Functions	Maintenance Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Experimentation Automation Time Sensitive Networking
Services	System Integration Testing & Certification
Challenge	Spansion, a leading provider of Flash memory technology, faced significant challenges in improving designer productivity and compressing time to market. The company's electronic design automation (EDA) tools were no longer sufficient, and a more automated, industry-standard solution was needed. The company also sought to incorporate a more automated approach to custom layout and adopt a front-to-back analog/mixed-signal design flow. The process design kit (PDK), a complete set of technology files enabling analog/mixed-signal custom IC circuit design, was a critical component of this design flow. However, the development and testing of PDKs were time-consuming and costly. Read More
About Customer	Spansion is a global leader in Flash memory technology for electronic systems. The company's products are integral to many critical technologies, including routers that run the Internet and consumer and automotive electronics that enhance people's daily lives. Spansion has a diverse Flash memory product portfolio, award-winning MirrorBit charge-trapping technology, and industry-leading services and support. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive, consumer and gaming, communications, and industrial segments around the world rely on Spansion's solutions. Read More
Solution	Spansion partnered with Cadence Services to develop a full front-to-back analog/mixed-signal design flow. This allowed Spansion designers to go from design through implementation and verification with a single, integrated design flow. Cadence introduced a set of tools and methodology for efficiently developing and testing PDKs. The Spansion PDKs were developed using the PDK Automation System (PAS), which includes a graphical technology editor, verification run-set generators, parameterized cell (Pcell) generators, and the Design Framework II (DFII) library builder. This technology reduced PDK development time and maintenance costs. After the PDKs were developed, Spansion used the System for Testing PDKs (STeP) for quality assurance. This allowed Spansion to standardize its testing efforts and ensure the quality of its PDKs. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Sensors - Flow Meters

Sensors - Liquid Detection Sensors

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Electronics

Applicable Functions

Maintenance

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Experimentation Automation

Time Sensitive Networking

Services

System Integration

Testing & Certification

Challenge

Spansion, a leading provider of Flash memory technology, faced significant challenges in improving designer productivity and compressing time to market. The company's electronic design automation (EDA) tools were no longer sufficient, and a more automated, industry-standard solution was needed. The company also sought to incorporate a more automated approach to custom layout and adopt a front-to-back analog/mixed-signal design flow. The process design kit (PDK), a complete set of technology files enabling analog/mixed-signal custom IC circuit design, was a critical component of this design flow. However, the development and testing of PDKs were time-consuming and costly.

About Customer

Spansion is a global leader in Flash memory technology for electronic systems. The company's products are integral to many critical technologies, including routers that run the Internet and consumer and automotive electronics that enhance people's daily lives. Spansion has a diverse Flash memory product portfolio, award-winning MirrorBit charge-trapping technology, and industry-leading services and support. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive, consumer and gaming, communications, and industrial segments around the world rely on Spansion's solutions.

Solution

Spansion partnered with Cadence Services to develop a full front-to-back analog/mixed-signal design flow. This allowed Spansion designers to go from design through implementation and verification with a single, integrated design flow. Cadence introduced a set of tools and methodology for efficiently developing and testing PDKs. The Spansion PDKs were developed using the PDK Automation System (PAS), which includes a graphical technology editor, verification run-set generators, parameterized cell (Pcell) generators, and the Design Framework II (DFII) library builder. This technology reduced PDK development time and maintenance costs. After the PDKs were developed, Spansion used the System for Testing PDKs (STeP) for quality assurance. This allowed Spansion to standardize its testing efforts and ensure the quality of its PDKs.

Impact #1	The collaboration with Cadence Services resulted in significant operational improvements for Spansion. The company was able to develop a more automated, industry-standard solution that improved designer productivity and compressed time to market. The use of PAS and STeP technologies allowed Spansion to efficiently develop and test PDKs, reducing development time and maintenance costs. The company was also able to standardize its testing efforts, ensuring the quality of its PDKs. Additionally, Spansion benefited from the global presence of Cadence Services, which provided support in the U.S, Europe, and Asia.

Impact #1

The collaboration with Cadence Services resulted in significant operational improvements for Spansion. The company was able to develop a more automated, industry-standard solution that improved designer productivity and compressed time to market. The use of PAS and STeP technologies allowed Spansion to efficiently develop and test PDKs, reducing development time and maintenance costs. The company was also able to standardize its testing efforts, ensuring the quality of its PDKs. Additionally, Spansion benefited from the global presence of Cadence Services, which provided support in the U.S, Europe, and Asia.

Benefit #1	Decreased time to release a PDK to production by 50%
Benefit #2	Decreased cost of PDK testing and qualification by 50% using STeP
Benefit #3	Consolidated workflow for PDK development and qualification by reducing integration time

Benefit #1

Decreased time to release a PDK to production by 50%

Benefit #2

Decreased cost of PDK testing and qualification by 50% using STeP

Benefit #3

Consolidated workflow for PDK development and qualification by reducing integration time

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Overview

Spansion and Cadence: A Case Study on Improving Designer Productivity and Time to Market

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit