Zuken and Aldec Deliver New Design Solution: CADSTAR FPGA

October 31, 2007 - Munich, Germany and Westford, MA, USA – As a result of the partnership between Zuken and Aldec, a brand new collaborative product for complete FPGA design and verification has been launched. CADSTAR FPGA combines Aldec’s Active-HDL Lite verification tool and Zuken’s desktop PCB design suite, CADSTAR, allowing engineers to perform mixed language simulation for vendor neutral FPGAs within the CADSTAR environment.

The relationship between the FPGA and PCB design processes is a primary area where synchronization can deliver opportunities for increased efficiency in the design process. CADSTAR FPGA technology is structured on integration of FPGA design within the PCB layout. The concurrent and collaborative process that this tool provides is made simple using an intuitive easy-to-use Design Flow Manager. This eliminates manual movement and back-annotation requirements, reducing time to market while increasing output of right-first-time designs.

CADSTAR FPGA combines Aldec’s Active-HDL Lite design simulation environment and Zuken’s desktop PCB design suite, CADSTAR. Engineers can perform comprehensive FPGA designs with complete support for technology from multiple FPGA vendors including Actel, Altera, Lattice, Quicklogic and Xilinx. It also performs mixed VHDL and Verilog simulation, strictly adhering to the latest IEEE language standards.

CADSTAR FPGA provides one universal project manager that controls all design files for simulation, synthesis, place and route and pin assignment to the PCB. This integrated solution supports robust I/O synchronization between the FPGA device and the PCB, helping to optimize the routing pattern for high-density devices like BGAs.

“By integrating our CADSTAR solution with Aldec’s Active HDL Lite tool, we are able to offer a one-stop environment for small to medium-sized companies. CADSTAR FPGA combines the strengths of both companies’ solutions, while being competitively priced and easy to use.” commented Jeroen Leinders, CADSTAR Distribution Manager.

Aldec will host a CADSTAR FPGA web cast on November 8. This technical web-based methodology training will provide a comprehensive overview of the integration between CADSTAR and Active-HDL.

For more information: technical data sheets or evaluation software, please visit CADSTAR FPGA or contact your local CADSTAR distributor.

The beta version of CADSTAR FPGA will be available from November 5 starting from $1000/€750 for a single language version.

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About Zuken

Zuken is trusted globally by leading companies to optimize their electrical and electronic engineering design and related manufacturing processes. Our unique combination of proven experience, technological expertise and agility, creates electronic design automation (EDA) solutions as well as computer aided engineering (CAE) solutions that are innovative, dynamic and powerful.

With over 30 years experience, Zuken has grown to become the world’s leading provider of EDA software and electronic product lifecycle management (e-PLM). Our solutions optimize the efficiency of electronics and electrical R&D, engineering, manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), component purchasing and component engineering in the PCB/MCM/HIC market. Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Zuken improves product quality and profitability for electrical and electronics manufacturers globally, from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, power to heavy machinery and medical to military markets. With headquarters in Japan, we have development and support centers in 10 countries – including the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China and Taiwan – and are a trusted partner of more than 4,800 organizations, with over 45,000 individual licenses, worldwide.

About Aldec:

Aldec, Inc., established in 1984, is committed to delivering high-performance, HDL-based design verification software for Unix, Linux, and Windows platforms. The company strongly believes that to be productive in today’s market and to best serve customers in the future, new technologies and innovations that go beyond traditional methods of conducting business in the EDA industry must be pursued. Aldec is committed to customer service and is actively developing a company that will evolve along with its customers’ designs. Additional information about Aldec is available at http://www.aldec.com.