Synopsys Teams With SMIC, Brite Semi on IoT Platform

Article By : EE Times staff

Platform based on Synopsys ARC Data Fusion IP subsystem said to simplify design, reduce costs.

SAN FRANCISCO — EDA and IP vendor Synopsys Inc. has partnered with Chinese foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) and ASIC design services specialist Brite Semiconductor to create a platform for Internet of Things (IoT) designs based on a Synopsys IP subsystem.

The IoT platform lowers design costs by providing customers with a  starting point for creating IoT designs and enables the integration of customized functions on demand, the companies said.

The platform includes Synopsys’ DesignWare ARC Data Fusion Subsystem along with an ARC EM9D processor, USB and I3C IP solutions, according to the companies. It was integrated by Brite Semi’s design services using SMIC’s 55-nm ultra-low power process, resulting in the development of a test chip demonstrating up to 45 percent reduction in dynamic power and 70 percent reduction in leakage power compared to SMIC’s 55LL process, they said.

Synopsys’ ARC Data Fusion IP Subsystem is a pre-verified hardware and software IP product optimized for use in devices requiring minimal energy consumption. Tightly coupled interface peripherals, including pulse density modulation and I2S combined with the included audio processing software library simplify the implementation of voice and speech functionality in a range of applications, according to Synopsys (Mountain View, Calif.).