Arm provides 'simplified access' to EDA tools

Arm has expanded its DesignStart initiative to offer easier access to EDA tooling and design environments from Cadence and Mentor Graphics. The new partnership, announced at DAC 2016 in Austin, is said to build on the benefits of free access to Cortex-M0 processor IP offered through the DesignStart portal.

Jun. 06, 2016, Jun. 06, 2016 – 

"Arm's DesignStart portal, with its convenient access to the Cortex-M0 package and its low-cost path to commercialisation, is already making it easier for start ups and OEMs to create embedded and mixed signal SoCs," said Nandan Nayampally, pictured, VP of marketing and strategy with Arm's CPU group. "Simplifying access to EDA tools from Cadence and Mentor will further spur rapid innovation, creating a fast path to production silicon for companies looking to deliver an embedded or connected IoT product."

The DesignStart portal offers SoC designers free access to Arm Cortex-M0 processor IP for design, simulation and prototyping, with the option to buy a $40,000 fast track license. Arm says the addition of Cadence and Mentor Graphics tools will speed the development of custom SoCs for embedded and IoT applications.

Cadence has announced a hosted 'end to end' solution to enable designers to accelerate the creation of custom SoC and IoT designs featuring Cortex-M processors. It incorporates the Arm IoT Subsystem for Cortex-M processors and Cadence's interface IP and unified mixed-signal implementation solution optimised for Cortex-M cores. Both are available on Cadence's Hosted Design Solution on a software as a service basis.

Mentor will offer access to the Tanner AMS analogue/mixed-signal design flow for the Cortex-M0 processor, enabling engineers to capture the schematic, perform analogue and mixed signal simulation and layout and verify the physical design.

Meanwhile, the company has launched the Approved Design Partner programme, listing what it calls 'fully audited' design houses. This network is intended to assist those companies designing an SoC for the first time, as well as providing design support to other companies.

Four companies are listed at the launch: Sondrel; SoC Solutions; Open-Silicon; and eInfochips.

Sondrel's CEO Graham Curren said: "Sondrel is excited to be part of the Arm Approved Design Partner programme and to offer its IC design expertise in supporting Arm's existing and future customers."

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