Silistix Announces Industry's First Mixed Synchronous/Asynchronous Network-on-Chip Solution in CHAIN(R)works 3.0

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New Product Release Uniquely Combines Synchronous and Asynchronous Network Technologies to Solve Both Multi-Core Complexity and Deep Sub-Micron Device Issues

SAN JOSE, CA -- Mar 16, 2009 -- Silistix Inc. today announced CHAINworks 3.0, enabling architects and designers of complex chips to synthesize Networks-on-Chip (NoC) using both synchronous and asynchronous circuit techniques. This new release will be demonstrated at the MultiCore Expo Conference this week (March 16-19) at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

"Our customers are working at the dual bleeding edges of multi-function complexity and deep sub-micron device physics, to produce exciting new mobile computing and smartphone products," said David Fritz, CEO at Silistix. "Their previous on-chip interconnect solutions are failing to meet these new demands. We have developed our True GALS [Globally Asynchronous, Locally Synchronous] solution with the direct input of these key customers."

True GALS Network-on-Chip

NoC technology is rapidly replacing older interconnect technologies, such as shared buses or cross-bar switches, for complex multi-function devices. The fundamental reason is a network handles concurrent communication between many independent sub-systems more efficiently, with less contention for shared resources, than previous techniques. Today's complex devices are currently being implemented in semiconductor processes at 45nm and below, in order to reduce power and device size, while meeting increasing system performance requirements. However, at these deep sub-micron nodes, process variability and increasing wire delays make design implementation difficult, (especially closing timing between physical design and synthesis).

Silistix pioneered the use of asynchronous (clockless) networks to address this problem. In the CHAINworks 3.0 release, Silistix has added the capability to create local synchronous (clocked) networks. The combination of these technologies allows customers to adopt a True GALS approach to the on-chip interconnect, leveraging the low latency and area advantages of local synchronous subnets, with the low power, fewer wires and high tolerance to variability of a global asynchronous network. With CHAINworks 3.0, the customer can easily find the right combination of synchronous and asynchronous techniques to optimize the design while completely obviating global timing closure issues and delivering predictable power performance and area in the architecture phase.

Availability

Silistix' True GALS solution is available now in the CHAINworks 3.0 release.

About Silistix

Silistix, Inc. is a leading Silicon Intellectual Property (SIP) vendor, delivering predictable Network-on-Chip (NoC) solutions for managing chip complexity. Silistix CHAIN®works family of tools and IP libraries address timing closure, power management, and deep-sub-micron process variability while cutting chip design time and effort. Silistix is privately held and is backed by a number of venture firms and corporate investors, including Intel Capital. The company has offices in Manchester, England; San Jose, California; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit www.silistix.com.