AMI readies mixed-signal design methodology

AMI readies mixed-signal design methodology
MUNICH, Germany — ASIC vendor American Microsystems Inc. is developing a new mixed-signal design methodology that will cut the development time for mixed-signal ASICs in half, the company said.

The still unnamed methodology is months away from release, and comes on the heels after an earlier failed attempt by AMI to create a similar system called MSDS. Harold Blomquist, senior vice president of business operations for AMI (Pocatello, Idaho), said customer demand exists for a system that can speed the development of increasingly complex and time-consuming mixed-signal designs.

"Three to four years ago, it became apparent that the idea needed to come out in some form for our customers," Blomquist said here at the Electronica '98 conference. "Customers are keenly aware of the need for more integration."

AMI's mixed-signal design methodology will include some tools from Cadecne Design Systems Inc. plus some AMI-developed modules for real-time and mixed-mode simulation. At least two customers are now beta-testing the product, but a commercial product may not be ready for AMI customers for three to six months.

Blomquist said the tools could cut the time it takes AMI to turn a qualified mixed-signal ASIC design from 30 weeks to 15 weeks.

Early feedback from the beta sites prompted AMI to work on improving the product's human interface, Blomquist said. AMI uses the tool internally, but is familiar with it, he said.

Companies other than AMI have also tried and failed to bring a mixed-signal methodology to market because of the night-and-day differences between digital and analog design techniques. AMI's earlier effort, begun in 1992 in conjunction with EDA vendor Analogy Inc. (Beaverton, Ore.), was hampered by the relatively slow performance of existing workstations, he said. "The tools and workstations are much more sophisticated today," he added.

Blomquist made his comments in an interview following an AMI press conference at Electronica. At the conference, the company announced a new field-reprogrammable actuator/sensor interface IC for the industrial-equipment market, and the WavePlex SX061 radio frequency demodulator IC.

While AMI's worldwide business will grow modestly this year, Blomquist said the company's five-year-old European subsidiary, based in Dresden, Germany, will double sales both this year and next, and is on track to reach $100 million in revenues by 2002.