[May 13, 2014]

Si2 Announces Translator for the Open Process Specification into OpenAccess

Si2's OpenPDK coalition has announced the availability of an Open Process Specification (OPS) to OpenAccess Tech Database translator, known as "OPS2oaTechDB". The Open Process Specification (OPS) standard contains all of the data elements necessary to automatically create a Process Design Kit (PDK) in any EDA vendor's or company proprietary design flow. Likewise, the OpenAccess Tech Database is an adjunct to the design databases of OpenAccess, cross-linked to the OpenAccess design data.

The development of OPS2oaTechDB, allows critical IC process/manufacturing data to be directly imported from the new OPS standard into the industry-standard OpenAccess design environment. Likewise, the bidirectional translation capability provided will help end users understand and adopt OPS eXtensible Markup Language (XML) since they will be able to pull their existing data from their current database and view its representation in OPS XML format. The bidirectional nature also eases flow testing and has the potential to provide improved quality control.

The previous version of the translator takes XML data from the OPS XML database and automatically creates an oaTechDB, related display files, and a GDSII layer file. The XML data contains essential information, such as database resolution, database grids, layer and purpose information, and streamIO information, to name a few elements. The data set will be expanded to include other vital items that are common across most EDA tools that use OpenAccess.

Version 1.2 of the translator will use the XML Schema (News - Alert) Definition (XSD) of the Technology Section of the OPS standard to automatically create C++ classes for the translator. This approach is designed to accelerate the adoption of OPS. The OPS XSD is used to create a library that not only validates and reads the OPS XML data, but also creates the code necessary to write the XML, thus providing bidirectional translation capability. Since OPS XML technology is new, few users have XML descriptions of their technology databases, however, many users alredy have OpenAccess Technology Databases. The OPS2oaTechDB translator, in reverse mode, will read the user's binary technology database and other related files to generate an OPS XML file, giving them a solid baseline from which to begin their use of OPS.

"The OPS2oaTechDB translator is an indispensible tool for creating and debugging OPS-based Process Development Kits," says Gilles Namur, Process Design Kit Architect at ST Microelectronics and Chair of Si2's OpenPDK Coalition Technical Steering Group. "It provides users with the capability of not only seeding the OPS XML with technical data from their own database, but also provides a direct translation route to store modified technical information back into their OpenAccess database after changes they might make to the OPS PDK. Round-trip testing of the data allows one to check for quality issues before final check-off of the OPS XML-based PDK."

The OPS2oaTechDB translator is available to Members of Si2's OpenPDK coalition at https://www.si2.org/openeda.si2.org/projects/opdkctools/.

A Press Conference will be held on Monday, June 2, at the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in the Moscone Convention Center, Room 300. The event will feature Philippe Magarshack, Exec VP, Design Enablement and Services. STMicroelectronics (News - Alert) will discuss "OpenPDK Production Value and Benchmark Results at STMicroelectronics". Further details can be found at: https://www.si2.org/dac_2014/abstracts/prconf_abstract.php.

A demonstration titled "Jump Starting your PDK's: OPS2oaTechDB Demonstration" will be presented June 3, 10:00AM in the Si2 Booth #1107 at the Design Automation Conference. For a complete list of Si2 Booth Presentations, see: https://www.si2.org/dac_2014/dac_2014_fp.php.

OpenPDK Member Companies

AnaGlobe Technology, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, IBM (News - Alert) (NYSE: IBM), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Mentor Graphics (NASDAQ: MENT), NXP (NASDAQ: NXPI), Samsung Electronics (KSE: 005930), Silvaco, STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), Synopsys (News - Alert) (NASDAQ: SNPS), and Tanner EDA.

About Si2

Si2 is the largest organization of industry-leading semiconductor, systems, EDA and manufacturing companies focused on the development and adoption of standards to improve the way integrated circuits are designed and manufactured, in order to speed time-to market, reduce costs, and meet the challenges of sub-micron design. Now in its 26th year, Si2 is uniquely positioned to enable timely collaboration through dedicated staff and a strong implementation focus driven by its member companies. Si2 represents over 100 companies involved in all parts of the silicon supply chain throughout the world. See www.si2.org.

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