S3 joins Power Forward Initiative (PFI)

SAN JOSE, USA: Silicon & Software Ltd. (S3), a worldwide leading provider of design services, consultancy and software products to the semiconductor industry, the digital TV industry and the telehealth industry, has joined the Power Forward Initiative (PFI).

Established by Cadence Design Systems Inc. and its partners to develop comprehensive approaches to power-efficient design, PFI now welcomes S3 as the organization continues to advance low power standards and solutions.

S3 has been focused on low power design for over 20 years, and has a heritage of contributing to power standards for wireless design, from the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard for radio technologies.

The company has full analog-digital-RF SoC architecture, design and verification capabilities. S3 has also developed advanced low power methodologies to automate design techniques such as voltage islands and voltage gating in nanometer nodes, which it has been applying since 2004.

Recently, S3 integrated the Common Power Format (CPF) into its proprietary NanoFlow environment, thereby reducing risk and accelerating time to market for low power designs. S3’s design services expertise is complemented by an extensive portfolio of silicon-proven power management products including Mixed Signal IP (DC/DC, Linear Regulators, and Power Switches).

“We are happy to bring our low power implementation knowledge, and experience, including multiple tapeouts at leading edge geometries, to help address the common goals of the PFI. We are looking forward to making what we hope will be valuable contributions to the initiative,” said James Blair, Director of Consumer Silicon Services, S3.

“It is a pleasure to welcome S3, with such a strong legacy in the IC design industry, into the Power Forward Initiative,” said Steve Carlson, vice president of Low Power Solutions marketing at Cadence. “With the addition of S3 the Power Forward Initiative has grown to over 40 highly reputable members, all of whom are delivering on our common goal of bringing high-quality, low power methodologies, solutions, services and silicon to customers globally.”

Frontier Silicon selects mixed-signal IP from S3

Silicon & Software Systems Ltd. (S3), a world leading provider of mixed-signal semiconductor IP solutions, announced that Frontier Silicon has licensed its mixed-signal IP for its Chorus 3 SoC. S3 delivered a high performance PLL from its portfolio as part of the deal.

Frontier Silicon is a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor, module and software solutions for digital radio and connected audio systems and this advanced digital radio and audio baseband network processor SoC is now widely available to the market.

"S3 achieved first-time-right silicon and helped us to rapidly enter the market with our Chorus 3 SoC. The low jitter performance of this PLL means that we can offer a superior product that will help drive the successful migration to DAB digital radio across Europe and Australia. The key advantages of working with S3 are first-time-right silicon, best-in-class performance, on-time delivery and excellent integration support. Our partnership with S3 has enabled us to develop the most optimum SoC solution for DAB," said Bob Heads, VP Engineering, at Frontier Silicon.

Commenting on S3's success at Frontier Silicon, Mike Murray, General Manager for Mixed Signal IP at S3, said: "Frontier Silicon is developing innovative solutions on advanced process nodes and we are very pleased to have enabled them to get to market quickly with their DAB product, through the rapid and successful deployment of our leading edge mixed-signal IP. We look forward to extending our working relationship further for their next SoC developments."