Synopsys' Virtualizer Speeds Software Development and Enhances Design Enablement for Systems Based on the Infineon AURIX

    Synopsys' Virtualizer Speeds Software Development and Enhances Design
  Enablement for Systems Based on the Infineon AURIX Microcontroller Family

AURIX Virtual Prototype Enabled Automotive Software Developers to Start 12
Months Before Silicon Availability

PR Newswire

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 26, 2012

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights:

  o Synopsys' Virtualizer enabled rapid creation of virtual prototype for
    AURIX family of multicore automotive microcontrollers
  o Infineon used AURIX virtual prototypes to develop the microcontroller
    abstraction layer and end-user software tool chain months ahead of silicon
  o AURIX virtual prototypes deployed by Infineon's customers resulted in
    faster multicore software development and more efficient electronic
    control unit (ECU) testing
  o Virtualizer-based prototypes are now an integral part of the AURIX
    development tool suite from Infineon

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the
design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems,
today announced that Infineon Technologies AG has used Synopsys' Virtualizer™
tool set to deploy virtual prototypes of their AURIX microcontroller-based
systems, enabling early software development and customer engagement prior to
silicon availability. The AURIX virtual prototype, a fast, functional model of
the AURIX multicore microcontrollers, is now an integral part of the suite of
development tools provided by Infineon to accelerate its customers'
development and deployment of real-time embedded software.

"Virtual prototypes are an important tool for addressing the increasing
software complexity in automotive electronic systems, and partnering with
Synopsys ensures that Infineon and our customers will have access to
market-leading virtual prototyping technology," said Axel Hahn, senior
director of the Microcontroller Powertrain Application Line at Infineon
Technologies AG. "Using Synopsys' Virtualizer to create the AURIX virtual
prototypes, we were not only able to accelerate our internal software
development, but also provide an early target for our customers to begin their
system development activities and provide early feedback on our new
architecture. With access to virtual prototypes as part of the AURIX
development tool suite, our customers can now rapidly integrate this
technology into their current software development and testing processes."

The new Infineon AURIX family features a multicore architecture with support
for up to three independent 32-bit TriCore processor cores, providing a
scalable set of performance options. The high performance and embedded safety
and security features of the AURIX microcontrollers enable them to be used for
a wide range of software-rich automotive applications such as engine and
transmission control, braking systems, power steering systems, chassis domain
control, airbags and advanced driver assistance systems. Synopsys' Virtualizer
was an enabling technology for Infineon, not only for the development of the
microcontroller abstraction layer and the software tool chain for AURIX end
users, but also to enable Infineon to engage customers early in their own
product development cycles and receive valuable customer feedback. The
Infineon-supplied AURIX virtual prototype greatly enhances the software debug
and analysis capabilities available to software development teams at
automotive Tier 1 and OEM companies, accelerating product design and test
cycles. AURIX virtual prototypes can also be used to create virtual
Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testbenches. Virtual HIL simulation enables system
validation teams to increase the scope of their testing through fault
injection and extended code coverage, thereby reducing development costs,
accelerating time-to-market and increasing product reliability.

"Our collaboration with Infineon enables automotive manufacturers and their
Tier 1 suppliers to enhance their development, integration and validation
activities associated with the growing software content in modern cars," said
John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP and systems at Synopsys.
"Virtual prototypes based on Synopsys' Virtualizer solution offer unique
visibility into how the software behaves within the ECU, delivering
unparalleled debug efficiency to AURIX MCU users."

Availability

The virtual prototype for the AURIX multicore microcontroller is available
immediately from Infineon.  To deploy AURIX virtual prototypes, licenses for
Virtualizer and the Infineon TLM Library are available immediately from
Synopsys.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation
(EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual
property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and
manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of
implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate
array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and
manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management,
system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading
solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best
products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is
headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices
located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit
Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

Editorial Contacts:

Tess Cahayag
Synopsys, Inc.
650-584-5446
maritess@synopsys.com  

Stephen Brennan
MCA, Inc.
650-968-8900, ext.114
sbrennan@mcapr.com

SOURCE Synopsys, Inc.

Website: http://www.synopsys.com