By Ed Sperling
Mentor Graphics integrated the newly acquired MontaVista Automotive Platform with its Embedded Infotainment Base Platform and its Sourcery embedded software tools. The automotive design market already is booming, but just wait until driverless cars begin showing ujp. The new Automotive Technology Platform is compliant with the major infotainment standards. The company also won a deal with Agilent, which is using Mentor’s xtUML environment for developing gas chromatography instruments. In addition, Mentor is working with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China to open an IC design lab.
Synopsys won a deal with LG, which adopted its physical verification applications tool for use in ARM-based designs. Synopsys said the in-design approach greatly accelerated manufacturing compliance.
Arteris and ARM extended their partnership to include multi-core interconnect options. This is as close to plug and play as you can get for connecting key subsystems in an SoC. Arteris also won a deal with China’s Rockchip, which will use its NoC technology inside its SoCs.
Tensilica joined forces with ComplexIQ, which makes IP for the connected home. ComplexIQ is now a dataplane processor unit integration partner.
Atrenta won a deal with frobas, which will use Atrenta’s clock-domain crossing verification in its SoC design flow. Frobas offers support for designs from ideas to prototypes.
Dassault Systemes unveiled a community-based site focused on SolidWorks, its 3D CAD platform.
Big data is also creating big demand for storage—at a compound annual growth rate of an estimated 53% between 2011 and 2016, according to IDC. In terms of revenue, the number is expected to increase from about $380 million in 2011 to $6 billion in three years. And the Internet of Things is just getting going, which should push this number into the stratosphere.
Also on the big data front, Intel has created reference architectures for data centers for software-defined networking and network function virtualization. The goal of both of these concepts is flexible network configuration, similar to what a NoC does inside an SoC. In data centers, this can translate into seven-figure savings in power, rapid configurability and real estate.
Also driving demand is the boom in shale gas, which is propelling the smart grid equipment market these days, says IHS iSuppli. This is a big contributor to the industrial mixed-signal and MEMS markets.