IPL Alliance gets TSMC onboard

The Interoperable PDK Libraries (IPL) Alliance, an industry-wide collaborative effort to create and promote interoperable process design kit (PDK) standards has signed up Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. as first foundry member.

A PDK is a comprehensive set of foundry-verified data files including PCells (parameterized cells) used in a complete analog and mixed-signal design flow. The standardization of PDKs and design flows benefit analog and custom IC designers by removing bottlenecks in multiple-vendor flows. Currently, each foundry is creating specialized PDKs for different EDA vendors and tools. Standardization can reduce PDK development cost and schedule, providing designers quicker access to new advanced process technologies.

"TSMC is committed to an interoperable PDK format that maintains design accuracy throughout the custom design cycle," said S.T. Juang, senior director of design infrastructure marketing, TSMC. "An interoperable standard promotes reuse and reduces PDK development cost. It also promotes open innovation, enables customization and improves productivity and efficiency."

"Developing effective PDK interoperability standards requires the collaboration of both EDA tools suppliers and PDK suppliers," said Rich Goldman, VP of corporate marketing and strategic market development at Synopsys, one of the IPL Alliance founding members. "The addition of TSMC, one of the industry's largest suppliers of high quality PDKs, to the IPL Alliance will help accelerate the development and implementation of standards."