SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magma(r) Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today announced that PDF Solutions(r), Inc. (Nasdaq:PDFS), the leading provider of yield improvement technologies and services for the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing process life cycle, used Magma's Quartz(tm) DRC Physical Verification system to develop a Characterization Vehicle(r) test chip for a leading semiconductor manufacturer. The Quartz products' ability to support the complex, leading-edge, deep submicron process rules, and the availability of native Quartz runsets, enabled PDF Solutions to make assurances to its client regarding the manufacturability of the yield-improvement related CV(r) test chip.

Implemented through PDF Solutions' Design-to-Silicon Integrated Yield Ramp solution, the CV test chip was based on PDF Solutions' proprietary test structures and complied with the advanced design rules of the target process. Magma's physical verification solution -- already the gold-standard sign-off tool for the process -- and the ready availability of yield rating decks developed with Quartz DRC enabled timely completion and verification of the test chip.

"Quartz DRC provides key capabilities that help address the complex design rules of leading-edge process technologies, including restrictive design rules and complex via and foundry-specific advanced manufacturability checks," said Howard Read, senior director of Global Field Services at PDF Solutions. "Those capabilities combined with existing runsets and fast runtime allowed us to tape out the test chip quickly."

"For semiconductor companies, the faster they can ramp up to high yields, the faster they can achieve a return on investment in new processes," said Anirudh Devgan, general manager of Magma's Custom Design Business Unit. "The fast turnaround time achieved by PDF Solutions on this test chip highlights the runtime achievable with Quartz DRC. We're pleased to continue working with PDF Solutions to accelerate yield ramp of advanced processes."

Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS: Fast, Accurate, Fully Scalable Physical Verification

Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS are architected to process integrated circuit (IC) designs of any size, at any technology node, in the least amount of time. Magma's is the first truly scalable physical verification solution, able to provide turnaround time that is up to an order of magnitude faster than existing solutions by leveraging existing compute resources. The Quartz tools are fully compatible with third-party IC implementation flows and can read file formats used by traditional physical verification tools. When combined with Magma's Talus(r) platform for digital implementation, Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS offer additional time savings by eliminating the need to stream data between the implementation system and the physical verification tool.

"Liberate Me" Trial Program: Test Drive Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS

To free designers from the runtime bottlenecks of legacy tools and make it easier for them to leverage the Quartz tools' advanced technology to accelerate physical verification of large integrated circuits (ICs), this week Magma launched the "Liberate Me" program. This program offers a free 60-day trial of the latest versions of Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS. Engineers can request the software at http://www.magma-da.com/liberate-me.

About Magma

Magma's software for designing integrated circuits (ICs) is used to create complex, high-performance chips required in cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3 players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic applications. Magma's EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical verification, circuit simulation and characterization is recognized as embodying the best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world's top chip companies to "Design Ahead of the Curve"(tm) while reducing design time and costs. Magma is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices around the world. Magma's stock trades on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at www.magma-da.com.

Magma and Talus are registered trademarks, and "Design Ahead of the Curve," "Liberate Me" and Quartz are trademarks of Magma Design Automation Inc. Characterization Vehicle, CV and PDF Solutions are trademarks of PDF Solutions, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Forward-looking Statements:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Quartz DRC and Quartz LVS reduce runtime and work seamlessly with Talus products, and about the features and benefits of Magma's software and PDF Solutions chips are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including but not limited to the ability of Magma's and PDF Solutions' products and services to produce the desired results and the companies' abilities to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. Further discussion of these and other potential risk factors may be found in Magma's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). The company undertakes no additional obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:  Magma Design Automation Inc.
          Monica Marmie, Director, Marketing Communications
          (408) 565-7689
          
Email Contact