Using Continuum in TriQuint's Mentor v8.x Design Environment for GaAs ICs.

Marty Zimmer
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc.
Hillsboro, Oregon

In an EDA world dominated by software tools targeted for CMOS design, implementing a CAE/CAD environment for design of high-performance GaAs ICs requires extremely flexible software tools. Using the Mentor v8.x software tools as a backbone, TriQuint has implemented a front to back design environment for full custom, semi-custom and structured custom GaAs ICs. However, this environment was not implemented without considerable effort. The flexibility of the Mentor v8.x tools is accompanied by a bit of complexity. Simplifying and navigating this complexity is one of the roles of the design environment. Since the first v8.x alpha site training in the spring of 1990, TriQuint has been building design environments using the evolving v8.x software tools. This presentation will describe the existing design environment with emphasis on Continuum’s role and the TriQuint customizations to the basic Mentor v8.x tools set.

Bio:
Marty Zimmer is presently employed as manager of the CAD and Modeling Group of TriQuint Semiconductor's Telecom & Computing Division in Hillsboro, Oregon. The TriQuint CAD organization is responsible for developing and maintaining the internal ASIC and IC design environments and the ASIC Vendor Design Kits for TriQuint's TCD Division. Marty has been involved in ASIC and IC design tool development at TriQuint since 1984. Previously, Marty was employed at Tektronix developing internal proprietary PCB design tools. He has a BSCS from Portland State University.