SoC design services package the necessary electronic circuits and parts for an entire system on a single integrated circuit. A system on a chip can contain digital, analog, mixed-signal or radio-frequency functions all on one chip. The system can be simple, like a sound detecting device, or much more complicated, like a digital camera.

As the complexity of system on a chip design increases, and the time allowed to get the device to market decreases, many SoC design companies are finding it necessary to streamline their SoC design flow. The right kind of analysis tool offers the best performance and accuracy in the least amount of time. It is important to select a system on chip design tool that operates in the GDS II standard. This way, the verification and analysis will feel the same independent of designer or system on chip (SoC) design environment changes. Consider the following to bring your design flow up to speed:

1. Shop around for the right SoC design service

2. Make sure your tools comply with the GDS II database standard

3. Pick the right software to get the job done

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a SoC designer that can help you streamline your SoC design flow

There are many hurdles that a modern design team must overcome when bringing an SoC to market, including new device technologies, a variety of design styles on one chip, manufacturing and lithography corrections and overall verification and analysis time. System on chip design services can be of invaluable assistance.

I recommend: Intrinsix verification teams are considered experts in complex ASIC and system verification. Synopsys staffs very reputable design consultants that specialize in bringing your designs to silicon in a timely manner. Their Pilot Design Environment is a complete and configurable RTL-to-GDSII design system.

Purchase GDSII-compliant SoC design and development tools

Using industry-standard solutions is part of delivering a design on time. Choosing SoC design tools that use the GDS II database format ensures that no time is wasted translating between different database formats. It also ensures that no data is lost during translation.

I recommend: Micro Magic is offering a free GDS II design viewer to engineers who sign up on their site (although if you want to edit GDS II files, you'll have to purchase the full version). Cadence offers Integration Ensemble, the first and only fully integrated, flat, and hierarchical timing-driven SoC design tool. For something more full-featured, visit Magma Design Automation and order their robust digital design solutions.

Pick the right system on chip design software for your company

In an ever-changing, ever-advancing world, it's important to keep abreast of the newest tools of the trade. Keep an eye out for new system on chip design tools that could improve or simplify your design flow.

I recommend: Design and Reuse is a great forum for pooling of design resources in the electronics SoC industry. They regularly feature demos of the best SoC software. If you'd rather hob-nob with experts in the field, and get a first look at the newest software, register for the annual International System-on-Chip (SoC) Conference, sponsored by Savant Company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One of the biggest bottlenecks in any SoC design flow is full-chip verification and debug. Use a single hierarchical physical-verification tool to streamline the design flow, and eliminate the errors that multiple tools can cause.