The Open Library Architecture (OLA), an application programming interface specification collaboratively developed at the Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2), has gained a boost through an alliance between Si2's ASIC Council and a group of leading EDA companies.
ASIC Council members and EDA vendors will develop OLA-based design kits. The members also plan to endorse static timing sign-off for these products as the design kits come online, as well as accelerate the release of OLA libraries. They'll work with tool vendors on library development and qualification.
OLA is a packaged technology-specific engine that calculates delay with a comprehensive Application Procedural Interface (API). EDA tools can use the API to determine circuit and interconnect characteristics like delay or power. OLA uses the IEEE-1481 (Delay and Power Calculation System) standard as its fundamental architecture. The architecture represents a major paradigm shift over traditional file-based design flows.
ASIC Council members include IBM, Agere Systems, LSI Logic, Philips Semiconductors, Fujitsu, Toshiba, and STMicroelectronics. EDA vendors committed to mutual support and endorsement of the OLA include Cadence Design Systems, Monterey Design Systems, Magma Design Automation, Sequence Design, and Avant! For more information on OLA, visit www.si2.org/ola.