May 2007 - TOOL Corp. Announces New Release to Layout Visualization Platform, LAVIS

Tokyo, Japan – May 28, 2007 – TOOL Corporation (headquarters in Tokyo Japan, president Hideaki Hontao) announced the release of LAVIS Version 7, a layout visualization platform. The internal structure of this version is rebuilt for on memory processing to feature a ultra-high speed display for large scale design data, and it is a milestone for future LAVIS. Although such an attempt to improve the processing speed by holding all data on memory generally leads to explosive memory consumption, LAVIS Ver.7 has succeeded without the trade-off in both "on memory" and "low memory consumption" at the same time.

In addition to a significant improvement in the internal structure, functional additions and enhancements are provided.
The major features of this release are as follows:

  (1) Much faster loading of large scale data
       Compared with the previous version, GDSII and OASIS are about two times
       and five times faster in file loading speed, respectively. Moreover, by
       utilizing cache file function, the loading time can be reduced to around
       1/20 for the second time and later loading. A several gigabyte file can
       be opened instantly.
  (2) Improved the display quality
       A mode to get a rough view of an entire chip is added to the existing high
       performance display algorithm. This mode makes it easier to check the macro
       block placement, etc.
  (3) Expanded OASIS-related functions
       Most of the functions that did not support OASIS format in the previous version
       now support this format.
  (4) Improved JOBDECK-related functions
       A user can easily switch on or off for displaying each job layer and pattern
       file. Besides, a large scale JOBDECK, which refers to thousands of pattern
       files, can be opened at high speed.

Other enhancements include cell, text, and figure search in the specified area, the node tracing function, and GUI improvement, which established LAVIS to meet future needs.

"Rebuilding of the internal structure significantly improved the performance of LAVIS, and provided many functional enhancements and more ease-of-use interface," said Hideaki Hontao, president of TOOL. "We are convinced that by ensuring the expandability for the future, LAVIS can continue to contribute to the state-of-the-art technology process node development of extremely shrinking feature size and fast growing design capacity than ever before."
 
The above-mentioned features will be exhibited at the 44th Design Automation Conference (DAC) held on June 4-7 in San Diego, CA, USA.

About LAVIS

LAVIS is a versatile layout visualization platform that supports fast large data display and multiple file formats. Its fast displaying and memory saving technology dramatically reduces large data load and display time. Various design data, including GDSII, OASIS, LEF/DEF, and E-beam formats, are supported. Easy integration into other tools and machines allows LAVIS to be used as a "standard layout platform" in a wide range of flows including design, verification, mask data preparation, inspection and failure analysis.

About TOOL

TOOL is a Japanese software development company focused on the EDA sector. TOOL has a proven track record, especially in back-end design phases, of software development symbolized by its LAVIS. TOOL leverages its long and successful experience in both commercial and custom software development to optimize customers' design environments. For more information about TOOL and its products, visit the website at http://www.tool-corp.com/.

Contact:

TOOL Corporation
Asako Nakane
Marketing Group
+(81)-3-5723-8124
marketing@tool.co.jp

Product Inquiry:

TOOL Corporation
EDA Sales Department
+(81)-3-5723-8144
sales@tool.co.jp