March 2009 - TOOL Corp. Announces New Release to Layout Visualization Platform, LAVIS

Tokyo, Japan - March 6, 2009 - TOOL Corporation (headquarters in Tokyo Japan, president Hideaki Hontao) announced the release of LAVIS Version 8.1, their layout visualization platform software. In addition to improvements in color setting and ease of view, the new version features added functions that allow the tool to be used as a DFM-aware design checker. Also, the additional simple edit functions for the OASIS format make LAVIS more valuable as a simple editor. These enhancements render LAVIS a more versatile tool suitable for use throughout the whole process from design to manufacturing.

For this version, new functions have been added and existing ones have been improved, with the focus on uses as a design checker and editor. The main features are:

  (1) Enhanced node trace functions
       The new version can display and check node branches, which offer a yardstick
       for analysis, and calculate wire lengths and resistance values. The resistance
       calculation function eliminates the need to estimate resistance components,
       which formerly has to be calculated manually. It has also been made possible
       to check the number of vias at connection points, allowing double-via checking,
       one of the DFM techniques aimed at boosting yield. This suite of functions,
       included in node tracing, can be used as a "simple design checker" in the early
       stages of DFM design.

  (2) Bolstered simple edit functions (optional)
       LAVIS's optional "simple edit functions" now support the editing of OASIS data.
       As a "simple editor" capable of handing OASIS, now a standard format, these
       functions enable a variety of editing operations to be done with ease, including
       moving, editing, adding and deleting objects, expanding arrays, and adding
       polygons, paths and text.

  (3) Improvements in color setting and ease of view
       Improvements have been made in color setting and ease of view, which are
       essential features of a viewer. Users can save customized color and fill
       patterns as templates. This allows unique layer sets created for one design
       to be used for other designs as well. Also, a new function has been added
       to adjust the brightness of the background view so that those parts of the
       design that have been analyzed by the node trace or net information search
       function can easily be identified. The function highlights analysis targets
       with sharper contrast than before, ensuring even smoother analysis.

In addition to these features, the new version offers many other new functions and improved capabilities. Among them are an enhanced density map display function, further reductions in the time required for opening a VSB12 pattern file as well as in memory consumption, and increased interoperability with tools from other EDA vendors.

"This new version focuses on making LAVIS more versatile as a simple design checker and editor," said Hideaki Hontao, president of TOOL. "We have been able to give it added value on top of its lightness and speed. We will continue to improve the product's functionality and performance, based on customer feedback."

About LAVIS

LAVIS is a versatile and ultra-high speed layout visualization platform that supports large data and multiple file formats. Its unique display method, coupled with memory management technology, efficiently enables large volume data handling and fast display. Most importantly, LAVIS can be used as a common standard layout platform for all the IC processes such as design, verification, mask data preparation, inspection and failure analysis, thanks to its capability to support various data formats, including GDSII, OASIS, LEF/DEF and e-beam thereby making it easy to interface with other tools for the entire IC making flow.

About TOOL

TOOL is a Japanese software development company focused primarily on EDA tool development. Its particular strength is in the area of layout design, and has scored a number of achievements in this area with its development tool, LAVIS and MaskStudio. Solutions to chipmakers' problems can be provided by combining TOOL’s package-software with its custom-tailored software developed to serve a customer’s particular need. TOOL provides ample experience in this particular area. For more information on TOOL and products, please refer to http://www.tool-corp.com/.

Contact:

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

Product Inquiry:

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