Giga Solution, Mentor Graphics and UMC Release Foundry Design Kits for 0.18um RF Mixed-Mode Process

HSINCHU, Taiwan - April 8, 2003 - Giga Solution, the leading RF services company; Mentor Graphics (NASD: MENT), a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions; and UMC (NYSE: UMC), a world leading semiconductor foundry, announced today the immediate availability of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-mode foundry design kits (FDKs) for UMC's 0.18um process technology. A direct result of a three-way collaboration between the industry leaders, these fully-tested FDKs, integrating Giga Solution's silicon proven RF component library and friendly-user interface, enable quick ramp-up on Mentor's integrated, mixed-signal system on a chip (SoC) design flow, in turn increasing productivity and speeding time to market.

Giga Solution has successfully integrated its RF silicon measurement result and component library into Mentor's EDA flow for SoC designs. The test-proven component library includes scalable models with layout to achieve high flexibility and yield for IC designers. "For an integrated RF-IC implementation flow, we offer designers a comprehensive design process with an accurate and complete component library and well-integrated, custom-design environments. This will mitigate the risks in the initial design stage and significantly reduce design iterations," stated Dr. Liang-Po Chen, president of Giga Solution. "Providing accelerated time-to-solution is Giga Solution's objective and expertise."

"These FDKs yet again illustrate Mentor's commitment to providing complete design flows that have been tested and proven for productivity and first-silicon success," said Jue-Hsien Chern, vice president and general manager, Deep Submicron (DSM) division, Mentor Graphics. "Through this cooperation between UMC, Giga Solution and Mentor, customers benefit from the completeness, accuracy, and productivity advantages of our RF/mixed-signal design methodologies."

Dr. Jackson Hu, head of Design Support at UMC, said, "We are pleased that through our collaborative efforts with Giga Solution and Mentor Graphics, we are able to offer complete Mentor design kits for our foundry customers designing 0.18um RF and mixed-mode ICs. This FDK embeds UMC's state-of-the-art technology to provide our customers with a reliable and accurate solution to jumpstart their designs. With Mentor's complete mixed-signal SoC design flow, customers can gain competitive advantages by confidently planning aggressive tape-out and production."

Design Kit Details
The 0.18um mixed-mode / RF CMOS FDK is implemented by Giga Solution ready for production design on a Mentor-based design flow. This FDK with a symbolized user interface supports schematic symbols, two-way call-back function, EldoTM simulation models, process definition files, device generators, Calibre DRC/LVS, Calibre xRC LPE, and all other configuration files needed to effectively utilize Mentor's comprehensive mixed-signal SoC design flow. For the highly competitive wireless communication market, RF/mixed-mode SoC designers can easily design the most optimized circuits in the shortest possible time with this total solution. The 0.13um Mixed-mode CMOS FDK will be released later this year.

About Giga Solution Tech. Co., Ltd.
Giga Solution located in Taiwan is a leading total solution service provider from RFIC design service, verification to testing. Our RF component IP service offers test chip design, modeling generation, layout, design kit and design platform. The design support service provides RFIC verification and production test service. Giga Solution owns the expertise not only for the package test, as well as the wafer level test, to meet the demands of wireless communication market. Through the various value-added services and a complete integration of RFIC development from Giga Solution, customers can speed the time to market for its products. More information about Giga Solution can be found at http://www.giga-solution.com.

About Mentor Graphics Corporation
Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $600 million and employs approximately 3,500 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: www.mentor.com.

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