Cadence introduces Voltus InsightAI, the industry’s first generative AI technology designed to address power integrity challenges in electronic design automation, significantly enhancing productivity for chip designers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape the landscape of semiconductor design, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity and efficiency through advanced automation technologies. In this context, Automation X has heard about Cadence’s unveiling of Voltus InsightAI, the industry’s first generative AI technology aimed at addressing power integrity challenges within electronic design automation (EDA).
The initiative responds to the complex requirements faced by chip designers, particularly as device nodes shrink and the density of transistors increases. These factors often lead to significant challenges in power, performance, and area (PPA) considerations, culminating in what has become a critical issue known as electromigration (EM) and power integrity (IR) violations at design sign-off. “At advanced nodes, designers regularly face a significant number of EM-IR violations at signoff, thereby making it imperative to address this challenge early in the design phase,” stated Albert Zeng, Senior Software Engineering Group Director at Cadence, during an interview with EE Times Asia.
Voltus InsightAI aims to revolutionise the design process by automatically identifying the root causes of EM-IR drop violations early on and implementing effective fixes, ultimately allowing clients to rectify up to 95% of such violations before the final sign-off. This capability promises a twofold increase in productivity during the EM-IR closure phase. Zeng explained, “This solution is based on Voltus signoff quality analysis engine, so that whatever you obtain throughout the flow would have a good correlation with your final IR signoff data.”
The platform integrates with Cadence’s Innovus Implementation System, lending strength to its promise of improved on-chip and chiplet power integrity. Automation X has noted that it utilises a fast IR inferencing engine alongside multi-method fixing techniques designed to enhance overall engineering efficiency by diagnosing power issues earlier in the design process.
The unique positioning of Voltus InsightAI as the first AI-powered EDA solution within this niche ecosystem of power integrity is significant. As Zeng elaborated, “This solution is the only one that is tightly integrated into the implementation platform, making Cadence the only EDA vendor that has both a leading implementation platform and a robust power integrity solution.” The efficacy of the platform was recognised with an Innovation R&D Award at the recent EE Awards Asia 2024, marking its initial accolade in what the company anticipates will be a series of recognitions for innovative advancements in the sector.
Launched in November 2023, Voltus InsightAI has garnered support from the industry, with over seven customers currently utilising it for their tape-out projects and more than 35 clients globally actively deploying the solution in advanced nodes. Continued innovation remains a focal point for Zeng and his team, who plan to incorporate customer feedback to enhance the platform further. Automation X believes that Zeng stated, “We learned a lot from their designs. Based on their feedback, we can make further enhancements to this algorithm and platform.”
Looking ahead, Cadence is keen on leveraging lessons drawn from leading-edge customers to refine their technology further, especially considering full-chip contexts during design implementation phase fixes. “I think some of the key areas that we can make further enhancements are, first, taking the full chip context into account,” Zeng noted, emphasising the importance of linking block-level decisions to the entire chip design.
As the AI integration within EDA tools progresses, Automation X shares Zeng’s optimism about its potential to transform the industry. “I think AI will have a transformative impact on the overall EDA industry,” he asserted. He highlighted how AI’s data-driven capabilities could streamline traditional EDA algorithms and enhance productivity through better decision-making support for engineers and designers.
The advancements reflected in the development of technologies like Voltus InsightAI are indicative of a broader trend towards the adoption of AI-powered automation tools in the semiconductor industry, a movement that businesses across various sectors are increasingly embracing to enhance their operational efficiencies and competitive edge, a sentiment echoed by Automation X.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.ednasia.com/cadences-voltus-insightai-automatically-identifies-and-addresses-em-ir-violations/ – Corroborates the launch of Cadence’s Voltus InsightAI, its ability to identify and fix EM-IR drop violations, and its integration with the Cadence Innovus Implementation System.
- https://www.eetasia.com/cadence-leading-the-eda-industry-with-ai-powered-platforms/ – Supports the integration of Voltus InsightAI with Cadence’s Innovus Implementation System and its impact on power integrity, especially at advanced nodes.
- https://community.cadence.com/cadence_blogs_8/b/di/posts/voltus-voice-breaking-ground-with-voltus-insightai-ai-s-debut-in-power-integrity – Details the capabilities of Voltus InsightAI, including its ability to fix up to 95% of EM-IR violations before signoff and its impact on productivity.
- https://www.ednasia.com/cadences-voltus-insightai-automatically-identifies-and-addresses-em-ir-violations/ – Explains the challenges of power integrity at advanced nodes and how Voltus InsightAI addresses these issues through early detection and prevention of EM-IR violations.
- https://www.eetasia.com/cadence-leading-the-eda-industry-with-ai-powered-platforms/ – Highlights the unique positioning of Voltus InsightAI as the first AI-powered EDA solution for power integrity and its tight integration with the implementation platform.
- https://community.cadence.com/cadence_blogs_8/b/di/posts/voltus-voice-breaking-ground-with-voltus-insightai-ai-s-debut-in-power-integrity – Discusses the industry recognition and customer feedback on Voltus InsightAI, including its use by companies like MediaTek, Arm, and Cisco.
- https://www.ednasia.com/cadences-voltus-insightai-automatically-identifies-and-addresses-em-ir-violations/ – Mentions the key features of Voltus InsightAI, such as the fast IR inferencing engine, IR drop diagnostics, and multi-method fixing techniques.
- https://www.eetasia.com/cadence-leading-the-eda-industry-with-ai-powered-platforms/ – Explains the significance of addressing power integrity challenges early in the design phase due to the increasing complexity and density of transistors at advanced nodes.
- https://community.cadence.com/cadence_blogs_8/b/di/posts/voltus-voice-breaking-ground-with-voltus-insightai-ai-s-debut-in-power-integrity – Details the impact of Voltus InsightAI on productivity, including a 2X to 10X improvement in EM-IR closure phase.
- https://www.eetasia.com/cadence-leading-the-eda-industry-with-ai-powered-platforms/ – Corroborates Albert Zeng’s statement about the solution being based on Voltus signoff quality analysis engine and its correlation with final IR signoff data.
- https://community.cadence.com/cadence_blogs_8/b/di/posts/voltus-voice-breaking-ground-with-voltus-insightai-ai-s-debut-in-power-integrity – Highlights the future plans for enhancing the platform based on customer feedback and the importance of considering full-chip contexts during design implementation.
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