Tensilica Partners Overview

Express Logic
Express Logic's popular ThreadX RTOS supports all of Tensilica's DPUs. ThreadX is a small-footprint RTOS with real-time determinism that enables Tensilica customers to support applications that demand high-performance, low overhead, and fast time-to-market. ThreadX supports Tensilica's onchip coprocessors including its floating point unit, Vectra DSP engine and special Tensilica Instruction Extension (TIE) cases. The simplicity and low cost of ThreadX, including its royalty-free licensing, make it attractive for high-volume applications in consumer devices, office automation, medical equipment and networking. You can download a free evaluation copy of ThreadX, optimized for the Diamond 212GP core. Click here to get to our download page.

Linux
Tensilica supports open-source Linux. See Tensilica's open-source Linux website . Embedded Linux 2.6 and GNU tools based on GCC 4.2, both available at www.linux-xtensa.org.

Mentor Graphics
Tensilica partners with Mentor Graphics in several ways. Mentor Graphics' EDA tools are supported. The Nucleus PLUS operating system is available for Tensilica's customers, as are Mentor Graphics' networking offerings for Ethernet, gigabit, and wireless communications.

Micrium
Micrium's uC/OS-II is a portable, ROMable, scalable, preemptive, real-time deterministic multitasking kernel for microprocessors and microcontrollers. uC/OS-II is provided with all source code, which is 100 percent portable ANSI C. Easily scaled because of the modular nature of the source code, uC/OS-II can present a very small footprint for space-constrained designs. Micrium offers expanded support to take advantage of all configuration options on Tensilica's Xtensa customizable dataplane processors (DPUs) as well as Tensilica's standard DPUs and Diamond controller cores. See press release.

Tata Elxsi
Tata Elxsi's RoS-ES (Real Time Operating System for Embedded Systems) operating system is now available fo rTensilica's processors. Tata Elxsi's RoS-ES is a compact real-time operating system (RTOS) that provides an impressive array of capabilities making it well suited to networking and consumer electronics applications. More information on the RoS-ES RTOS is available at www.tataelxsi.com/roses.

Avnet
Avnet is one of the world's largest value-added distributors and makers of demonstration and evaluation boards. Tensilica's software developers toolkits work seamlessly with the Avnet LX110 boards. Tensilica supplies users with precompiled FPGA bitstreams that support these boards, thereby enabling large software development teams to cost-effectively deploy a large number of development systems.

Byte Tools
ByteTools' Catapult JTAG probes are available for Tensilica's Diamond Standard and Xtensa configurable processors. The high-performance, low-cost Catapult devices work out-of-the-box with Tensilica's software development tools, meaning that users need not install any additional software. Catapult probes interface to the standard XOCD 14-pin JTAG header, with Catapult EJ-1 offering an Ethernet host interface, and Catapult UJ-1 offering a USB host interface. To purchase these probes or for more information see www.byte-tools.com.

EVE
EVE (Emulation and Verification Engineering) is Tensilica's recommended provider of high-capacity FPGA-based system emulators for SOC designs. EVE's ZeBu product is targeted for use in the system-integration phase of the design cycle where multiple logic blocks and embedded software must be verified together. EVE and Tensilica have partnered to provide seamless integration of Tensilica debug tools into the EVE development software environment. See ZeBu-Diamond product brief. Read EETimes article about debugging a Linux device driver running on a Diamond 232L. See press release about Tensilica's use of EVE's ZeBu for validation of the 388VDO Video Engine.

Lauterbach
Lauterbach supports Tensilica's DPUs with its TRACE32 PowerView microprocessor debugger. The PowerDebug in-circuit debugger is a high-performance JTAG debugger. The PowerDebug's hardware consists of a universal debug module that can be connected to any PC or workstation via a USB 2.x or Ethernet interface. The PowerView software supports multicore debugging. Graphical variable displays and dedicated commands to handle large arrays support the development of DSP-specific code. The combination of the debugger and the PowerProbe logic analyzer enables real-time measurements. For more information, see www.lauterbach.com.

Macraigor
Macraigor Systems LLC is an OEM supplier of BDM and JTAG connection devices, including the Wiggler product which provides a very low-cost, yet full-featured connection to the on-chip debug facilities of 32-bit embedded processors. The Wiggler, USB2 Demon, and USB2 Wiggler solutions are available for Tensilica's DPUs. For more information, visit the Macraigor web site.

Sophia Systems
EJ-SCT is a JTAG Debugger development tool for general-purpose embedded CPUs. Support for Xtensa single core and multi core is available by purchasing and installing the corresponding WATCHPOINT Debugger software. Multi-core processor designs, such as Xtensa+ ARM, etc., are also supported.

Synopsys
As a major EDA supplier, Tensilica works closely with Synopsys to ensure an optimized design tool flow, including Synopsys' ESL tools, such as Platform Architect and Innovator. Tensilica also works closely with the Virage Logic library group.

S2C
Tensilica has a SOC prototyping partnership with S2C Inc., a leading provider of innovative FPGA-based ESL and SoC prototyping solutions with a rapidly growing presence in the China market.

Yokogawa Digital Computer
Yokogawa Digital Computer Corporation offers the advicePLUS and advicePRO Advanced In-Circuit Emulators for Tensilica's DPUs. The advicePLUS ICE is a robust development system scalable from basic JTAG/OCD to a fully featured in-circuit emulator. See the product brief on AdvicePRO for Xtensa.

The advicePRO in-circuit emulator and microviewPLUS GUI-based emulation debugger are now available. The advicePRO device is used in conjunction with the microVIEW-PLUS software debugger. Details on the advicePRO product are available on Yokogawa's web site at http://www.yokogawa-digital.com/en/advicePRO/.

D-Clue Technologies
D-Clue assists companies with Tensilica's Xtensa core-based SOC designs for a wide variety of industrial and consumer electronics applications such as digital cameras, data storage and communications. In addition to providing design services, D-Clue is collaborating with Sophia Systems on driver development and porting services for the micro-ITRON TOPPERS RTOS for Xtensa processors. Visit their web site for more information.

Dream Chip Technologies
Dream Chip Technologies is a German engineering company supporting their European customers with SOC, FPGA, and embedded software designs for the consumer, industrial and automotive industry. DCT has a strong record in image and video processing developments, for more information please visit www.dreamchip.de.

hd Lab
hd Lab, Inc., supports customers of both the Xtensa configurable processors and the Diamond Standard processor cores. Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, hd Lab also has an office in Palo Alto, CA, and supports a number of multinational electronics companies. For more information, please visit http://www.hdlab.co.jp/web/x030english/.

iBiquity Digital
iBiquity Digital Corporation uses Tensilica's Xtensa LX processors with the HiFi Audio DSP to provide digital baseband and audio processing for many HD Radio receivers. iBiquity is a value-added reseller of Tensilica's technology, bundling it into select iBiquity silicon IP offerings marketed to major semiconductor companies. For more information, visit www.ibiquity.com.

Intrinsix
Intrinsix is a Tensilica SOC design center partner with headquarters in the Boston area. Intrinsix's business engagements range from complete turnkey electronic product designs, to subsystem designs, SoC, embedded system, individual ASIC or FPGA. Insourcing and outsourcing engagements.

Megachips
As an authorized Tensilica design center, MegaChips offers SOC design services in Japan. MegaChips offers expertise in the design of video and imaging products as well as communications products. For more information, visit www.megachips.co.jp/english/top.html.

NTT DOCOMO
NTT DOCOMO is an investor in and a value-added reseller of Tensilica's technology for baseband DSP.

SoC Solutions
SoC Solutions provides solutions for microprocessor based FPGAs, ASICs, ASSP, and structured ASICs. Their soft core HDL designs include PiP-AMBA Pre-integrated IP Platforms, AMBA Peripherals, AMBA Bus Cores and the software drivers to go with them. SoC Solutions offers services ranging from SOC integration and verification to complete development from architecture to silicon. More information is available at www.socsolutions.com

SoCtronics
SoCtronics is a customer-focused VLSI design and embedded software service company operating since 2003. SoCtronics offers complete spec-to-silicon turnkey solutions that include embedded systems and software/firmware co-development. The company has over 500 employees world-wide and is privately owned and operated. For more information, please visit http://www.soctronics.com/.

TMC
TMC (Techno Mathematical Co., Ltd) are multimedia IP and algorithm specialists with Xtensa processor experience. They offer many services ranging from software development to full SoC design and manufacturing. They have expertise in a wide range of audio and video technology formats. See their web site for more information.

TSMC
Through TSMC's IP Alliance Partner program Tensilica has validated the Xtensa processor in silicon. This ensures the best possible design experience, easiest design reuse and fastest integration into the overall system design. Tensilica continues to work closely with TSMC to target next generation process technologies.

Wipro
Wipro is an Authorized Tensilica SOC design center partner. They have extensive experience and a large team of trained engineers ready to provide a wide range of low-power chip implementation solutions targeted to a range of process technologies and libraries.

Xilinx
Tensilica's customers often use Xilinx-based boards for hardware emulation before committing to silicon. Tensilica's processor generator can generate a core in a Xilinx-compatible format.

Zerosoft
Zerosoft is a company in Japan with extensive Xtensa processor experience as well as multimedia codec and communications protocol interface development experience. See their web site for more information.

Australian Semiconductor Technology
The Australian Semiconductor Technology Company (ASTC Pty Ltd) is an exciting new semiconductor design, software and services export company serving the global suppliers and customers of embedded semiconductors.

Atrenta
Customers benefit from Atrenta tools and methodologies to capture design intent, explore implementation alternatives, validate RTL and optimize designs early, before expensive and time-consuming detailed implementation. Tensilica is a member of Atrenta's SpyLinks industry alliance program. The SpyLinks program is focused on better integration of the various members of the semiconductor supply chain. It leverages Atrenta's industry standard SpyGlass® product suite and the company's emerging 1Team product suite to provide comprehensive support for communication of design quality and design intent between these members. The ultimate goal of the program is to promote the benefits of Early Design Closure throughout the semiconductor community. For more information visit www.Atrenta.com.

Cadence
Tensilica supports logic simulation with Verilog XL and NC Verilog as well as Cadence's Silicon Ensemble layout software. The Tensilica-Cadence Encounter RTL-to-GDSII methodology streamlines the development of SoC designs. The Encounter digital IC design platform integrates global RTL and physical synthesis, high performance SI-aware routing, and sophisticated nanometer analysis and optimization. It is ideal for large scale, low power, yield-sensitive, and other demanding design challenges and is production-proven through the 65nm node. Tensilica is a member of Cadence's OpenChoice IP program. The OpenChoice IP program enables IP interoperability, facilitates collaboration, and provides access to leading IP providers for Cadence customers.

Carbon Design Systems
Tensilica's processor models are integrated into the Carbon SoC Designer virtual platform, enabling designers to perform implementation-accurate architectural analysis and pre-silicon firmware development. In addition, all of the XTSC (Xtensa SystemC) components in Tensilica's system design portfolio also have corresponding SoC Designer components. Designers can use SoC Designer to assemble and execute Tensilica based SOC designs ranging from the simplest sample designs up to complex, multiprocessor designs containing multiple Tensilica and non-Tensilica cores. See press release.

Circuit Sutra
CircuitSutra offers comprehensive SystemC services including TLM modeling of complete SOC and individual IP blocks at various abstraction levels, and in the creation of virtual platforms for embedded software development and architectural exploration. For more information, see www.circuitsutra.com.

Imperas
Fast functional, instruction accurate models of Tensilica's DPUs can run on Open Virtual Platform (OVP) based virtual platforms. Wrapper files enabling integration of the Tensilica processor models are now available for free download from the OVPworld.org website. These models will run with Tensilica's TurboXim fast functional simulator, which simulates at speeds 40 to 80 times faster than a traditional instruction set simulator.

Imperas's OVP wrappers for Tensilica cores use the built-in application programming interface (API) in the Tensilica simulation model for communication between the Tensilica processor model and the OVP platform. The wrapper file is available now and downloadable free of charge at the OVP website: www.OVPworld.org.

Magma Design Automation
Magma Design Automation's RTL-to-GDSII design flow supports Tensilica's DPUs. Magma's methodology is based on Magma's Talus RTL-to-placed gates and physical design solutions. It includes flow documentation, floorplanning information, tool scripts and make files. Additionally, Tensilica has completed the Magma IP verification process for the Diamond Standard series and has been added to the growing list of "Magma-Ready" IP providers.

Mentor Graphics
Tensilica partners with Mentor Graphics in several ways. Mentor Graphics' EDA tools are supported. The Nucleus PLUS operating system is available for Tensilica's customers, as are Mentor Graphics' networking offerings for Ethernet, gigabit, and wireless communications.

Polycore Software
PolyCore Software, Inc., provides development tools and run-time solutions to simplify application development and improve development productivity for multicore, multi-processor architectures. Improvements in time to market, development costs and risks are achieved through software reuse, ease of use development tools, and the generation of optimized run time program elements. Design for today’s architectures and run on tomorrow’s architectures.

Synopsys
As a major EDA supplier, Tensilica works closely with Synopsys to ensure an optimized design tool flow, including Synopsys' ESL tools, such as Platform Architect and Innovator. Tensilica also works closely with the Virage Logic library group.

Wind River (Intel)
Wind River's Simics supports Tensilica's DPUs. By virtualizing complex, mixed-architecture systems combined with features such as speed, checkpointing, reverse execution and dynamic configuration, Simics allows engineers to adopt a virtualized systems development approach, resulting in faster product definition, development and deployment.

ARM
ARM's physical IP products are designed to achieve the best combination of performance, density, power and yield fora given manufacturing process and are delivered with an extensive set of views and models supporting industry leading EDA tools.

Arteris
Arteris, Inc. provides semiconductor interconnect IP and tools to improve communication performance of ICs for a wide range of applications. More information can be found at www.arteris.com.

Tensilica and Arteris announced that Arteris' Network-on-Chip (NoC) technology for on-chip communications now fully supports Tensilica's Xtensa Processor Interface (PIF). Using Arteris' NoC technology, Tensilica's DPUs can be mixed and matched with other processor cores or RTL blocks in complex, high-throughput designs. See press release.

Sonics
Sonic's advanced on-chips networks support Tensilica's PIF to maximize customers IP integration and SOC efficiencies. See press release

Synopsys
As a major EDA supplier, Tensilica works closely with Synopsys to ensure an optimized design tool flow, including Synopsys' ESL tools, such as Platform Architect and Innovator. Tensilica also works closely with the Virage Logic library group.

4M Wireless
4M Wireless Ltd. designs and develops leading edge products to enable fourth generation (4G) mobile wireless based on the latest 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards. The 4M Wireless PS100 LTE Protocol Stack for User Equipment (UE) terminals is fully compliant to the latest 3GPP specifications. It consists of a fully optimized Layer 2, Layer 3 and NAS LTE protocol software enabling the highest uplink and downlink data rates. The 4M Wireless LTE stack architecture is designed for flexibility and ease of integration on different hardware platforms and operating systems. The protocol stack implementation enables optimal power consumption and processor utilization. See press release for additional information.

Blue Wonder Communications
Blue Wonder Communications has developed LTE Baseband IP using mulltiple Tensilica DPUs. Blue Wonder Communications is an independent design house developing mobile broadband solutions for the telecommunications and semiconductor industries. Many of the employees at Blue Wonder Communications previously were employed by NXP's wireless division and have extensive expertise in high-data-rate wireless design. See press release for more details.

Commetrex
Commetrex is licensing a comprehensive product family that provides everything required to quickly embed fax capabilities into a wide variety of applications. For more information, visit www.commetrex.com.

Etherwaves
Etherwaves has ported their ClearSignal software-based DAB/DMB solution to Tensilica's Xtensa dataplane processor architecture. The ClearSignal RF-agnostic design broadens SOC designers' choice to immediately add digital radio capability to mobile devices, while keeping the required low power consumption and takes advantage of the ConnX Vectra LX DSP engine. See press release.

Iberium Communications
Iberium Communications is a San Francisco, CA based company with engineering offices in Doylestown, PA engaged in the design, development and marketing of semiconductor IP cores as well as software solutions for the reception of DTV signals for multiple transmission standards.

IntegrIT
IntregrIT DSP Design House is a leading supplier of DSP software solutions. They have ported their libraries to Tensilica's DSP products. See press release.

Ittiam Systems
Ittiam Systems Private Limied, headquartered in Bangalore, India, is working with Tensilica on video. They have extensive expertise in digital signal processing systems in media and communications and can work with Tensilica's customers.

Mentor Graphics
Tensilica partners with Mentor Graphics in several ways. Mentor Graphics' EDA tools are supported. The Nucleus PLUS operating system is available for Tensilica's customers, as are Mentor Graphics' networking offerings for Ethernet, gigabit, and wireless communications.

P-Product
P-Product develops efficient implementations of digital signal processing software based on standard or custom specifications using algorithm optimizations and deep implementation optimization. The company has extensive experience in audio and video codec porting as well as WiMAX. P-Product has already ported audio software to Tensilica's HiFi Audio DSP and has significant expertise in audio and video software porting. For more information, see www.p-product.com.

SPIRIT DSP
SPIRIT DSP audio software packages deliver high-quality music experience on Tensilica's HiFi Audio DSPs.SPIRIT DSP has an extensive library of audio software packages, particularly for voice processing.

TMC
TMC (Techno Mathematical Co., Ltd) are multimedia IP and algorithm specialists with Xtensa processor experience. They offer many services ranging from software development to full SoC design and manufacturing. They have expertise in a wide range of audio and video technology formats. See their web site for more information.

Acoustic Technologies
Acoustic Technologies creates high quality mobile and hands-free audio processing software for leading consumer electronics companies.  The SoundClear brand of patented full-duplex communication, echo cancellation, noise elimination, and music enhancement solutions is enabling significant advancements in mobile and hands-free audio quality and is proven in over 50 million products around the globe. See press release.

AM3D
AM3D is a leading global supplier of 3D audio technology. The technology is found in PC-games, mobile phones, PDAs, and mission critical applications like flight simulators and F-16 jets. AM3D's Zirene Audio Enhancement and Diesel Power Mobile 3D Audio packages are available for Tensilica's HiFi audio DSPs. For further information, please visit: www.am3d.com or email am3d@am3d.com

Arkamys
Arkamys provides software solutions and acoustic expertise for digital content companies and for the consumer electronics industry including tablets and mobile phones, multimedia players, TV sets and set-top boxes, as well as car audio.For more information, see www.arkamys.com

Audyssey
Audyssey's audio technologies run on Tensilica's HIFi DSPs and fix acoustical and perceptual problems to reproduce conent as close tot he original as possible. This helps ensure that consumers get the best sound from their home theaters, DTVs, automobiles and mobile devices. For more information, see the press release.

Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. Tensilica supports all the Dolby audio codecs for consumer products on the HiFi audio architecture.

DTS
DTS is a digital technology company dedicated to delivering the ultimate entertainment experience. A pioneer in multi-channel audio, DTS technology is in home theatre, car audio, PC and game console products, as well as DVD-Video, Blu-ray Disc and Surround Music software. Tensilica provides leading-edge DTS technologies for Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD, and other high-end consumer audio applications for Tensilica's HiFi audio architecture. See our for more information.

Fraunhofer IIS
The Fraunhofer IIS Audio and Multimedia division, based in Erlangen, Germany, has been working in compressed audio technology for more than 20 years and remains a leading innovator of technologies for cutting-edge multimedia systems. Fraunhofer IIS is the main inventor of mp3 and universally credited with the co-development of AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) as well as technologies for the media world of tomorrow, including MPEG Surround and the Fraunhofer Audio Communication Engine. For more information, visit www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm.

QSound Labs
QSound Labs, Inc. is a leading developer of audio and voice software solutions. QSound's microQ audio components have been ported to run on Tensilica HiFi Audio DSPs. microQ is a compact, hardware-independent and highly efficient software audio engine providing functions such as polyphonic ringtones, video game sounds, music playback, digital effects and recording for portable applications, including Internet appliances, hand-held and mobile devices. Additionally, microQ offers a wide range of processes to control frequency response, dynamics and spatial enhancements, as well as full 3D positional audio for games. See the product brief on the QSound microQ solution for Tensilica.

Real Networks
Tensilica offers RealAudio 8, 9 and 10 decoders for the HiFi Audio DSPs. RealAudio utilizes advanced audio compression techniques to allow users to achieve high quality sound in a wide bandwidth range, and is the preferred media format for many users of cellular phones, portable media players, and mobile Internet devices. Tensilica also offers RealVideo software for its 388VDO video DSP.

Technicolor
Technicolor is a worldwide leader of services to content creators. Tensilica collaborates with Technicolor on MP3 audio codec technology.