NanGate releases new 45nm open cell library through Si2

AUSTIN, USA: Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) announced the availability of the new NanGate open source 45nm standard-cell library, which is available for download from the Si2 website.

The new release of the library has significant new features, including: a new set of low power cells, support for VITAL (VHDL Initiative Towards ASIC Libraries) views, support for Cadence Virtuoso database, improved sizing of all cells for better compatibility with place and route tools, and a new IP release directory structure.

The NanGate Open Cell Library is a generic open-source, standard-cell library provided for the purposes of research, testing, and exploring EDA flows. This library is purposely non-manufacturable. NanGate has developed and donated this library to Si2 for open use.

The library is intended to aid university research by developing circuits in cutting edge technologies that can be used to evaluate new algorithms and design flows, and organizations such as Si2 in developing standards and design flows that can be used to evaluate the new standards. The library was generated using NanGate's Library Creator and the 45nm FreePDK Base Kit from North Carolina State University and characterized with NanGate’s Nanspice using the Predictive Technology Model from Arizona State University.

A key feature of the new release is the Low Power Open Cell Library which contains always-on cells, isolation cells, level shifters and power-switches. All cell functions come in multiple drive strength variants. The Low Power Open Cell library contains the following cells types:

Always-on cell: A special circuit located in a switched-off domain, and whose power supply is continuous even when the power supply for the remaining logic in the power domain is off.

Isolation cell: A circuit used to isolate signals between two power domains where one is switched on and one is switched off. The most common usage of such cells is to isolate signals originating in a power domain that is being switched off, from the power domain that receives these signals and that remains switched on.

Level-shifter cell: Logic to pass data signals between power domains operating at different voltages (or levels).

Power-switch (header) cell: Logic used to connect and disconnect the power supply from the gates in a power domain.

These cells will allow the user to explore the low power features (e.g. power gating) in the leading P&R tools and to develop new methodologies through the use of sample designs that use these cells.

"The 45nm NanGate Open Cell Library has seen great success with its popularity. This release accomplishes enhancement requests for the library to be used in a wider range of design flows," said George Kuo, VP of Marketing at NanGate. "Our main technology is in automation of library cell creation and concurrently optimization of the design. It is our pleasure to develop and donate the non-manufacturing Open Cell library to Si2, and allow its members and the entire community to experiment flow development, circuit design and new algorithms using a NanGate library with all required views."

“Si2 is delighted to be working with NanGate on the continued evolution of the Open45nm NanGate library. Through the leadership and library contributions by NanGate and excellent cooperation from North Carolina State University, this donation has filled the need for an advanced library to support research and evaluation of concepts and ideas in EDA,” said Dr. Sumit DasGupta, senior VP, Engineering at Si2.