Direct Interface to Cadence Allegro Streamlines Package Design Flow

September 1, 2005, Austin, TX, USA

Fluent Inc. announces the latest version of its Icemax software, the world’s fastest circuit extraction tool for advanced IC package designs. Icemax is powered by advanced geometry processing engines and Fluent’s flagship finite volume 3-D field solver, facilitating quick and accurate parasitic RLC extraction of complex Integrated Circuit (IC) package layouts.

Icemax 2.1 is a major new update to the tool, targeted specifically toward providing a more integrated design flow for customers using Cadence’s Allegro Package Design environment. The direct Icemax-Allegro interface minimizes setup time by allowing the user to automatically import most complicated package layouts in a matter of minutes. The interface also provides the user with several cleanup options (smoothing, sliver removal, spike removal etc.), which can help eliminate unnecessary features in the layout geometry before feeding it to the meshing and solution engines.

“IC package design cycles are shrinking continuously, while the layouts are getting more and more complicated. Semiconductor companies worldwide are constantly looking for cost savings in their design flow to maintain their competitive edge. Our customers continue to realize significant return on investment due to the superior performance of Icemax compared to any other tool in the market today. Icemax 2.1 further strengthens Fluent’s partnership with customers by providing a smooth and seamless data transfer from their design environment to the extraction tool.” says Rajesh Nair, Icemax Product Manager.

As a member of the Cadence Connections Program, Fluent has access to Cadence software and applications notes, ensuring open collaboration that benefits mutual customers. Fluent has already integrated its thermal analysis products Icepak and Iceboard with the Allegro platform. The release of Icemax 2.1 further expands the interoperability of Fluent’s products in IC package design flows worldwide.

About Fluent

Fluent is the world's largest provider of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and consulting services. Fluent's software is used for simulation, visualization, and analysis of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and chemical reactions. It is a vital part of the computer-aided engineering (CAE) process for companies around the world and is deployed in nearly every manufacturing industry. Using Fluent's software, product development, design and research engineers build virtual prototypes and simulate the performance of proposed and existing designs, allowing them to improve design quality while reducing cost and speeding time to market. Fluent's corporate headquarters are located in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, with offices in Belgium, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, China, Japan and Sweden. Its CFD software is also available around the world through joint ventures, partnerships, and distributors in Korea, Australia, Brazil, China, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Middle East, and most European countries.

For more information, contact: Jennifer Correa Fluent Inc. 10 Cavendish Court Lebanon, NH 03766 (800) 445-4454 Ext. 668 jrc@fluent.com